Adobe AIR: Create - Modify - Reuse

Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR) revolutionizes the way Rich Internet Applications (RIAs) are deployed. AIR supports two primary technologies, Flash and HTML/Ajax, in order to make desktop development something that every web developer can do. This book shows you how to set up a practical development environment and then walks you through eleven fully implemented AIR applications with source code that you can use as they currently exist or customize.

Each project begins by providing a discussion of architecture and design, followed by code implementation. You'll get hands-on knowledge of AIR application design and development that you can then use to build dynamic RIAs.

What you will learn from this book

• How to communicate with the computer file system
• Techniques for using and customizing the native windowing API
• How to read from and locate mp3 files on a local machine to assemble a music library
• Ways to interact with HTML and JavaScript content within a Flex-based application
• How to use the native drag-and-drop API for opening and saving image files
• How to play H.264- and FLV-encoded video
• Techniques for restyling an HTML page off the Internet locally
• How to communicate with a local database and expand upon occasional connectivity

Who this book is for

This book is for developers who use web technologies (Flash, Flex 3, HTML, JavaScript, Ajax, etc.) to build and deploy RIAs and are interested in learning a new platform.

About the Authors

Marc Leuchner is a Senior Flash Developer for the Boston-based advertising group Almighty. His roles and talents within the company primarily revolve around Flash development and interactive design. Over the years, he has worked with clients such as New Balance, ABC, Cond´e Nast, PUMA, BMW/Mini, Comcast, and GAP, Inc. Marc holds a BFA in New Media/Design from the Rochester Institute of Technology. In his spare time, he writes the technology blog nobien.net/ with co-author Matt Wright.

Todd Anderson is a Senior Software Engineer for Infrared5. With over five years of developing for the Flash Platform in the areas of RIA and game development, Todd has delivered web and desktop solutions for the publishing and entertainment industries for companies including McGraw-Hill, Thomson, Motorola, and Cond´e Nast. He runs www.custardbelly.com/blog, focusing on development of the Flash Platform and game development.

Matthew Wright is a Senior Flash Developer for ROKKAN, a full-service digital agency located in New York City. Since 2005 he has delivered mostly consumer experience Flash sites and applications for a wide array of clients, including Virgin America, the Coca-Cola Company, Atlantic Records, Time Warner, the NBA, and 2K Games. Prior to ROKKAN, he got his start at an interactive agency in Syracuse, New York, called 2ndNature. It was here that he discovered his love for the Flash platform. Outside of work, Matthew contributes to a Flash and technology blog nobien.net, with friend, colleague, and co-author Marc Leuchner. He has also spoken at FlashForward.