Adobe AIR for Linux evolves

September 16, 2008 | Anthony Ha | Comments | |

The Linux version of Adobe AIR, a platform for developing and running Internet applications that run on your desktop, is now available in beta testing mode. That means Adobe is getting closer to a full launch of AIR on the Linux operating system, and also to its goal of making AIR a platform for truly ubiquitous “build once, run anywhere” applications.

AIR keeps pushing ahead and making itself more attractive to developers, while competing platforms like Sun’s JavaFX and Mozilla’s Prism are still in development or testing. I have to admit, after talking up the platform when it launched in March, I don’t actually use any AIR applications regularly, but I’ve been hearing about some good ones. For example, Twhirl, a desktop interface for micro-messaging service Twitter was recently acquired by video startup Seesmic.

AIR launched with PC and Mac compatibility, so Linux was the biggest remaining hole. An early, alpha test version became available in March, but the latest release is more complete. Adobe says the only missing pieces of functionality are badge installations (basically, buttons for installing an AIR app) and digital rights management. And in the case of the missing DRM — the technology that restricts the use of certain software and content for copyright protection — I’m not sure that’s a bad thing.

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About the Author, Anthony Ha

Anthony is VentureBeat's assistant editor, as well as its reporter on enterprise technology, cloud computing, and tech policy. Before joining VentureBeat in 2008, Anthony worked at the Hollister Free Lance, where he won awards from the California Newspaper Publishers Association for breaking news coverage and writing. He attended Stanford University and now lives in San Francisco. Reach him at anthony@venturebeat.com. You can also follow Anthony on Twitter.

  • Kevin
    Did you mean to have the Adobe Air link at the top of the article link to "Air compression energy storage finally finds an investor"?
  • Yes, because I thought that would be *hilarious*.

    PS Thanks for the catch, I've fixed!
  • Kevin
    It was certainly unexpected!
  • I love Air! Soon the day will be here where i can bin Windows forever! Now I can run http://www.newzdog.com on my linux box and my windows. Lets hope I can wean myself of photoshop and i will never need windows again!
  • shaukat
    air has become mass market - "an adobe powered wedding widget"

    http://www.princesssparkle.co.uk/elertz.php

    why you would want one is beyond me but they do exist