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Windows 10 SDK VS Adobe AIR

Compare Windows 10 SDK VS Adobe AIR and see what are their differences

Windows 10 SDK logo Windows 10 SDK

Windows 10 SDK offers headers, libraries, metadata, and tools for building Windows 10 apps.

Adobe AIR logo Adobe AIR

Adobeยฎ AIRยฎ runtime enables developers to package the same code into native apps for Windows and Mac OS desktops, iPhone, iPad, Kindle Fire, Nook Tablet & Android. Buy now.
  • Windows 10 SDK Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-12-27
  • Adobe AIR Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-29

Windows 10 SDK features and specs

  • Comprehensive Tools
    The Windows 10 SDK offers a wide range of tools and libraries that facilitate the development of Universal Windows Platform (UWP) applications, from coding to debugging and performance analysis.
  • Integrated Development
    It integrates smoothly with Visual Studio, providing a seamless development experience with support for multiple programming languages and project types.
  • Up-to-date APIs
    The SDK includes the latest Windows 10 APIs, enabling developers to create applications that leverage the newest Windows features and improvements.
  • Documentation and Samples
    Extensive documentation and sample projects are provided, which help developers understand and utilize platform capabilities effectively.

Possible disadvantages of Windows 10 SDK

  • System Requirements
    The SDK has relatively high system requirements, which could be a barrier for developers using older or less powerful machines.
  • Complexity for Beginners
    Due to its extensive feature set, the learning curve may be steep for beginners who are not familiar with Windows development.
  • Size and Install Time
    The SDK is large in size, which can lead to longer download and installation times, especially for those with limited bandwidth.
  • Frequent Updates
    Regular updates to the SDK, while beneficial for accessing new features, can also mean that developers have to spend additional time keeping their development environment up-to-date.

Adobe AIR features and specs

  • Cross-platform compatibility
    Adobe AIR allows developers to build applications that can run on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, from a single codebase.
  • Rich multimedia capabilities
    AIR supports a wide range of multimedia content, including graphics, animations, and video, making it suitable for developing rich Internet applications.
  • Offline functionality
    Applications built with Adobe AIR can operate without an internet connection, providing users with offline access to app features and data.
  • Strong developer community
    Adobe AIR has a large community of developers that can provide support, share resources, and contribute to the framework's ongoing improvement.

Possible disadvantages of Adobe AIR

  • Dependence on runtime
    Applications require the Adobe AIR runtime to be installed on the user's device, which can be a barrier to entry for some users.
  • Performance limitations
    AIR applications may experience performance issues on certain devices when compared to native applications, especially concerning high-demand tasks.
  • Future uncertainty
    Adobe's shifting focus away from AIR in recent years has led to uncertainty regarding the future development and support for the platform.
  • Security concerns
    As with any application runtime environment, there are potential security risks involved with using and maintaining the Adobe AIR runtime.

Analysis of Adobe AIR

Overall verdict

  • Adobe AIR can still be a viable option for specific legacy applications or if your project already relies on it. However, for new projects, considering alternatives that are more widely supported and have a larger developer community is recommended. These could include technologies like React Native, Flutter, or Progressive Web Apps (PWAs).

Why this product is good

  • Adobe AIR (Adobe Integrated Runtime) allows developers to create apps that work across multiple platforms, including desktop and mobile. It supports a wide range of development tools and languages, and it's beneficial for projects that require a consistent user experience across different devices. However, its popularity has declined with the rise of more modern web technology stacks, and Adobe officially discontinued support for AIR on December 31, 2020, with Harman taking over its development and distribution.

Recommended for

    Adobe AIR might be recommended for developers maintaining or updating existing AIR applications or those who require a cross-platform runtime with solid multimedia capabilities and happen to have resources familiar with the technology. It is less recommended for new projects, given the industry's shift towards other platforms.

Windows 10 SDK videos

No Windows 10 SDK videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Adobe AIR videos

Adobe AIR is Dead?

More videos:

  • Review - What are Your Favorite Adobe AIR Apps?
  • Review - Top Adobe Air Apps - With MKBHD

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Windows 10 SDK and Adobe AIR)
IDE
26 26%
74% 74
Developer Tools
17 17%
83% 83
App Development
25 25%
75% 75
Text Editors
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Windows 10 SDK should be more popular than Adobe AIR. It has been mentiond 17 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Windows 10 SDK mentions (17)

  • Where to download Universal Windows Platform build tools and C++ CMake tools for Windows without VisualStudio ?
    Quelle: Unterhaltung mit Bing, 25.6.2023 (1) Can I download the Visual C++ Command Line Compiler without Visual Studio?. https://stackoverflow.com/questions/22290501/can-i-download-the-visual-c-command-line-compiler-without-visual-studio. (2) Install tools for preview and experimental versions of the Windows App .... https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/windows-app-sdk/preview-experimental-install. (3)... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Any way to JUST install ORCA?
    Another method, download the SDK's iso, mount the iso, browse to the Installers folder, look for Orca-x86_en-us.msi and install it. Source: over 2 years ago
  • [Q] Windows: non-MSVC Toolchains
    Note you will also need the Windows SDK. I haven't looked to see if that's on a package manager, and I don't know if it includes the MS STL or you have to install that too. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Packaging failed and I have no clue what this means. Please help!
    Windows 10 sdk - https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/downloads/windows-sdk/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Delete the closing cross
    For windows OS, yes you can through using the windows SDK api calls to access all attributes of window. Using C#, you will need to understand DllImport and possibly (because I haven't looked at the raw API in a very long time) marshalling. Source: almost 3 years ago
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Adobe AIR mentions (2)

  • Moved Back to YNAB4
    Tired of supporting the buggy application [see 109 vulnerabilities listed here], Adobe discontinued the product and canceled all support for it in 2020. Another company, HARMAN, purchased the Adobe AIR product line from Adobe and has released their own version of Adobe AIR, which is available for download from their site. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Adobe/brackets: Adobe will end support for Brackets (21 sept. 2021)
    Um....not really. Itโ€™s barely a shell of what it was. Flash is no longer supported by browsers. Air is not supported by Adobe. Canvas and Web Gl maybe. https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2019/05/30/the-future-of-adobe-air.html#gs.unf6sw https://www.computerworld.com/article/3403345/where-do-browsers-stand-on-flashs-impending-demise.html. - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Windows 10 SDK and Adobe AIR, you can also consider the following products

Microsoft Visual Studio - Microsoft Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) from Microsoft.

Xcode - Xcode is Appleโ€™s powerful integrated development environment for creating great apps for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Xcode 4 includes the Xcode IDE, instruments, iOS Simulator, and the latest Mac OS X and iOS SDKs.

Android Studio - Android development environment based on IntelliJ IDEA

Firebase - Firebase is a cloud service designed to power real-time, collaborative applications for mobile and web.

OutSystems - Build Enterprise-Grade Apps Fast.

Xamarin - Create iOS, Android and Mac apps in C#