Advantages over a web based UI

[roosevelt]

Hi,

Currently I am developing a web based application that uses EXTJS 3.0 library. It's a pretty big web app, with enterprise level functionality.

I was wondering if I actually use Adobe AIR to build my application UI, instead of hosting it on the web server. Does it actually make it faster?

For instance, I design my web app in the Adobe AIR but all the data requests and posts will be made to the server. Any advantages or disadvantages over that?

Thanks

[Condor]

Adobe AIR doesn't make your applications faster (apart from the fact that it is using WebKit instead of the default browser - which in most cases it a rather slow IE8).

The main advantage of using Adobe AIR is that you get some access to the local PC, including local storage and a small SQL engine.

If you use this to buffer data, you can reduce the number of requests to your server.

[vinothbabu]

For instance, I design my web app in the Adobe AIR but all the data requests and posts will be made to the server. Any advantages or disadvantages over that?

Advantages:

Air execution is really fast. AS has a JIT compiler which makes.

If you are converting your flex or html application, then its easy to convert as its the same runtime.

Disadvantages

AIR apps have file access, clipboard access, support multiple windows, support drag and drop, and can trigger notifications (“toast” in Windows). If you app needs to interact with the desktop in other ways, the chances are that AIR is not suitable.

My word is don't convert, you don't need too unless if you are looking for some local system access for some operations.

[bereal]

Providing your app as air app makes sense:

- user downloads full app just ones, as one file, during installation (and updates)
- web app is rendered and executed in WebKit (not IE
- many usefull stuff as local database, clipboard/filesystem access, no request number limitations and so on

[Condor]

I don't know if your first point is really an advantage. It's far easier to upgrade a webapp than an AIR app (only the server needs updating).

The fact that you can make off-line (or sometimes online) apps is also a big pro for AIR.

[vinothbabu]

Keep it simple

AIR use it for desktop
Flex use it for Web Apps.