Adobe has developed a cross-platform tool designed to
simplify enterprise software development.
The product, called
Apollo, is part of Adobe's strategy to provide
technologies and product workflows for developers and designers to
create rich internet applications (RIAs).
Michael Azoff, senior research analyst at Butler Group, said
Apollo enabled end-user applications that link to back-end servers
to be built using Javascript, HTML, Ajax and Adobe's Flash and Flex
tools.
"Previously, developers would have chosen Java or .net to build
such applications. It would be much easier to build using Adobe,"
he said.
Apollo is designed to enable developers to build internet
applications that do not require the end-user to use a web browser,
giving the look and feel of desktop applications.
With Apollo, Adobe said end-users would be able to launch
applications directly from their desktops and interact with them
offline.
As well as enabling people with web development skills to
incorporate enterprise functionality into applications, Apollo
allows the applications to work when no internet connection is
available.
The product is designed such that when a network connection is
available, newly created or changed content can seamlessly
synchronise with back-end servers.
In upcoming versions, Apollo's integration with the desktop will
allow people to drag and drop items, such as image files and other
media assets, directly into Apollo applications, Adobe said.
"RIAs have become a core element of today's web computing
experience. We are working to bridge the chasm between the web and
the personal computer," said Kevin Lynch, senior vice-president and
chief software architect at Adobe.
The alpha version of the Apollo application runtime, required to
run Apollo applications, and the Apollo SDK can be downloaded for
free from Adobe Labs.
There are versions of the tool for both Windows and Macintosh
operating systems.
www.adobe.com/go/apollo
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