18 | Chapter 1: Introduction to the Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR)
Because Adobe AIR applications are built with existing web
technologies such as HTML and Flash, you can use the same
tools that you use to create browser-based content to create
Adobe AIR applications. The Adobe AIR SDK provides a
number of free command-line tools that make it possible to
test, debug, and package Adobe AIR applications with
virtually any web development and design tool.
While Adobe will add support to its own web development
and design tools for authoring Adobe AIR content, Adobe
programs are not required to create applications. Using the
Adobe AIR command-line tools, you can create an AIR appli-
cation with any web development tool. You can use the same
web development and design tools that you are already using
today.
TIP
The Development Workflow will be covered in depth in
Chapter 2.Is Adobe AIR the End of Web Applications in the
Browser?
So, by this point, you may be saying to yourself, “Gee, Adobe
AIR sure sounds great! Why would anyone ever want to
deploy an application to the browser again? Is Adobe AIR the
end of web applications within the browser?”
No.
Let’s repeat that again. No.
Adobe AIR solves most of the problems with deploying web
applications via the browser. However, there are still
ADL Allows Adobe AIR applications to be run without having to first install them
ADT Packages Adobe AIR applications into distributable installation packages