Book description
Many technologies promise to put features of desktop applications on the Web; Adobe AIR, instead, brings the flexibility, convenience, and ease of Web development to the desktop. The AIR is a cross-platform runtime environment that allows Web developers to use their existing skills to start building applications for the desktop.
Adobe AIR in Action introduces AIR to developers familiar with Flash and Flex, showing them how to build solid AIR-driven desktop applications. Using examples, the expert authors walk web developers through the new topics they will need to develop AIR applications for the desktop.
About the Technology
About the Book
Readers will learn the essential features of the AIR API with examples and code samples that they can use to get up and running in AIR quickly. The book shows how to create and customize native windows, as well as how to read and write files and folders on the local file system.
With Adobe AIR in Action, you'll find:- An easy-to-follow tutorial approach
- Coverage of desktop and hybrid desktop/web application styles
- Clear instructions for Flex and Flash developers
- Every chapter walks readers through several code examples
Adobe AIR in Action also shows you how to set up and connect to a local database, detect network connectivity and connect to Web services, bridge ActionScript and JavaScript, and deploy and update their applications. Each chapter walks the user through several code examples that address the basics of how to work with the new APIs.
Web developers who read this book will be able to take instant advantage of the increased resources available to desktop applications. Sometimes-connected, web-enabled applications are gaining in popularity, and web developers of all stripes will want to add these skills to their toolbox.
What's Inside
- Create and customize native windows
- Read from and write to the file system
- Connect to local databases
- Detect network connectivity
- Work with video and audio
- Bridge JavaScript and ActionScript
- Deploy and update applications
About the Reader
This book assumes basic familiarity with Flex or Flash and ActionScript.
About the Authors
Joey Lott has deep professional experience using Adobe technologies like Flex, Flash, and ActionScript. Joey is the author (or co-author) of ActionScript Cookbook, Programming Flash Communication Server, and the Flash 8 Cookbook and several other related books. With coauthor Sam Ahn, he is a partner and founder of The Morphic Group.
Kathryn Rotondo is a software developer at Schematic. She received a graduate certificate in software engineering from the Harvard Extension School and a certificate in Flash from the Rhode Island School of Design.
Sam Ahn has architected and built RIAs over the past seven years for clients including Pfizer, Wyeth, MINIUSA, and Puma. Along with co-author Joey Lott, he is a partner and founder of The Morphic Group, an interactive development company focusing on Flash/Flex application development.
Ashley Atkins is a senior software developer at Six Red Marbles, and has over six years of experience developing in ActionScript. His range of work extends from creating simple educational interactions to architecting and developing applications in Flex and AIR.
Quotes
Gives your old skills the fresh AIR they need.
- Daniel Todd, Timetoast
What you need to make the most of Adobe's AIR.
- Jack Herrington, Engineer and Flex Author
Leads you through each chapter using excellent code samples.
- Brendan Murray, Senior Technical Staff Member IBM
Takes the pressure out of learning AIR.
- Christopher Haupt, CTO, BuildingWebApps.com
Get introduced to AIR with this awesome book from Manning.
- Sean Moore, Flex and AIR Developer Kannopy, Inc.
Table of contents
- Copyright
- Brief Table of Contents
- Table of Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- About this Book
- Chapter 1. Introducing Adobe AIR
- Chapter 2. Applications, windows, and menus
- Chapter 3. File system integration
- Chapter 4. Copy-and-paste and drag-and-drop
- Chapter 5. Using local databases
- Chapter 6. Network communication
- Chapter 7. HTML in AIR
- Chapter 8. Distributing and updating AIR applications
- Index
- List of Figures
- List of Tables
- List of Listings
Product information
- Title: Adobe AIR in Action
- Author(s):
- Release date: July 2008
- Publisher(s): Manning Publications
- ISBN: 9781933988481
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