- Can I make system calls to access the local file system? If so, is there a
sample?
- Can I make system calls to run local console scripts/binaries and get the
output back? If so, is there a sample?

Thanks,

1) Under the Flash Player, no, under AIR, yes
2) No.

Tracy

The only way to run executables is to use an ugly hack with AIR. There is
something called Artemis that gives you probably the "best" solution available
currently, until Adobe grows up and lets AIR do this natively like every other
VM in existence. (j/k)

http://artemis.effectiveui.com/

To be fair, Adobe's initial vision for AIR is not as a technology that would
permit you to create desktop apps that do all that "regular" desktop apps do.

Part of the reason is because they wanted to have a solution that "starts" to
blur the lines between online and desktop, but I suspect another reason is
because they wanted to get it out the door, and dealing with the additional
security considerations might delay that.

That said, I'm right there with you, I am looking forward to when AIR apps can
execute native apps.

One of the problems is that Adobe has "grown up" and now is getting a touch
stiff, though I still believe they will continue to be one of the greatest
software firms out there for the next 5 - 10 - 15+ years.

Of course I work there, so I'm at least a bit biased. But then again, I am a
bit of a rebel against some aspects of Adobe (and definitely against some
aspects of the former Macromedia) culture.

"Greg Lafrance" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:gd8flp$sul$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> To be fair, Adobe's initial vision for AIR is not as a technology that
> would
> permit you to create desktop apps that do all that "regular" desktop apps
> do.
>
> Part of the reason is because they wanted to have a solution that "starts"
> to
> blur the lines between online and desktop, but I suspect another reason is
> because they wanted to get it out the door, and dealing with the
> additional
> security considerations might delay that.
>
> That said, I'm right there with you, I am looking forward to when AIR apps
> can
> execute native apps.
>
> One of the problems is that Adobe has "grown up" and now is getting a
> touch
> stiff, though I still believe they will continue to be one of the greatest
> software firms out there for the next 5 - 10 - 15+ years.
>
> Of course I work there, so I'm at least a bit biased. But then again, I am
> a
> bit of a rebel against some aspects of Adobe (and definitely against some
> aspects of the former Macromedia) culture.

Heh. Been there, done that. They stopped giving me t-shirts ;-).

[q]Originally posted by: Greg Lafrance
One of the problems is that Adobe has "grown up" and now is getting a touch
stiff, though I still believe they will continue to be one of the greatest
software firms out there for the next 5 - 10 - 15+ years.
[/q]

haha Yeah I was joking with the wise comment, but it's out of bitterness
seeing what's possible technically, but not allowed due to some decision made
for reasons not fully known.