1. Overview
The Windows Azure platform offers an intuitive, reliable and powerful platform for the creation of web applications and services. The Windows Azure platform is comprised of Windows Azure: an operating system as a service; SQL Azure: a fully relational database in the cloud; and .NET Services: consumable web-based services that provide both secure connectivity and federated access control for applications.
The purpose of this project is the creation of a feature- rich open source PHP application development environment in Eclipse that enables development and deployment of PHP applications for Windows Azure. The windowsazure4e plug-in builds upon the PHP Development Toolkit (PDT) and integrates Web Tools Platform (WTP) to provide a complete toolkit for Windows Azure Web Application development.
The windowsazure4e extensions offers an end-to-end Windows Azure development experience, including:
- Project Creation & Migration: The New Project Wizard creates a new PHP Web Application targeting Windows Azure. Existing PHP projects can be converted to Windows Azure projects (or vice-versa) using the migration tool.
- Azure Project Structure & Management: The windowsazure4e plug-in creates the project artifacts that Windows Azure expects, including a Windows Azure Service project and a Web-role Project, as well as Windows Azure configuration and definition files. Project and Windows Azure settings are exposed via the properties window in Eclipse
- Storage Explorer: As part of the plug-in, a Windows Azure Storage Explorer is provided within the Eclipse environment. The Storage Explorer allows easy management of Windows Azure Storage Accounts. In addition, it also provides a friendly user-interface for performing Create, Read, Update, and Delete (CRUD) operations on Blobs, Queues, and Tables.
- Azure Project Deployment: Once the PHP application for Windows Azure had been developed and tested locally on the Windows Azure Development Fabric, the application can be packaged up for Windows Azure deployment with a right-clicking on the target project from within Eclipse.
The Storage Explorer it built using the Windows Azure SDK for JavaTM.
2. Project contributors
Soyatec (Analysis and Development)
Soyatec, located in Paris France, Xi'An and ShenZhen China, is an international software company and one of major Eclipse solution providers. It was Founded in 2006 by a group of Java engineers who had worked on Eclipse since 2002. As Eclipse Foundation Member, it has contributed to several Eclipse projects: Visual Editor, BPMN2 and e4.
It develops and markets the first XAML solution for Java: eFace, and provides OutSourcing Eclipse development in China.
Microsoft Corporation (Funding, Architectural & Technical Guidance, Project Management)
3. Screenshots
Project wizard |
Storage Explorer |
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Run in Development Fabric |
Debug in Development Fabric |
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The plug-in provides complete project management including new project wizard, project import and resource management. The project structure is compatible with Microsoft Visual Studio and Expression Blend.
4. Roadmap
V2: September 2010 (Community Technology Preview)
This version adds the support of new features provided in WindowsAzure SDK 1.2 (June 2010) and opens the connectivity and interoperability with third-part tools and applications:
- Host PHP application on http endpoint using SSL certificate
- Code Templates of Windows Azure in PHP editor
- Windows Azure Diagnostics support
- Integration of Open Source AppFabric SDK for PHP Developers
- Executing PHP script in a Worker Role support
- Support for Multiple Web Roles and Worker Roles
- Integration of SQL CRUD Application Wizard for PHP
- Improvements on Project conversion
- Manage Application Deployment
- Expose php.ini & PHP Folder in Web Role
- Support of Windows Azure Drive for PHP developers
- Use the Account Name for Storage Explorer
- WorkRole for MySQL to run MySQL database on Windows Azure
V2: November 2010 (Release)
- Complete user documentation & Prescriptive Tutorials
- Defects & Regression Testing
- Developer Usability Testing
