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Linux Desktop Applications with Flash® and Flex®

The Zinc™ 3.0 Linux Plug-In is a Module for Zinc™ 3.0 Builder which compiles Desktop Applications for the Linux Platform. The Linux Plug-In adheres to the all new 3.0 X-Platform, X-Compile™ feature, meaning it can be installed on either Windows or Mac OSX editions of Zinc™ 3.0 Builder.

Zinc™ 3.0 is the Fastest, most Powerful and most Feature-Rich Rapid Application Development Tool for Adobe® Flash® and Flex®.

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Did You Know?

Zinc 3.0 Builder is a Free download for Windows & Mac OSX, and contains Trial Plug-In Modules for Windows, Mac OSX and Linux Output.

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Optimized for Linux Operating Systems

Zinc™ 3.0 has been developed from the ground-up as a viable X-Platform Development Solution. The New Zinc™ 3.0 GUI has been redesigned and redeveloped to provide an intuitive development environment with minimal differences between the two Platforms. The new GUI also features an impressive WYSIWYG Design View.

X-Platform, X-Compile™

The Zinc™ 3.0 Linux Plug-In adheres to the new Zinc 3.0™ X-Platform, X-Compile Feature. This means that the Linux Plug-In can be installed in either Windows or Mac OSX Editions of Zinc™ 3.0 Builder. Compile Linux Applications from Windows and/or Mac OSX!

For a Full Feature List select the "Feature Gallery" Tab on the Zinc™ 3.0 Builder Home Page

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What is a Zinc™ 3.0 Plug-In?

Zinc™ 3.0 is now split into 2 separate elements which make up the “whole” software. Zinc™ 3.0 Builder is the IDE for Windows and Mac OSX which is used to compile SWF Files into Applications with a relevant Zinc™ 3.0 Plug-In Module.
Zinc™ 3.0 Builder is a completely Free Download.

Zinc™ 3.0 Plug-Ins are modules for Zinc™ 3.0 Builder which instruct the IDE on how to Build an Application for a specific Platform. The Zinc™ 3.0 Windows Plug-In is one such Module which compiles Adobe® SWF Files into Desktop Applications for the Windows Platform. Likewise, the Zinc™ 3.0 Mac OSX Plug-In and Zinc™ 3.0 Linux Plug-In will compile Adobe® SWF Files into Desktop Applications for Mac OSX and Linux respectively.

Zinc™ 3.0 Plug-Ins are completely X-Platform so any Zinc™ 3.0 Plug-In can be installed on either Windows or Mac OSX versions of Zinc™ 3.0 Builder. Virtually every characteristic and property of your Compiled Application can be changed, tweaked or edited as required, providing you with unrivaled flexibility. Take a look at the diagram below:

X-Platform, X-Compile™

Need to Build a Windows Projector, but you work on a Mac? No Problem. The Zinc™ 3.0 Windows Plug-In adheres to the all new X-Platform, X-Compile™ feature introduced in Zinc™ 3.0 Builder.

This means any Zinc™ 3.0 Plug-In can be installed in either Windows or Mac OSX editions of Zinc™ 3.0 Builder, and compile Windows, Mac OSX or Linux Applications regardless of which platform you work from.

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Zinc™ 3.0 Plug-In Specifications

	Windows	Mac OSX	Linux


IDE

Zinc™ 3.0 Builder IDE	Yes	Yes	No

X-Platform X-Compile™	Yes	Yes	n/a

Command Line Access (CMD)	Available Q3 2008	Available Q3 2008	n/a

Modularized Command Management	Yes	Yes	n/a

Modularized Plug-In Management	Yes	Yes	n/a


Plug-In

Plug-In Module for Zinc™ 3.0 Builder	Yes	Yes	Yes

{mdm}Script 3.0	Yes	Yes	Yes

Desktop Application Output	Yes	Yes	Yes

Screensaver Output	Yes	Yes	-

Kiosk Application Output	Yes	Yes	-


{mdm}Script 3.0

Compatible with ActionScript 1	Yes	Yes	-

Compatible with ActionScript 2	Yes	Yes	-

Compatible with ActionScript 3	Yes	Yes	Yes

{mdm}Script 3.0 Classes	58	36	18

Create Custom Command Modules	Yes	Yes	-

Zinc™ 3.0 Linux Projector System Requirements

The Zinc™ 3.0 Linux Plug-In compiles Adobe SWF Files into Desktop Applications for Linux Systems. The Minimum and Recommended System Requirements for compiled Applications are:

	Minimum Required	Recommended

Linux OS	Fedora 6 / Ubuntu 6 / Open Suse 10.2 / Mandriva 2007	Fedora 7 / Ubuntu 7 / RedHat

Processor Type	AMD / Intel	Intel

Prcoessor Speed	1.0 Ghz	2.6 Ghz

RAM	256 mb	1 Gb

Additional Requirements	Kernel 2.6, GLIB 2.4, GTK 2	Kernel 2.6, GLIB 2.4, GTK 2

System Requirements for Zinc 3.0 Builder (Windows and Mac OSX) are available on the Builder Home Page.

Note: Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of Software System Requirments, the successful operation and use of any software depends on the state and general health of each unique computer system.

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Why Choose Zinc™?

Put simply Zinc™ 3.0 is the Premier choice for developing Real Desktop Applications from Adobe® Flash® and Flex®. MDM was established over 5 years ago and our primary focus has always been on delivering a viable Flash Application Development Tool. Zinc™ has pioneered and innovated the SWF2EXE market and continues to do so year on year.

Zinc™ 3.0 is used by the largest and most recognized brands in the World, in over 75 countries (Click Here for Case Studies). Zinc has the largest Development Community of any other SWF2EXE tool, backed by the support of the MDM Development and Support Team.

Zinc™ 3.0 vs Adobe® AIR

Adobe AIR is described by Adobe as a tool to leverage "existing web development skills in HTML, AJAX, Flash and Flex to build and deploy rich Internet applications to the desktop."

However, contrary to common belief, AIR is not a SWF2EXE Application. Adobe AIR is actually a "runtime", much like the Flash Player, which must be installed on an end users system. This runtime then allows AIR "applications" (or web based RIA's developed with Flash/Flex) to run on the users Desktop, even if no Internet connection is available. Apollo does NOT compile a standalone executable which can be copied/distributed to other users.

It is necessary for the Adobe AIR Runtime to be installed on an End-Users system before an AIR Application can be launched. The Table below demonstrates some key differences between using Zinc 3.0 and Adobe AIR to develop Desktop Flash Applications:

	Zinc™ 3.0	Adobe® AIR

Works with Flash CS3, Flex 2, ActionScript 3

Build for Windows

Build for Mac OSX

Build for Linux

100% Standalone Applications (No Dependencies)

Does not require Installation to Run

Alpha Transparency

File IO Command API

Browser Command API

Database Command API

Play External Video Files (AVI, Mpeg, Mov etc)

Distribute Applications via DRM Solutions

Connect to 3rd Party DLL's/Shared Libraries

Run from External Drives, USB, CD, DVD

The actual use of Adobe AIR differs quite dramatically from Zinc 3.0. Whilst both tools use the terms "Desktop" and "Flash" in their descriptions, the end results are very different, and operate in very different ways. Adobe AIR is geared towards developing an RIA for the Internet first, and then being able to run that on the desktop via the AIR Runtime.

Zinc 3.0 is a dedicated development tool for creating Flash/Flex projects specifically for the Desktop which requires no further components to run, and provides support and access to a far greater number of functions specific to the desktop.

Note: As of January 2008, Adobe AIR is still in Beta and features/functionality may change when the final product is made available. MDM will make every effort to ensure the details and comparisons on this page are reflected accurately.

Download Zinc™ 3.0 Builder Now (Windows & Mac OSX)