Microsoft releases new tools, SDKs for Azure

BANGALORE, INDIA: Microsoft today announced the availability of a new set of developer tools and Software Development Kits (SDKs) for PHP developers that want to build applications for Windows Azure.

This was announced at the Open Source India conference, OSI Days 2010, and is targeted to provide developers with more choice, especially open source developers targeting Windows Azure. 

“We are working to give open source developers more access to our platforms,” said Vijay Rajagopalan, Principal Architect for Microsoft’s Interoperability Strategy team.

He added, “One example of this is our support for an open and interoperable cloud, which we believe is critical for businesses, governments and organizations to take full advantage of cloud-enabled innovations. The new SDKs and tools we are announcing today are an important step towards ensuring an open cloud that in turn brings greater flexibility to our partners and customers.”

The Company presented the technology preview and global availability of the following tools and SDKs that support open source developers working in mixed IT environments:

Windows Azure Companion (new) Community Technology Preview (CTP): a new tool that aims to provide a seamless experience when installing and configuring PHP platform-elements (PHP runtime, extensions) and web-applications running on Windows Azure. This first CTP focuses on PHP, but it may be extended to be used for deploying any open source component or application that runs on Windows Azure

Windows Azure Tools for Eclipse for PHP (update): plug-in for PHP developers using  the Eclipse development environment, which provides tools to create, test and deploy web applications targeting Windows Azure

Windows Azure Command Line Tools for PHP (update): a command-line tool, which offers PHP developers a simple way to package PHP based applications in order to deploy to Windows Azure
Windows Azure SDK for PHP version 2.0 (update) — enables PHP developers to easily extend their applications by leveraging Windows Azure services (like Blobs, tables and queues) in their web applications whether they run on Windows Azure or on another cloud platform.

This commitment to openness in the cloud creates opportunities for developers to combine new Azure cloud-based applications with other platforms, said a press release.

Developers can easily combine applications living on other clouds or on-premise using services offered by the Windows Azure platform. They can also build and enhance applications using their existing skills, whether they are familiar with the Microsoft Visual Studio development environment and the .NET Framework, or with other development environments like Eclipse.