ZendCon gets its Cloud On

October 18, 2009 – 11:56 pm

I’m a busy guy this week. I’m talking about PHP and Platform Independence in the Cloud at ZendCon, as well as sitting on the keynote panel about Developing on the Cloud. The Simple Cloud API site is due for an update, too.

But I’m not the only one busting ass to bring the cloud to PHP. If you’re at ZendCon, check out these sessions to scratch your cloud computing itch:

Finally, make sure you say Hi. I’m never too busy to meet new peeps who will listen to me going off about about cloud stuff. :)

,Wil

PS: Testing update for @HighTechDad. If you see this, it worked!

By wllm | Posted in Zend | Tagged , | Leave a Comment

The Simple Cloud API has landed!

September 26, 2009 – 9:47 am

OK, a lot of you guys have noticed that I’ve been uncharacteristically silent for the past month or so. Now I can finally start talking about it- the Simple Cloud API has launched at http://www.simplecloud.org.

This API gives PHP developers one interface to code to for what we call ‘cloud application services’. These are runtime application services like nosql databases, storage, and simple queues. These services make it easier to write ‘cloud native’ applications that can take full advantage of the cloud’s promises of scalability and high-availability. I’ve found myself saying this a lot lately: “What’s the point of an infinitely scaling compute cloud when your applications can’t scale with it?”

We expect to be adding more of these services to the API as vendors roll them out. Possible services include email, session management, single sign on, etc. I can go on and on, but why don’t we let the vendors figure out what their customers need and vote with adoption? In any case, once such a service hits critical mass, the Simple Cloud API will have you covered.

The Simple Cloud API will be delivered as a new Zend Framework component called Zend_Cloud. The code will be available *very* soon.

So, why didn’t we do elastic compute cloud services in this first version of the API? That deserves a blog post of its own. :)

,Wil

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Zend Framework Knocks Out Another Amazon Service

August 10, 2009 – 11:11 pm

With the new Zend_Service_Amazon_SQS component in Zend Framework 1.9, ZF is quickly becoming the tool of choice for PHP developers building applications for the Amazon flavor of the cloud. This brings us up to full EC2, S3, and now SQS support, and I’m working with ZF’s best to fill out this list with SimpleDB in 1.10.

While elastic compute clouds have gotten most of the attention in the deafening cloud buzz of late, runtime services such as hashtable databases, robust storage, and simple queues are equally important IMO. After all, what good is an infinitely scalable compute cloud when your applications can’t scale with it?

You’ll hear more preaching from me on this subject in the coming months. For now, you can start getting the runtime cloud religion by checking out my cloud service primer.

Later.

,Wil

By wllm | Posted in Zend Framework | Leave a Comment

Another day, another blog. . .

August 10, 2009 – 10:43 pm

Howdy all!

Lately I’ve found that I have lots to say about PHP and cloud technologies and not enough places to say it. Hence, this blog.

Please check back early and often for news about stuff I can’t tell you about at the moment.

I can’t guarantee it will be entertaining. I can’t guarantee it will be enlightning. Hell, I can’t even guarantee that it will be informative. I’m just hoping it won’t be incriminating.

Now sit back, lower your expectations, and try to enjoy yourself.

,Wil

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