LOGIN | REGISTER NOW | SUBSCRIBE
 
print Printable version 
Most Read Latest News Blog Resources
CouchDB brings peer-based data replication
This NoSQL database is now production ready for developers who want to spread data out wit...
Experts: UML is active, but the buzz is lost
Since widespread acceptance, there is little enthusiasm around the language even ahead of ...
Compuware intros new GUI for mainframe tools
Beyond the GUI are plug-ins for data and debugging tools, as well as an OEM edition of Sli...
Black Hat conference fields suggestions for software security
Attendees give a wide variety of ideas about the subject, with Rex Black adding in some of...
Digg!  Digg
Reddit  Reddit
Slashdot  Slashdot
Share on facebook  Facebook
Share on Twitter  Twitter


            iphoneapp GET THE APP!

Zend project creates cloud application service portability


By David Worthington
September 22, 2009 —  Zend Technologies has announced the formation of an open-source project called Simple API for Cloud Application Services that will enable developers to use common PHP applications' services in the cloud.

The project's primary goal, announced today, is to make it easier for developers to write applications that can take advantage of the cloud's high availability and scalability while having portability at the same time, said Zend cloud strategist Wil Sinclair.

GoGrid, IBM, Microsoft, Nirvanix, Rackspace and Zend are cofounders of the project, and they will be contributing adapters for their platforms' application services. The first Simple API deliverables will be available for document databases, file storage and simple queue services.

Amazon is relying on community support to build and maintain its adapters for its services, including SimpleDB, S3 and SQS, said Sinclair.

Kristof Kloeckner, CTO of IBM Cloud Computing, promised that the company will contribute adapters for future cloud service interfaces and data storage products. "The Simple Cloud API will enable developers to invoke cloud services in a common way across cloud providers. This can significantly reduce the costs for application development and provide customer choice," he said.

Microsoft is contributing its client libraries for Windows Azure as well as an adapter from the Simple cloud API to its client libraries. Adapters will be available for Windows Azure blobs, Windows Azure tables and Windows Azure queues.

The adapters will need to be updated when platforms change, Sinclair said. "I hope they understand the importance of backward compatibility. Developers want to be backward compatible."

Aside from industry contributions, the Simple API source code is available to the PHP community to work toward the final API, said Sinclair. He expects that the API will be available for production later this year.

While Simple API can help translate common functionality across application services, it does not establish a standard service interface.

"We don't want to stifle innovation for vendor value-add features," said Sinclair. "Developers can use the [Simple] cloud API for 80% of use cases, and then use the client library in the Zend framework to access vendor value-add features."

The API is a "nice idea," but "it would be better for the industry if vendors agreed to support [the] same service interface instead of supporting adapters," said Anne Thomas Manes, vice president and research director for Burton Group Application Platform Strategies. "Then we wouldn't need adapters."

She added that it might be too much to ask for competitors to agree to use the same interface.

"We found surprising industry interest—more interest than we could accommodate for this press release. Having Microsoft and IBM contribute to the effort validates the idea," said Sinclair.


Related Search Term(s): cloud computing, Zend


Share this link: http://www.sdtimes.com/link/33778
 

Add comment


Name*
Email*  
Country     


  • Comment
  • Preview
Loading



 
 
 
 
News on Monday
more>>
SharePoint Tech Report
more>>


   

 
 
Download Current Issue
ISSUE 8/1/2010 PDF

Need Back Issues?
DOWNLOAD HERE

Receive the print Edition?


 
blogs tab
Like Ruby n' Rails
Programming languages and Web frameworks go together like peas n carrots. Or Ruby n' Rails.
07/30/2010 04:36 PM EST

Adobe buys a Web-based IDE
Adobe looks to buy a rapid and agile Web development environment.
07/28/2010 03:49 PM EST

OpenStack opens up
OpenStack looks to be an intriguing new idea for running clouds.
07/28/2010 01:56 PM EST

 

Events calendar tab
SHARE
8/1/2010 to 8/5/2010
Boston
SHARE

VSLive
8/2/2010 to 8/6/2010
Redmond, Wash.
1105 Media

Agile 2010
8/9/2010 to 8/13/2010
Orlando
Agile Alliance

Delphi Live
8/23/2010 to 8/26/2010
San Jose
S&S Media

VMworld
8/30/2010 to 9/2/2010
San Francisco
VMware