Windows Azure Offers Developers Familiar Platform
Web development within the Windows Azure environment offers a unique perspective for ad-hoc deployment within a virtualized system. Using the Azure tool set as a backbone an ASP.NET developer will find an easy transition to the Windows Azure cloud deployment practice. Since Windows Azure offers developers familiar platform capabilities, project development is not unwieldy. Let’s take a brief look at what is necessary to get started in the development cycle.
The development environment of Visual Studio 2010 offers a familiar interface for those who have been using this tool for their ASP.NET platform. In addition the IIS must be enabled as well to be used as the cloud simulator for testing the applications. The Azure SDK must also be installed and is integrated with the Visual Studio platform. Once all of these components are installed, they will work in tandem to offer the developer a clean interface for building Windows Azure applications.
A Windows Azure application can consist of two components. The first element is called a ‘Web Role’. This component’s practical application can be something as simple as a web application with access via standard http or https. In other words, a website available to users through a standard URL would be considered a practical use.
The second component or element is referenced as a ‘Worker Role’. This is a backend .NET process that is used to handle data that may take a longer time to manage. As an example a worker role module may process database queries that have been administered through the web role. The task is passed off to the worker role, the data is massaged and then presented to the web role again in the form of an answer to a query.
Although these types of processes have been performed in other environments, what makes the Azure environment unique is the fact that each worker role and each web role is scalable through the advent of virtual machines. In order to handle certain loads at critical times, there may be multiple worker or web roles deployed in order to handle any difficult traffic situation. This ability alone will enable the developer to focus more on the design and implementation of the application rather than the tedium of deciding the best way to off load CPU cycles and internet traffic.
Finally, Windows Azure offers a flexible management facility, which when enacted after application deployment, will make tweaking the end user experience a simple task. With all of these attributes Windows Azure will soon be the industry standard for web and cloud application development.
