RIA Minibook Prologue-RIA迷你書序言
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.
富互聯網應用，或叫RIA，具備真正的革命性的在線用戶體驗。Macromedia在十多年前提出了這個詞條，當時最多的想法是，這是一個錯字。但是在短短幾年之后，RIA在應用開發領域即證明了自己的地位和價值，迸發出迷人的光彩，并且讓所有人都從中獲益。
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是多種技術的組合，這些技術相輔相成，以平滑透明的方式工作，創建更好的用戶體驗。RIA充分利用了互聯網的普及程度和應用范圍。RIA技術可以充分發揮計算機及其相關設備的能力，智能的為客戶推送最合適的功能。RIA擺脫了嚴重制約Web功能的松散耦合的頁面模型，取而代之的是類似傳統桌面應用的用戶體驗。最重要是的，RIA提供了全方位的更好的用戶體驗。
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已經被不計其數的后端系統和技術使用，從商業到開源，從遺留系統到尖端應用，從復雜到簡單，幾乎無所不包。但是RIA真正的應用領域是客戶端，在這個領域，開發人員可以有兩個選擇。Flash平臺（包括瀏覽器中的Flash播放器和桌面的AIR客戶端應用）幫助定義了RIA應用空間，在很多場景和開發者中保持了領先地位。最近，隨著Ajax技術（這也暴露了之前沒有充分利用Web瀏覽器的能力）的出現，并逐漸轉向HTML5，Web瀏覽器自身也成為了適合RIA應用的開發平臺。
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.
需要著重提出的是，HTML和Flash都是非常有價值的開發工具，它們的目的是相輔相成。Flash的工作經常是HTML無法完成的。Flash擴展Web瀏覽器，而不是取代它，開發者需要同時學習這兩種技術，包括如何使用這兩種技術解決那些單一技術無法解決的問題。
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（幾年前與 Macromedia合并了）占據了RIA領域的主導地位。Flash播放器仍然是下載次數最多的獨立軟件。現在Flash可以運行在所有主流平臺和主要設備上，很顯然，基于Flash進行RIA開發是很多開發人員的首選。有了針對設計人員的 Flash Professional、針對開發者的Flash Builder、針對簡單應用工作流的 Flash Catalyst 這一系列產品，Flash在RIA領域的領頭羊位置是無可爭議的。同時，Adobe全面支持和鼓勵基于HTML的RIA開發，類似 Dreamweaver功能的、我們即將到來的HTML交互設計工具（還未命名），基于jQuery的工作等等。Adobe致力于創建和提升開發工具的功能，使得開發人員和設計人員能夠更有效的構建未來的富互聯網應用，特別是那些目標桌面系統和相關設備。
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.
不過，正如我們提到的，我們不是一個人！Adobe在持續為RIA開發創建最好的工具的同時，我們必須從社區吸取營養，幫助我們定義和創建知識體系，從而幫助更多的開發者和設計者走向成功。
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.
這就是為什么我很高興看到這個迷你書項目的原因：高度聚焦在RIA領域，提供開發人員需要的知識，訓練他們的技能，幫助他們在激烈的競爭中取得成功。過去幾年我有幸頻繁的訪問中國，認識了很多本地的開發者和設計者。隨著每次訪問，我越來越被會場中展現出來的技術、能力和激情所感動。考慮到中國有龐大的Flash和Web開發社區，我非常高興能夠看到這樣一個可以滿足這樣重要需求的出版物出現。
Ben Forta
Adobe Systems, Inc.

譯者：池建強

Rayootech, Inc.