Can anyone explain to me why it is that on Linux, Air
requires a root password to install an application even if the
installation directory is specified as somewhere within my own home
directory?
That it asks for a root password under such circumstances seems very wrong. The application files are being written to my home directory, I don't need to be root to write there and I do not want files being created in my home directory with root as the owner, as Air does when it installs an application.
Asking for the root password also means that users who have a Linux machine that is administered for them by someone else and do not have root are unable to install Air applications themselves even if the administrator has installed Air on their machine.
That it asks for a root password under such circumstances seems very wrong. The application files are being written to my home directory, I don't need to be root to write there and I do not want files being created in my home directory with root as the owner, as Air does when it installs an application.
Asking for the root password also means that users who have a Linux machine that is administered for them by someone else and do not have root are unable to install Air applications themselves even if the administrator has installed Air on their machine.