We just released AIR 1.0, and I'm telling you it's a very exciting time for web developers, because they can now use their skills to build Desktop apps. Some of you know I've been talking about Flex, and AIR (formerly apollo) on Nairaland for a while, but my old posts were deleted so ask any questions here in response to this thread.

http://www.adobe.com/products/air/
The Adobe® AIR™ runtime lets developers use proven web technologies to build rich Internet applications that deploy to the desktop and run across operating systems.

http://www.adobe.com/products/flex/
Flex is a highly productive, free open source framework for building and maintaining expressive web applications that deploy consistently on all major browsers, desktops, and operating systems.

See a Flex app being built:
http://www.adobe.com/products/flex/media/flexapp/

Sample Flex apps:
http://flex.org/showcase/

New Google Analytics Reporting Suite is built in AIR.
http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/exchange/index.cfm?event=extensionDetail&loc=en_us&extid=1282521

Yes, Flex Builder (for building Flex Applications)
Yes, FREE.

All you need is proof of eligibility, any one of the following will do:
1. a student ID showing current enrollment,
2. a Faculty ID showing current employment
3. a Letter on an educational institution letterhead stating that you are either a current student or a current faculty member of the institution.

More information here:
http://www.flexregistration.com/

Some of you know how great this is, and one day, the rest of you will.

Nice, by the way Nairahost Nigeria would start hosting flex applications on their windows servers next week.

hey man, this registration stuff seems a little restricted to me o. what if i dont have any of those suffs? (how bout a drivers licence or somthing )

Neptune: It's for students and faculty. Are you one or the other? I'm sure you can get an ID, or a letter from your educational institution. If not, drop me an email (you still have my address, bah?)

Kazey: Good to hear, but you know it doesnt require any server counterpart? Hosting a flex app is the same as hosting an html page. Or am I misunderstanding?

This is a wonderful breakdown of the features of AIR, both for the consumer and developer, and for Both Flash/Flex developers, and AJaX developers.
Click on any of the features to display a brief video explaining that feature.

Ajax Developers:
http://www.adobe.com/products/air/develop/ajax/features/

Flash Developers
http://www.adobe.com/products/air/develop/flash/features/

Flex Developers
http://www.adobe.com/products/air/develop/flex/features/

Enjoy.

@prodgalson *you are mistaken
Flex is a J2EE web application

Things you require to host flex apps in a shared environment.

1. MySql JDBC driver
2. JRun 4 server

To compile and run MXML and ActionScript files, you need access to a Flex server, instructions available here http://www.adobe.com/support/documentation/en/flex/1/install.html

Flex Requirements

Flex requires the following:
One of the following application servers
Macromedia JRun 4 Updater 2
BM WebSphere 5
BEA WebLogic Server 7 and 8.1
Tomcat 4.1.29 and later


One of the following Java versions
Sun 1.3.x
Sun 1.4.x
IBM 1.3 for use with WebSphere
IBM 1.4 for use with WebSphere
BEA JRockit 1.4 for use with Weblogic

Note: Double-byte operating systems require a double-byte version of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE).

@kazey

Thats not exactly the case,

I hear you, but dont spend your money on server side flex compilation my brother. Those are old docs for Flex v1.0.
When we launched Flex 1.0, we offered server side compilation as an alternative to dev time compilation, but that's been a thing of the past for close to 2 years. Flex is at 3.0 now.

Since Flex 2.0, we've eliminated the server side compilation, and enabled developers to create a deployable SWF file from their MXML/AS3 code, similar to the way one would deploy a JPeg or HTML file, as plain content. This removes the burden of server side compilation and runtime dependencies.

The same way johnny animator deploys his funky flash animation is the same way Ebenezeer developer deploys his flex UI (of course with the supporting middleware and back end in place).

I am trying hard to create better awareness at home of the technology, Seun has seen my failed attempts at spreadin the word, so I am keeping it to one topic like he said, ad also starting a blog. check it out next week, it will have content. http://blogs.adobe.com/ekz

@prodgalson

Why can't you just say this and give me a link to the updated documentation, I love reading, and i cant find the updated documentation that indicates otherwise, it would take time for you to blog about it

prodgalson:

@kazey

Since Flex 2.0, we've eliminated the server side compilation, and enabled developers to create a deployable SWF file from their MXML/AS3 code, similar to the way one would deploy a JPeg or HTML file, as plain content. This removes the burden of server side compilation and runtime dependencies.

And yes this is great news, thanks for the update.

Sorry oh my brother,

http://www.adobe.com/products/flex/
http://www.adobe.com/support/documentation/en/flex/

@powerblaze
Here are tutorial links you asked for

All Flex and Flex Builder Tutorials (by Adobe)
You will see links to PDFs and also online documentation
http://www.adobe.com/support/documentation/en/flex/

Also a great resources for tutorials:
http://www.cflex.net/

I also strongly recommend subscribing to flexcoders yahoo email list
There are tens of thousands of past tips/help from people having common problems.
You can subscribe, or just search the mail archive.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/flexcoders/