Adobe AIR launches on Linux

Adobe announced today that Adobe AIR now runs on Linux. AIR is a cool cross-platform runtime that enables developers to create Rich Internet Applications that merge the desktop with the Web. Bringing it to Linux removes yet another roadblock to bringing disruptive applications to Linux.

This beta release of AIR for Linux isn't perfect--supported distributions only include Ubuntu 7.10, Fedora 8, OpenSuSE 10.3; and it lacks some other functionality--but it's a great, running start:

This Labs release of AIR has all features implemented for Linux, except support for DRM and badge installations. Major new features include support for system tray icons, keyboard shortcuts, localization, internationalized input (IME support), filetype registration, SWF and PDF in HTML, multi-monitor support, fullscreen mode, encrypted local storage, support for V4L2 cameras and printing.

Those interested can download AIR for Linux here. I've been using AIR applications for Twitter (Twhirl), word processing (Buzzword), and other uses, and love how it makes RIAs even richer by tying them in with desktop processing.

Give it a spin.

[benjaminstraight]

Good to finally have it on Linux

[seanupton]

We need Adobe to work toward a free/oss runtime (flash player)... Sun can do it, so can Adobe, if they care enough to (maybe minus codecs).

[adoberob]

Hi Matt,

Thank you mentioning the Adobe AIR for Linux beta. Our goal with this beta release is to collect as much feedback as possible from the Linux community including end-users and developers.

Whereas many features were not yet finished with the alpha released earlier this year on our Labs website, the beta is near feature complete and a majority of AIR applications that have been running on Mac and Windows will now run on Linux (the release notes document a few yet to be completed features).

It's very exciting that a Mac developer that has never been exposed to Linux can now deploy desktop applications to Linux distributions like Ubuntu and Fedora that run the same on Mac and Windows. In addition, a Linux developer can begin deploying applications to Mac and Windows. Powerful new features like full screen and system tray are now available in the beta.

We are still in beta so there are clearly bugs and issues we're working on before we ship the final version.

Also, although the browser-based version of Buzzword is available today, it is not yet available as an AIR application.

Thank you,

Rob Christensen
Sr. Product Manager, Adobe AIR

[Matt Asay]

Thanks, Rob. I'm fairly certain that I used an AIR-based version of Buzzword. Perhaps the one <a href="http://www.colettas.org/?p=221">mentioned here</a>? I've had some inside access in the past to Adobe applications, and perhaps this was one of them. Or I could simply be misremembering. Regardless, thanks for the clarification.

[wildchief]

Adobe Air to me is finally bridging the gap between the desktop and the browser. I wonder what it will do for the mobile platform. Adobe decision to bundle Air with PDF is bound to help adoption. Also services like this that require AIR will also be of great use for AIR http://www.newzdog.com