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CHAPTER 1CHAPTER 1
Introduction to the Adobe
Integrated Runtime (AIR)
The Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR) is a cross-platform
desktop runtime being developed by Adobe that allows web
developers to use web technologies to build and deploy Rich
Internet Applications and web applications to the desktop.
TIP
Prior to the public beta release, the Adobe Integrated
Runtime (AIR) was referred to in public by its code name
of Apollo.In order to better understand what Adobe AIR enables, and
which problems it tries to address, it is useful to first take a
look at the (relatively short) history of web applications.
A Short History of Web Applications
Over the past couple of years, there has been an accelerating
trend of applications moving from the desktop to the web
browser. This has been driven by a number of factors, which
include:
- Growth of the Internet as a communication medium
- Relative ease of deployment of web applications
- Ability to target multiple operating systems via the
browser - Maturity of higher-level client technologies, such as the
browser and the Flash Player runtime