# Adobe AIR's cross-platform runtime and the challenge of attracting applications

DevFeed: [Adobe AIR's cross-platform runtime and the challenge of attracting applications](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/adobe-air-is-a-game-changer-if-people-would-build-for-it-41026.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://www.craigkerstiens.com/2008/05/08/Adobe-AIR-is-a-game-changer-if-people-would-build-for-it.../>)

Author: Map

Published: 2008-05-08T23:46:00Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Craig Kerstiens](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/craig-kerstiens.md>)

Topics: [cross-platform](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cross-platform.md>), [Development](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/development.md>), [ide](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ide.md>), [Mobile](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/mobile.md>), [Linux](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/linux.md>), [osx](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/osx.md>), [Windows](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/windows.md>)

Tags: [adobe](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/adobe.md>), [cross-platform](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cross-platform.md>), [desktop](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/desktop.md>), [developer](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/developer.md>), [ide](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ide.md>), [linux](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/linux.md>), [mobile](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/mobile.md>), [osx](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/osx.md>), [windows](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/windows.md>)

## AI overview

This opinion article praises Adobe AIR as a cross-platform runtime that lets developers move web applications to the desktop with minimal changes. It highlights support for Windows, OSX, and Linux, planned expansion to additional device types, local file and device access, offline capabilities, and automatic updates, while arguing that limited availability of compelling applications is holding adoption back.

## Source excerpt

Spend five minutes talking to me about technology or business and you'll quickly realize I'm a fan of Adobe AIR. Adobe has done a very good job building a cross-platform runtime, and providing tools that make the transition from the web to the desktop quite minimal. First to elaborate why I like AIR. For one I'm a fan of web 2.0, the sites feel cleaner, smoother, and drive new capabilities. Versus most desktop applications that are starting to feel old, and much like 1990's Java Applets do on the web. With Flex Builder, which is an IDE for developing for flash and/or AIR, I can develop a sweet website, but then quickly port it to the desktop while maintaining a rich web 2.0 feel. Second, did I mention it's cross-platform? Windows, OSX, Linux, the application in AIR will look/feel/function the same. So what? This could have been done other ways right? Well here is where I start to place my bets, no one else has really done anything in this area as well as Adobe so far. Also Adobe has made their long term strategy clear, they want to truly become a cross-platform runtime. If you're thinking what other platforms right now, you're not thinking large enough. They want AIR to support mobile phones, set-top boxes, likely even gaming consoles. This means I can look at one application on multiple mediums with an either identical look, of very similar one, with minimal development efforts. This allows a developer to then focus even further on improving functionality. Finally, a bit of a rant. Adobe AIR does not have a true competitor, Silverlight is a competitor to flash (not AIR), Google Gears might be the closest thing to it. But, with regard to gears taking a website and making it available offline isn't all AIR can do. AIR has local file access, local access to some devices, which when you're still within a browser you can't do. Oh, and one feature I personally just like is the auto-update ability of applications. So..... If it's so great, why haven't you heard of it and wh