Adobe AIR – a new “air” for desktop programming

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Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR) is the solution for bringing Flash and other web-based content to the desktop. With all the benefits of the web-based model these days, why would anyone want to do this? The main reason is that the browser is a bit limiting. Browsers don’t have any built-in support for drag-and-drop from the desktop, they have security limitations, and users can’t access web applications when they don’t have an Internet connection. Also, many users enjoy having an application in their Desktop or Start menu that they can quickly access by clicking an icon.

Another reason AIR shines is that it’s great for developers. With the prevalence of the web, a lot of developers are focusing on web technologies such as HTML, JavaScript, and Flash in lieu of traditional desktop development environments. And it’s a lucky day for those who are interested in Flex, because Flex is a fantastic way to create AIR applications.