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Develop desktop-based RIAs

Adobe AIR is a new cross–operating system runtime that enables you to extend the reach and functionality of Ajax, HTML, Flash, and Flex applications. With Adobe AIR, you can build and deploy your Ajax apps to the desktop using the tools, technologies, and development models you employ today when developing for the browser.

Adobe AIR supports a flexible programming model and provides a set of APIs that leverage desktop functionality and resources, including local file access and storage, drag-and-drop support, rich clipboard support, access to multiple servers and other desktop applications, database access, background processing, system notifications, and more.

To learn how to build Adobe AIR applications, check out these resources:

Introducing Adobe AIR for Ajax developers

Discover exciting new development options for building desktop applications.

Introducing Adobe AIR

Find out what features you can expect in the first official release of the AIR runtime.

Adobe AIR for JavaScript Developers Pocketguide (PDF; 1.2MB)

Learn to build AIR applications with this free resource from O'Reilly.

Adobe AIR forum

Join the discussion on Adobe AIR with fellow developers.

Develop browser-based RIAs

Adobe offers technologies that enable web developers working with JavaScript to build RIAs in the browser—without having to invest a lot of time up front to learn new technologies. These technologies enable rich media support, data services and synchronization, and server technologies for rapid development and deployment of RIAs. Refer to the following resources to complement and extend your Ajax-style applications:

In Labs: Ajax Data Services

Use this JavaScript library to access the messaging and data management capabilities of LiveCycle Data Services, so you can use Ajax clients that share data in the same messaging application or distributed data application.

In Labs: Flex Ajax Bridge

Leverage this code library to enhance Ajax-based applications with the richness of Adobe Flash technology.

In Labs: Flash Ajax Video Component

Use this open source Flash component to provide video playback within an Ajax application while maintaining full creative control over the look and feel of the video player.

Flex and Ajax

Learn how to use Adobe Flex and Ajax technologies to build complex solutions with these technical articles and tutorials.

ColdFusion and Rich Internet Applications

Find out how to take advantage of Ajax functionality in user interfaces with new features in ColdFusion.

In Labs: JSEclipse

Edit JavaScript with ease with this plug-in for the Eclipse development environment—complete a variety of tasks, from editing small sections of code to working with the next big Ajax library.

Design richer user experiences

Adobe also provides solutions to help web designers and developers to leverage Ajax in a way that fits in with their current technologies and workflows. Spry is a new Ajax framework that provides a lightweight yet powerful model for adding data, interactivity, and rich user interface widgets to HTML pages. Spry works with all HTML editors, including Adobe Dreamweaver and Aptana, and uses the same technologies that you already know to build web pages. With Adobe AIR, Spry can be used to deliver these rich Ajax experiences to the desktop.

Explore the following resources to familiarize yourself with the Spry framework:

Spry framework for Ajax Developer Center

Get started with the tutorials, documentation, and demos to get started with the Spry framework.

In Labs: Spry framework for Ajax

Get more information on the ongoing development of the Spry framework and download the latest version of Spry on Adobe Labs.

The following resource enables you to enhance your web applications:

Adding Ajax components to Dreamweaver projects

Use Nitobi's Dreamweaver extensions to add Ajax-powered design elements to web applications, including embedded spreadsheets and calendars.

Leverage third-party resources

Aptana

The Aptana IDE is a free Eclipse-based, JavaScript-focused development environment for building Ajax applications. It also supports Adobe AIR application development and the Spry framework.

Dojo Toolkit

This unified toolkit solves some historical problems with DHTML that prevented mass adoption of dynamic web application development.

Ext

Ext is a client-side JavaScript framework for building web applications that includes Ajax and UI components.

Flash JavaScript Integration Kit

The open-source Flash JavaScript Integration Kit makes it easy for developers to use Adobe Flash and Ajax together by enabling JavaScript to invoke ActionScript (the scripting language used in Adobe Flash) functions and vice versa.

jQuery

jQuery is a JavaScript library that simplifies how you go over HTML documents, handle events, perform animations, and add Ajax interactions to your web pages.

MooTools

This JavaScript framework allows you to write powerful, flexible, and cross-browser code with its well documented API.

WebORB

WebORB is a server technology designed to simplify integration between rich clients and server-side applications created with .NET, Java, or XML Web Services. Supported client-side technologies include Ajax, Flash Remoting, and Flex.

YUI

This set of utilities and controls lets you build richly interactive web applications using techniques such as DOM scripting, DHTML, and Ajax.