BlackBerry has announced today that in a future release, BlackBerry will remove the Adobe AIR runtime from the the BlackBerry 10 OS. BlackBerry apps developed using the BlackBerry SDK for Adobe AIR will not function on devices running BlackBerry 10 OS version 10.3.1 or later.
Keep your app on BlackBerry 10
There are options to continue supporting your Adobe AIR app on BlackBerry 10 and to keep it available in BlackBerry World. We encourage you to start considering your migration options now so that you have plenty of time to make the transition and ensure a smooth experience for your end users.
Option 1: Build as an Android app and repackage for BlackBerry
The fastest and simplest way to continue supporting your Adobe AIR app is to build it as an .apk file that uses the Adobe AIR captive runtime for Android. You can then use the BlackBerry Tools for Android apps to repackage your .apk file into a BlackBerry app that can be made available in BlackBerry World. Provided that your app does not rely on AIR native extensions, most Adobe AIR apps for BlackBerry can be recompiled for Android using this technique with little or no code changes.
Option 2: Port your app to HTML5 with BlackBerry WebWorks
This option involves reusing your existing assets and rewriting your codebase in Javascript and HTML. This is a more challenging path but it may offer other benefits for some apps, such as the ability to take advantage of the cross-platform capabilities of the Apache Cordova project. Apps that use AIR native extensions can also port those extensions into Javascript plugins.
Learn more about porting to HTML5
FAQ
Why is the Adobe AIR runtime being removed from the BlackBerry 10 OS?
BlackBerry is focusing its efforts on its HTML5, Android runtime, and native development offerings. The latest BlackBerry Runtime for Android apps, available as part of the upcoming 10.3.0 SDK OS beta release, offers new feature support and greater compatibility, so you can easily create an Android version of your AIR app and repackage your .apk into a BlackBerry app for distribution in BlackBerry World.
When is the Adobe AIR runtime being removed?
BlackBerry 10 OS version 10.3.0 will be the last OS to support the Adobe AIR runtime. BlackBerry 10 OS version 10.3.1 and above will not support the runtime.
What happens if I do nothing with my Adobe AIR app?
Your app will no longer function for users that are running BlackBerry 10 OS version 10.3.1 on their device, nor will they be able to download/install your app from BlackBerry World. To ensure a smooth experience for your end users, we strongly encourage you to begin exploring one of the migration options.
Are new Adobe AIR app submissions to BlackBerry World still being accepted?
BlackBerry will continue accepting Adobe AIR app submissions to BlackBerry World. However, AIR apps will not be available in BlackBerry World for users running BlackBerry 10 version 10.3.1 and above. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to use this opportunity to migrate your existing AIR app using one of the available migration options.
Will my Adobe AIR app be removed from BlackBerry World?
Your Adobe AIR app will not be available in BlackBerry World for users running BlackBerry 10 OS version 10.3.1 and above. Users running BlackBerry 10 OS version 10.3.0 and below will still be able to purchase and/or download your app in BlackBerry World.
What about Adobe AIR apps built for the BlackBerry PlayBook OS?
At this time, apps built built for the BlackBerry PlayBook OS are not affected.
The app I built with the BlackBerry 10 Adobe AIR SDK achieved the Built for BlackBerry designation. What happens to my app’s Built for BlackBerry designation if I migrate it?
If you would like to keep the Built for BlackBerry designation, we recommend migrating your app to HTML5 with the BlackBerry 10 WebWorks SDK. Unfortunately, Android apps are not accepted under the Built for BlackBerry program, so if you choose to rebuild your Adobe AIR app as an .apk file and repackage it for BlackBerry, the app will no longer be eligible for the Built for BlackBerry designation. If you have an Adobe AIR app that has achieved the Built for BlackBerry designation, we’ll be reaching out to you shortly with details about additional opportunities for direct support and assistance.
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