With yesterday’s release of AIR 2.7 on mobile and desktop, this brings the runtime up to date with Flash Player 10.3 capabilities along with a host of mobile specific improvements.
One aspect of this release that not many have taken note of is a new distribution model with AIR for Linux desktops. Adobe is now providing a Linux porting kit for AIR (including source code) to Open Screen Project partners interested in distribution.
This is pretty exciting, as it means more growth for the OSP and cooperation between Adobe and the OSS and Linux communities. It’s good for mobile AIR developments as well- since Adobe can now focus on that set of platforms. I’m hoping that the Linux community takes this opportunity and runs with it!
Let’s stay positive!
Dumping Linux is disappointing. Desktop AIR apps are cool because they can run on Mac, PC AND Linux.
In the short term, yes. It is disappointing that Linux users do not yet have AIR 2.7…
I know that a lot of people in the Linux community are very smart. If they find value in AIR being available for particular distros, they will work with the Open Screen Project to make it happen. No one does Linux better than those who love it- and it makes sense to put this in their hands.
I do hope they take advantage of this and keep AIR going strong on Linux!
Linux people is generally smart, but it seems that Adobe is not so smart.
What I mean (pardon me, I’m just expressing my opinion) is that it is legit to dump a branch that they can’t and don’t want to handle, but before dumping it they should at least be sure that the alternative is ready.
2012-01-01: after almost 6 months Air reached version 3.1. Linux alternative is not yet available and force linux users to go through Wine having poor performances (wine’s team do their best).
OSP site looks like a hoax. On june Adobe announced moving of AIR project for Linux on OSP. OSP site’s last activity seems to be february of 2011 (4 month earlier) and with the exception of some “appearance” crap (such as the long list of partners) there’s no sign of activity, or other.
My English may be poor, but this kind of behaviour is not fitting the definition of “smart”
Luca. I’m disappointed in the way this has been handled. You are absolutely correct that there should have been an alternative before abandoning the Linux builds. I wish we would hear some bit of news around this as AIR on Linux is still very valuable, IMO.