6 | Chapter 1: Introduction to the Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR)
While JavaScript frameworks are a popular way to help
address these issues, they can offer only the functionality
provided by the browser, and often resort to the lowest com-
mon denominator of features between browsers to ease the
development model. The end result for JavaScript- or
DHTML-based applications is a lowest common denomina-
tor user experience and interaction model, as well as
increased development, testing, and deployment costs for the
developer.
The fact that web applications have flourished despite these
drawbacks is a testament to the attractiveness of having a
platform with a good development model that has the ability
to deliver applications to multiple operating systems. Aplat-
form that offered the reach and development model of the
browser, while providing the functionality and richness of a
desktop application, would provide the best of both worlds.
This is what the Adobe Integrated Runtime aims to provide.
Introducing the Adobe Integrated
Runtime
So, what is Adobe AIR, and how can it make web applica-
tion development and deployment better?
The Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR) is a cross-operating
system runtime being developed by Adobe that allows web
developers to leverage their existing web development skills
(such as Flash, Flex, HTML, JavaScript, and PDF) to build
and deploy rich Internet applications and content to the
desktop.
In essence, Adobe AIR provides a platform in between the
desktop and the browser, which combines the reach and ease
of development of the web model with the functionality and
richness of the desktop model.