Desktop JavaScript vs Browser AJAX
What makes a JavaScript desktop AIR application different from a Browser AJAX application? That is what this book is about. It doesn't waste all the pages in chatter or prolonged examples but has a nice mini-cookbook to show things off also.
I would have liked just a tip or two on doing this in Aptana or Flex Builder, but to be fair... it's a pocket guide not a larger 'everything you want to know'. It covers the core concepts of what I wanted to know and gives good references where to get more information on each topic. OH... don't forget it does have a browser capability built in. The discussion abut the security themes is great.
(FYI... I am the author of ColdFusion 8 Developer Tutorial )
Best book for the beginner's
I was trying to learn Adobe AIR and was looking for some good set of learning resources. I found the book "Adobe AIR for Javascript Developers" from Oreilly by and started reading it online. A cool book, the authors have done great job on presenting the topics as an easilit readable pocket guide. Soon after reading this book, i felt i got the right resource i want for now.
* I found this book a bit more than a usual pocket guide.
* If you are a beginner and don't know anything about AIR, then this book is the best bet.
* The chapters were well organized to take you from novice stage to advanced stage in AIR.
* Covers ADOBE AIR 1.0
* Chapter I and II of this book teaches you many information and technical details about the AIR which might lots of time if you have to get it from Internet.
* The authors have given lots of code snippets while explaining a topic instead of lots of theoretical text. Some thing that programmers always look for.
* This book also gives an insight about Webkit engine, architecture of AIR and the security model of AIR
The most interesting part in this book is the "Mini cookbook".
* The mini cookbook chapter contains worked out samples with complete code explanation. It includes samples that can help you understand (from AIR perspective) Application Chrome, Windowing, File API, File Pickers, Service and Server Monitoring, Online/Offline, Drag-and-Drop, Embedded Database, Command-Line Arguments, Networking, Sound.
* This book is worth buying for its content coverage and its also very cheap.
fAIR Guide
'Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR) for JavaScript Developers Pocket Guide' is your typical pocket book with ~150 pages of content discussing AIR with a Javascript focus. Usually pocket guides are alright at being a quick reference for a technology. Something quick that enables the user to be able to get a small bit of information without having to open a books hundreds of pages long. In this case I feel that the pocket guide is not the way to go. AIR is a unique technology that requires a book full of color and content and going the short route I feel isn't worth the time or effort for the reader. Topics about setting up AIR and how to use it simply don't belong in a mini-reference and I feel that the publication of this book wasn't the best decision made.
Content is fine but lackluster and not worth the time, find a bigger AIR reference instead.
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(3 reviews)
