This is the Safari online edition of the printed book.

Covers version 1.5 of Adobe AIR

Written to help you hit the ground running, this book teaches you how to build state-of-the-art rich desktop applications on the breakthrough Adobe AIR platform.

Stacy Tyler Young, Michael Givens, and Dimitrios Gianninas illustrate the power of this technology through practical application examples based on the official 1.5 release of Adobe AIR. You’ll discover how Adobe AIR helps you solve problems you just couldn’t solve before by extending the reach of your web applications onto users’ desktops. Building on your existing knowledge of Adobe Flex, HTML, JavaScript, and Ajax software, you’ll master the powerful Adobe AIR platform--moving quickly from task-oriented examples to larger-scale, real-world projects. The authors don’t just cover coding--they help you maximize your effectiveness throughout the entire development lifecycle via design patterns, frameworks, build process, continuous integration, and automated testing.

If you’re ready to build the next generation of rich hybrid desktop applications, Adobe AIR is the development platform you’ve been searching for...and this is the book you need to kick-start new projects using this exciting new technology.

Detailed information on how to...

• Install and configure your Adobe AIR development environment

• Build the next generation web/desktop hybrid applications to run on Adobe AIR

• Add new desktop capabilities to your web applications such as native windows, local file I/O, and client-side databases

• Create HTML/Adobe Flex mash-up applications

• Push data to Adobe AIR clients using BlazeDS, an open source Java remoting and messaging technology

• Package, distribute, and update Adobe AIR applications

• Work with display objects in 3D space by leveraging Adobe Flash Player 10

• Build Adobe AIR applications using common frameworks like Cairngorm

• Create automated builds using Apache Ant, complete with FlexUnit testing strategies

• Create a peer-to-peer photo-sharing application by combining Adobe AIR and Java

Part I       Getting Started with Adobe AIR

1         Introduction to Adobe AIR 9

2         Setting Up the Development Environment 15

3         Creating an Adobe AIR Application 29

4         Debugging Adobe AIR Applications 51

Part II       Building Adobe AIR Applications

5         Working with Windows 67

6         Working with Screens 89

7         Working with Files and Directories 101

8         Understanding the Drag-and-Drop API 115

9         Working with Copy and Paste 129

10       Working with Native Menus 159

11       Adding User Notifications 177

12       Working with Local Databases 189

13       Understanding Networking and Local Connections 213

14       Working with Adobe Flex AIR Components 251

Part III       Securing Adobe AIR Applications

15       Understanding Security Sandboxes 263

16       Using the Encrypted Local Store 273

Part IV       Deploying Adobe AIR Applications

17       Distributing Adobe AIR Applications 283

18       Updating Adobe AIR Applications 309

Part V       Architecting Adobe AIR Applications

19       Introduction to Frameworks and Design Patterns 321

20       Building Adobe AIR Applications Using the Cairngorm Microarchitecture 335

Part VI       Agile Development with Adobe AIR

21       Creating a Build Process 359

22       Incorporating Unit Testing 373

23       Continuous Integration with Adobe AIR 393

Part VII       Real-World Projects

24       Contact Manager with Integrated Yahoo! Maps 411

25       Peer-to-Peer Photo Sharing Using Adobe AIR, Bonjour, and Java 421

26       Building a Video Distribution System 427

Part VIII       Adobe AIR 1.5 and Adobe Flash 10 Extras

27       Using Adobe Flash 10 Features in Adobe AIR 439

Appendices

A        Adobe AIR Resources for Developers 451

B        Adobe AIR API Reference Poster (Downloadable) 455

C        Downloading Source Code for Adobe AIR Programming Unleashed 457

Index 463

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 2 Ratings

A fine guide illustrating the application through a series of examples based on the official 1.5 release - 2009-05-11
Reviewer Rating:
Version 1.5 of Adobe AIR is included in this fine guide illustrating the application through a series of examples based on the official 1.5 release. Libraries strong in Adobe AIR development guides will appreciate a programmer's guide covering how to customize and tweak the program for maximum benefit. Included are downloadable examples and source code on the web, making for an even more valuable study tool.

stands between you and the operating system - 2009-03-04
Reviewer Rating:
Adobe is making a pitch to the javascript and open source community with its AIR. The attraction is to move towards a unification of the browser and desktop application environments and capabilities. Think of AIR perhaps as an extension of the browser. Long overdue to those of you who have chafed at the limitations of HTML compared to running a full native application on the desktop.

The book shows how with AIR you can use skills built up in Ajax, HTML and Flash. A strong point is the multilanguage capability. Plus the means of using it on linux, Mac and MS Windows. In essence, AIR is a software layer between your code and the operating system. Not unlike the way that java operates, come to think of it.

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