Introducing AirDBC
AirDBC allows AIR3 apps running on Windows to access any ODBC data source.
I'm working towards an initial release of the SWC along with an app to demo the functionality. I think it might be kind of useful so it'll all be going up on Github.
So what can you do with it? Well here's a screenshot of the AIR demo app querying an Access database. Hopefully it will give you the idea.
AirDBC is a Native Extension for AIR3, coded in Visual C++ and uses of the .NET Framework 4.0 for Data Access. I initially see it providing me the ability to deliver rich user-interfaces to existing Access driven desktop applications. It would then further allow migration of those Access DBs into SQLLite, and beyond that opening them up to web/cloud based options.
But beyond access, i see a huge potential in being able to deliver standalone desktop apps that connect directly to any database without the need to proxy through a web service. It really will simplify bringing line of business applications into organisations.
I hope that opens up a whole new raft of opportunities to AIR applications and, more importantly, for AIR developers.