Adobe Integrated Runtime Technology

What Is AIR Technology?

Adobe Integrated Runtime is a runtime environment that works across the platforms on
various operating systems.It enables software developers to use their existing web development skills, existing code and ready-made tools to build, execute and deploy rich internet applications or rich web applications and content to the desktop.

Adobe AIR has a rich set of features, which support building applications using myriad technologies such as HTML, JavaScript, Adobe Flex and Adobe Flash.

Adobe Integrated Runtime is a very efficient and versatile runtime environment, as it allows existing Flash or HTML and JavaScript code to be re-used to create a more common desktop-like program. Adobe poses it as a runtime for rich internet applications (RIAs) that does not require the use of web browsers like Internet Explorer , Mozilla Firefox and applications can be deployed onto the desktop, unlike a fully-fledged application framework. The differences between each deployment mode provides both upsides and downsides over each other.

For example a RIA (Rich Internet Application) deployed in a browser runs without any installation.

On the other hand the AIR application requires three steps :-
a). AIR Application has to be packaged
b). AIR Application digitally signed
c). AIR Application installed to the users local file system.

But the upside with the AIR Application is that it is provided unlimited local storage as well as unlimited file system access.While applications which are deployed and accessed through browser are dependant on the permissions provided by the browser.Moreover data is usually periodically deleted.

However, in most cases, rich internet applications store users' data on their own servers, but the ability to consume and work with data on a user's local file system allows for greater flexibility when an application is working offline.

AIR applications can operate offline, and then activate further functionality or upload data when an active internet connection becomes available.

Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR) is exciting new technology by Adobe which is poised to change
the way the applications are developed and the way a layman views the application.

Adobe Air
Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR) 1.0.1 - Build and deploy rich web apps on your desktop
Implications of Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR) on Flash Rich Internet Applications (RIAs)
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