1. Native Extensions http://blog.inoel.in
Immanuel | Platform Evangelist Twitter: @immanuelnoel
© 2011 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.

2. Why
Native
Extensions
Understand
Agenda Native
Extensions
See
sample
ANE’s in
use
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3. Mobile Apps with Adobe AIR
• Build for multiple platforms with the same
competencies
• Mobile optimized components
• UI’s tailored for different form factors
• Host of Native APIs supported
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4. The Missing Piece
Taking advantage of devices with advanced
capabilities
Eg. NFC Capable devices
Harnessing faster processing for
specific tasks
The need to rewrite legacy
code
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5. An Ideal Solution
• Native APIs available to the ActionScript
developer as an ActionScript API
• Minimal effort in porting these ActionScript APIs
to other AIR applications which also need to
access the same capabilities
• Minimal effort to extend these ActionScript APIs
to other platforms which also provide the same
capabilities
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6. The Answer - ANE
• Build new Features into the AIR Runtime
• Go beyond the commonly used APIs
• Achieve deeper integration with target devices
• The way an Actionscript developer would like
it to be
P.S., ANE = Actionscript Native Extensions
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7. Native Extensions – As Developers See It
Same interfaces across platforms
Use the same ActionScript APIs to access similar Native APIs across multiple
platforms.
Reuse Legacy Code
• Physics engines or game engines
• Image or video filters
• PDF rendering
Achieve native performance for specific tasks
• Physics engines
• Image Encoding / Decoding
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8. Native Extensions – Deployment Models
Application Bundled
Contains platform specific implementations for multiple platforms, and
optionally the simulator, with each ANE bundled with every application
that uses it.
Device Bundled
Typically created by the manufacturer. Implementation is bundled along
with the device.
We are speaking about the Application Bundled ANEs today!
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9. ANE Structure
Flash / Flex
Application
ActionScript
ANE
Native Code
Library
Providing deep integration, Coordinating application
legacy code reuse, and and presentation logic
performance
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10. The code that goes in…
Platform Form
Java Archive (.jar) or shared
Android
library (.so)
iOS Static library (.a)
OS X Framework (.framework)
Windows Dynamic Link Library (.dll)
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11. ANE’s are…
• Re-Usable Software Components
• Defines an ActionScript API
• Can be developed and distributed independent
of applications
• Are added at development time to applications
that use them
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12. Using ANE’s…
• Flash Builder provides a well defined
workflow
• As simple as accessing methods in another
class
var vibrate:Vibrate = new Vibrate();
vibrate.doVibration(3000);
• Define Permissions
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13. Workflow 1 – Import the ANE
Add ANE
Flex Build Path
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14. Workflow 2 – Ensure ‘Package’ is selected
Package
Build Packaging
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15. Workflow 3 – Write code
Accessing ANE classes with ActionScript APIs
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16. Workflow 4 – Modify Application Descriptor
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17. Sample ANEs
Licensing - Android
Shows you how to package the native extension for
Android licensing.
Notifications – Android / iOS
Lets you create notifications in AIR apps you
deploy to Android and iOS.
AS3C2DM - Android
Lets you create custom push notifications for your
Android applications.
Find the full list here : http://www.adobe.com/devnet/air/native-extensions-for-air.html
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18. Let’s see some action !
Using ANEs with Flash
Builder
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19. Where Next
Adobe DevNet
Creating / Using / Sample ANE’s
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/air/
native-extensions-for-air.html
A community led site to provide a single central resource for
downloading Native Extensions for Adobe AIR
http://extensionsforair.com/
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20. Shoot your Questions !
Immanuel Noel
http://blog.inoel.in
Twitter: @immanuelnoel
© 2011 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.