Now showing on Adobe TV is this great introduction to starting an AIR project using http://www.adobe.com/products/flex.

Adobe scientist Tome Lane shows you how in this great beginner video tutorial. You can view it directly on Adobe TV here

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Documentation is the key to success.

That is certainly true when learning a new development language or framework and AIR is no exception. Having a good set of API docs as reference certainly helps. Thankfully Adobe has got better at their documentation over the last few months and I’m glad to say that they are getting easier to find. So before we begin building an application get your hands on the docs and give thema read. No need to memorise eveything because that would be impossible, just get an idea of where you would go for the right information.

• Adobe AIR Resources homepage

AIR resources for HTML & Ajax Developers

• Adobe AIR Quick Starts for HTML and Ajax
• Developing Adobe AIR Applications with HTML and Ajax
• Adobe AIR Language Reference for HTML Developers
• Complete Adobe AIR 1.0 for HTML and Ajax documentation set

AIR resources for Flex Developers

• Adobe AIR Quick Starts for Adobe Flex 3
• Developing Adobe AIR Applications with Adobe Flex 3
• Adobe Flex 3 Language Reference
• Complete Adobe Flex 3 and Adobe AIR 1.0 documentation set

AIR resources for Flash Developers

• Adobe AIR Quick Starts for Adobe Flash CS3 Professional
• Developing Adobe AIR Applications with Adobe Flash CS3 Professional
• ActionScript 3.0 Language and Components Reference
• Complete Adobe AIR 1.0 for Adobe Flash CS3 Professional documentation set

Additional AIR Resources from Adobe

• Programming ActionScript 3.0
• Adobe AIR Security
• Adobe AIR HTML Security
• Administering Adobe AIR

Ok, now you’re geared up for some development like a pro.

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So you want to build Adobe AIR applications do you?

Well, there are two ways in which you can build a AIR application depending upon your technical skills or project requirements. HTML, CSS and Javascript or Flash,Flex and ActionScript. So it makes sense to start using the technology that you are most comfortable with. We will cover both paths here on freshAIRapps so you won’t feel left out and moving forward you will probably be combining the best of both world to build that killer app.

Adobe AIR is completely free and you don’t need to purchase any software from Adobe inorder to start building. However having some software like the latest Dreamweaver, Flash or Flex will give you an easier and more direct way to interacting with the AIR SDK. There are integration kits available for Dreamweaver and Flash CS3 while Flex 3 comes pre bundled with the ability to package and preview AIR apps.

The AIR SDK

The bare essential if you want to build your AIR app outside of any Adobe products. The SDK contains command-line launchers, frameworks and XML maifest files for AIR applications. So for all those Notepad junkies out there get going with the SDK from Adobe:

http://www.adobe.com/products/air/tools/sdk/

The Dreamweaver CS3 extension

Enables full IDE support for building and deploying AIR apps from within Dreamweaver CS3. We will be using this method primarily throught the HTML AIR tutorials on freshAIRapps. Get the AIR extension for Dreamweaver from Adobe:

http://www.adobe.com/products/air/tools/ajax/

The Flash CS3 extension

Enables full IDE support for building and deploying AIR apps from within the Flash CS3 Professional IDE. We will be using this method primarily throught the HTML AIR tutorials on freshAIRapps. Get the AIR extension for Flash from Adobe:

http://www.adobe.com/support/flash/downloads.html

So get downloading and installing and be sure to check out the next tutorial in the series.

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