RIA Minibook Prologue-RIA迷你书序言
Rich Internet Applications, or RIAs, have truly revolutionized user experiences online. When Macromedia first coined that term a decade or so ago, most thought it was a typo. But in a few short years, RIAs have proven to be the logical next phase in application development, and we’re all better off as a result.
富互联网应用，或叫RIA，具备真正的革命性的在线用户体验。Macromedia在十多年前提出了这个词条，当时最多的想法是，这是一个错字。但是在短短几年之后，RIA在应用开发领域即证明了自己的地位和价值，迸发出迷人的光彩，并且让所有人都从中获益。
RIAs are the combination of several technologies, all working seamlessly and transparently to create a better user experience. RIAs leverage the reach and ubiquity of the Internet. RIAs help unleash the power within computers and devices by intelligently pushing appropriate functionality to the client. RIAs break away from the loosely coupled page model that has restricted the web, replacing it with a user experience that more closely models traditional desktop applications. And most of all, RIAs deliver a better all-round user experience.
RIA是多种技术的组合，这些技术相辅相成，以平滑透明的方式工作，创建更好的用户体验。RIA充分利用了互联网的普及程度和应用范围。RIA技术可以充分发挥计算机及其相关设备的能力，智能的为客户推送最合适的功能。RIA摆脱了严重制约Web功能的松散耦合的页面模型，取而代之的是类似传统桌面应用的用户体验。最重要是的，RIA提供了全方位的更好的用户体验。
RIAs can be powered by an endless array of backend systems and technologies, from commercial to open source, legacy to cutting edge, sophisticated to simple, and everything in between. But what really makes RIAs work is the client side, and realistically, developers have two usable choices here. The Flash Platform (including the in browser Flash Player and the desktop AIR client) helped define the RIA space, and remain the leading option for most scenarios and developers. More recently, with the emergence of Ajax (exposing previously underutilized web browser capabilities) and with the gradual move towards HTML5, the web browser itself has also become a viable platform for RIA development.
RIA已经被不计其数的后端系统和技术使用，从商业到开源，从遗留系统到尖端应用，从复杂到简单，几乎无所不包。但是RIA真正的应用领域是客户端，在这个领域，开发人员可以有两个选择。Flash平台（包括浏览器中的Flash播放器和桌面的AIR客户端应用）帮助定义了RIA应用空间，在很多场景和开发者中保持了领先地位。最近，随着Ajax技术（这也暴露了之前没有充分利用Web浏览器的能力）的出现，并逐渐转向HTML5，Web浏览器自身也成为了适合RIA应用的开发平台。
It is important to note that HTML and Flash are both invaluable development tools, and they are designed to complement each other. Flash's job has always been to do things that HTML does not. Flash extends the web browser, it does not replace it, and developers needs to learn both, including how they can be used together to solve problems that neither can solve alone.
需要着重提出的是，HTML和Flash都是非常有价值的开发工具，它们的目的是相辅相成。Flash的工作经常是HTML无法完成的。Flash扩展Web浏览器，而不是取代它，开发者需要同时学习这两种技术，包括如何使用这两种技术解决那些单一技术无法解决的问题。
Adobe (which merged with Macromedia several years ago) dominates the RIA space. The Flash Player remains the single most downloaded piece of software available. And now that it runs on all major platforms and most devices, RIA development in Flash is an obvious choice for many developers. With products like Flash Professional for the designer types, Flash Builder for coders, and Flash Catalyst to simply the application workflow, Flash’s position as the RIA leader remains clear and undisputed. At the same time, Adobe fully supports and encourages HTML based RIA development, be it with Dreamweaver, our (yet to be named) upcoming design tool for HTML interaction, our work with jQuery, and more. Adobe is committed to creating and enhancing the tools that empower developers and designers to build the future Rich Internet Applications, especially those that target desktops and devices at the same time.
Adobe（几年前与 Macromedia合并了）占据了RIA领域的主导地位。Flash播放器仍然是下载次数最多的独立软件。现在Flash可以运行在所有主流平台和主要设备上，很显然，基于Flash进行RIA开发是很多开发人员的首选。有了针对设计人员的 Flash Professional、针对开发者的Flash Builder、针对简单应用工作流的 Flash Catalyst 这一系列产品，Flash在RIA领域的领头羊位置是无可争议的。同时，Adobe全面支持和鼓励基于HTML的RIA开发，类似 Dreamweaver功能的、我们即将到来的HTML交互设计工具（还未命名），基于jQuery的工作等等。Adobe致力于创建和提升开发工具的功能，使得开发人员和设计人员能够更有效的构建未来的富互联网应用，特别是那些目标桌面系统和相关设备。
However, as committed as we are, we can’t do it alone. While Adobe creates, and will continue to create, the best tooling for RIA development, we have to rely on the community to help to define and create the body of knowledge needed to help developers and designers to be successful.
不过，正如我们提到的，我们不是一个人！Adobe在持续为RIA开发创建最好的工具的同时，我们必须从社区吸取营养，帮助我们定义和创建知识体系，从而帮助更多的开发者和设计者走向成功。
Which is why I am so pleased to see the minibook project, a highly focused effort to help train and equip developers with the skills they need to be successful in the highly competitive and in-demand RIA space. Over the past few years I have been fortunate enough to visit China frequently, and have gotten to know local developers and designers. With each visit I walk away more impressed with the skills, the abilities, and the passion demonstrated in each venue and meeting. Considering how huge the Flash and web development communities are in China, it is gratifying to see publications like this one filling such an important need.
这就是为什么我很高兴看到这个迷你书项目的原因：高度聚焦在RIA领域，提供开发人员需要的知识，训练他们的技能，帮助他们在激烈的竞争中取得成功。过去几年我有幸频繁的访问中国，认识了很多本地的开发者和设计者。随着每次访问，我越来越被会场中展现出来的技术、能力和激情所感动。考虑到中国有庞大的Flash和Web开发社区，我非常高兴能够看到这样一个可以满足这样重要需求的出版物出现。
Ben Forta
Adobe Systems, Inc.
译者：池建强
Rayootech, Inc.