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Introduction to Adobe Apollo  May 29, 2007

Do you currently build Adobe Flex Applications? Do you want to learn more about Adobe Apollo? Are you ready to build desktop software applications? Adobe is rapidly developing new software tools to deliver a web 2.0 experience. One such tool currently in development is the Adobe Apollo runtime engine for Windows, Mac, and Linux. The Adobe Apollo runtime engine will allow web developers to enter a completely new world of software application development; that is, desktop software development. Three exciting features of Adobe Apollo applications are the following: function like standard desktop applications, online-offline synchronization capabilities, and communicate with local file system resources.

First, Adobe Apollo applications will run like standard desktop applications. For example, once the end-user installs the Adobe Apollo runtime engine, Adobe Apollo applications will be able to execute. Adobe Apollo applications will not require a web browser. The look and feel is like desktop software applications. Once the ".air" files extract, it will ask you if you want a shortcut placed on your desktop and in your start menu. Since Adobe Apollo applications are package able like desktop software applications, you can distribute like traditional desktop software applications. Because Adobe Apollo applications look and behave like standard desktop applications, you can create this concept of online-offline synchronized applications.

Adobe Apollo creates online-offline synchronized software applications. Since you will be using Adobe Flex Builder to build your Apollo applications, you will need the Adobe Apollo plug-in for Adobe Flex Builder. Your Adobe Apollo applications can talk to an XML file over HTTP, and you can communicate with you local file resources. For example, you could build an employee phone directory desktop application that talked to an XML file over HTTP. While the sales reps are on the road, they can talk to the XML file locally. You need some mechanism for them to copy down the XML file to their local computer. This would require no network internet connection. Therefore, the user could work online if they had an internet connection, and when the user is traveling, they can work offline and still have access to their data locally. This feature of online-offline synchronization in Adobe Apollo seems to be powerful.

Adobe Apollo has powerful features built in to work and communicate with local file system resources. Once you have the Adobe Apollo plug-in installed into Adobe Flex Builder, you can see some API Objects appearing in the Components view. These components consist of the following: File System Combo Box, File System Data grid, File System History Button, File System List, File System Tree, and HTML. This will allow you to apply your current web developer skill set and produce powerful desktop software applications. These components will give you plenty of power out of the box to deliver desktop like applications that talk to local file system resources.

In conclusion, Adobe Apollo is going to be a powerful tool to deliver cross platform package able software applications. Adobe Apollo software applications will use your existing web developer skill set. There have been some fascinating demos all ready produced by the Adobe Apollo team and others that are running the current Alpha version. Because Adobe Apollo is still in Alpha, developers have only scratched the surface of what is possible. Again, the three exciting features of Adobe Apollo are the following: function like standard desktop applications, online-offline synchronization capabilities, and talk with local file system resources.