AIR for Linux:FAQ
From Adobe Labs
Adobe AIR for Linux Alpha FAQ
Last updated: 3/31/2008
General Questions
Q: What exactly are you announcing?
A: We have posted the first publicly available alpha build of the Adobe AIR runtime installer and SDK for Linux. In addition, we are linking to several sample applications that currently run on AIR. You should consider these builds only alpha quality and not yet feature complete.
Q: Is Adobe AIR for Linux feature complete?
A: No. Please see the release notes for the complete list of features that have not been implemented. For example, features such as printing, hardware acceleration, badge installation, keyboard accelerators and screen API's are not yet completed. These features are actively being worked on and will be made available in our next public beta release.
Q: Why release a version of Linux that is not yet feature complete?
A: Feedback from the community is a crucial component to our software development process at Adobe. By releasing an early version of AIR for Linux, we anticipate discovering issues sooner which ultimately helps improve the quality of the product.
Q: Will the application I've been building that targets AIR 1.0 for the Mac or Windows run on the Linux build?
A: Maybe, as it depends on what features are utilized by a particular application. AIR for Linux is not feature complete. Please see the release notes for more information on what features are not yet available.
Q: Will Adobe always release its Linux version after Mac and Windows?
A: No. It is our intention to release future versions of Adobe AIR simultaneously on Linux, Mac and Windows
Q: When are you releasing the final version of AIR for Linux?
A: We are targeting the second half of this year. The actual date will be influenced in large part by the amount of community feedback.
Q: Will Adobe AIR for Linux expire?
A: Yes, the Adobe AIR for Linux alpha will expire on March 1st, 2009.
Q: Will AIR for Linux have the same functionality as AIR 1.0 for Windows and Mac?
A: Our public alpha is not feature complete and will only have a subset of the 1.0 functionality. However, the shipping version of AIR for Linux, released later this year, will include the same capabilities as the upcoming Windows and Mac 1.1 release.
Q: What's the quality like on these builds?
A: These builds are alpha quality. Please see the release notes for known issues.While many AIR applications will run the same on Linux as they do on Mac and Windows, others will not.
Q: Where can I submit bugs?
A: Bugs can be submitted through our Wish List website. Please be sure to specify important system information such as your Linux distribution type and version number.
Q: Where can I provide feedback or find other AIR Linux developers?
A: We have created a forum dedicated to Linux developers on our website. We encourage developers to participate in the conversation around AIR for Linux.
Q: How often will you be releasing engineering drops?
A: We will be releasing a beta version once we've completed the remaining features. We expect this to happen in the early second half of this year.
Q: What languages does the Adobe AIR for Linux alpha support?
A: The alpha supports English only. However, the shipping version will include support for other languages.
Installation Questions
Q: How do I install AIR?
A: Installation instructions are available in the release notes.
Q: Where does the runtime get installed?
A: The runtime gets installed in /opt/Adobe AIR/Versions/1.0
Q: How do I uninstall the runtime?
A: From the command line, you may uninstall the package using the command: "rpm -e AdobeAIR_enu" OR "dpkg -r adobeair-enu" depending on your package type.
Q: Which distributions are you supporting?
A: We are currently deciding on the list of distributions we will ultimately support for Linux. For now, we have
- RedHat Desktop Linux 4
- RedHat Enterprise Linux v5
- Novell Desktop Linux 9
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10
- Ubuntu 6.06
We will likely change this list. For example, we may decide only to support the latest version of Ubuntu.
Tooling
Q: What tools can I use to build AIR applications on Linux?
A: If you are a Linux developer, you can use the Flex Builder for Linux alpha or any text editor. In addition, since AIR applications run across operating system, you can use Flex Builder, Dreamweaver or Flash if your primary development machine runs on OSX or Windows.
