Chapter 2
Preparing to Launch—Installation

Apollo Runtime Installation

The Apollo runtime alpha installation is as easy and painless as it could be. The runtime is required to run any Apollo applications. Navigate to the download location, http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/apollo/, and download the installer file. On the current labs.adobe.com site, you will need to register for a free Adobe membership ID or sign in with your existing credentials, and then accept an Adobe Preview Release Software End User License Agreement. For Windows, the runtime installer will be a file named apollo_win_alpha1_031907.msi. For the Mac, the file is apollo_mac_alpha1_031907.dmg. The Apollo alpha was released on March 19, 2007, which explains the date in the filenames.

NOTE

The filenames are subject to change as the Apollo software matures.

Windows Installation

1. Double-click the apollo_win_alpha1_031907.msi file and the installation will begin.
2. When the installation is complete, click the OK button.

Mac OS X Installation

1. Double-click apollo_mac_alpha1_031907.dmg. An Adobe Apollo window displays.
2. Double-click the Adobe Apollo.pkg file. An Install Adobe Apollo window displays.
3. Click the Continue button. A Select a Destination page appears.
4. Select the destination volume and click the Continue button. An Easy Install button is displayed.
5. Click the Install button.
6. After the installation is complete, click the Close button.

Setting Up the Apollo SDK

An alternative to using Flex Builder for Apollo development is to download and install the Apollo SDK and to install either a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) or a Java Development Kit (JDK).

NOTE

The Apollo SDK is available on the same download page as the Apollo runtime and contains the following resources: apolloframework.swc and apolloglobal.swc (the Apollo core libraries and framework classes used to generate the SWF file inherent in an Apollo application), Apollo Debug Launcher (ADL) (used to test Apollo applications without having to install them first) Apollo Developer Tool (ADT) (used to package Apollo applications for distribution) and application.xml and application.xsd (an application settings file and the schema for it).

Apollo SDK Windows Installation

1. Double-click the apollo_sdk_alpha1_031907.zip file to extract the files to C:Program FilesApollo_SDK.
2. From the Windows Control Panel, launch the System control panel and select the Advanced tab.
3. Select the Environment Variables button and add the following to the Path variable: C:Program FilesApollo_SDKin.

CAUTION

Take care to add a semicolon to separate the new variable from the existing Path variables (for example, … C:Program FilesApollo_SDKin).

Apollo SDK Mac OS X Installation

1. Create an Apollo_SDK subdirectory in the /Applications directory at the root of the system.
2. Double-click the apollo_sdk_alpha1_031907.zip file and extract the files to the new Apollo_SDK subdirectory created in step 1.
3. Double-click the Adobe Apollo.dmg file in the /Applications/Apollo_SDK/runtime directory.
4. Drag the Adobe Apollo.framework directory contained in the Adobe Apollo.dmg file to the /Applications/Apollo_SDK/runtime directory (in the Finder) to install the Apollo runtime used by the Apollo Debug Launcher (ADL).
5. Ensure that the Apollo command-line tools are added to the system path by opening a new window in the Mac OS X Terminal Application.
6. Navigate to the user directory and type open –e .profile in the terminal window.
7. Enter or add to the PATH the following: export PATH=$PATH:/Applications/Apollo_SDK/bin/.
8. Save the changes to the .profile file.
9. Type source .profile to reload the changes.

See the help topic “Apollo:Documentation:Adding the Apollo tools to your class path” for more information: http://labs.adobe.com/wiki/index.php/
Apollo:Documentation:Adding_the_Apollo_tools_to_your_class_path.

Apollo Flex Builder Extensions Installation

With the runtime installed, a developer of Apollo applications may choose from several web technologies, including Flex. For Flex developers using Flex Builder 2.0.1, Adobe has included the Apollo Flex Builder Extensions on the labs.adobe.com site.

NOTE

The Apollo Extensions for Flex Builder are available on the same download page as the Apollo runtime.

The extensions extend Flex Builder 2.0.1 to enable development of Apollo applications. Developers can also combine the free Flex SDK with the Apollo SDK to create Apollo applications. For Windows, the Flex Builder Extensions download is a file named fb_apollo_extensions_win_alpha1_031907. For Mac, the file is fb_apollo_extensions_mac_alpha1_031907.dmg.

Windows Installation

1. Double-click the fb_apollo_extensions_win_alpha1_031907 file and installation begins (see Figure 2.1).

   Figure 2.1 Installing the Flex Builder Extensions.

   

2. Step through the installation wizard, and click the OK button when the installation is complete (see Figure 2.2).

Figure 2.2 The Flex Builder Extensions Installation Wizard.

With the Flex Builder Extensions installed, a new menu choice will be available for creating Apollo projects (see Figure 2.3).

Figure 2.3 Creating a new Apollo project in Flex Builder.