Great new resources for Azure architects, developers and engineers.

Here are some recently released resources now available for individuals who enjoy Windows Azure as much as I do:

 

New Windows Azure Platform Book:

Learn to build flawless cloud services using the four components of the Azure Services Platform. Best practices and techniques for using Windows Azure, .NET Services, SQL Services, and Live Services are supported by a thorough overview of architectural concepts to ensure you make use of the platform to its full potential.
Written by Tejaswi Redkar, whom is a both a colleague of mine and a subject matter expert for our enterprise customers adopting Windows Azure.

Windows Azure Platform by Tejaswi Redkar | Apress | ISBN-13: 978-1-4302-2479-2 | 624pp. | $44.99 | eBook available

 

 

 

January 2010 MSDN Magazine Articles:

Cloud Patterns: Designing and Deploying Services for Windows Azure    by Thomas Erl; Arman Kurtagic; Herbjörn Wilhelmsen
To better understand how SOA patterns can be applied to Windows Azure deployments, the authors walk you through a scenario in which a bank moves its services to the cloud.

Cloud Storage: Fueling Your Application's Engine with Windows Azure Storage     by Kevin Hoffman and Nathan Dudek
Yes, you can run background processes in the cloud. In this article, the authors use a shopping cart example to demonstrate how to build an application engine as well as implement asynchronous messaging and processing using Azure Storage.

Cloud Security: Crypto Services and Data Security in Windows Azure   by Jonathan Wiggs
Many early adopters cloud platforms have questions about security. The article reviews some of the cryptography services and providers in Windows Azure along with some security implications for applications in the cloud.

 

Launch of Cerebrata’s Cloud Storage Studio:

After 6 months of beta-testing, and over 10 iterations, Gaurav Mantri announced the commercial launch of Cloud Storage Studio, a cool WPF-based client that assists in managing Windows Azure Hosted and Storage Services. You can download a free 30-day trial version and find out details by visiting their website, at https://www.cerebrata.com/Products/CloudStorageStudio/Default.aspx   The application will automatically switch to “Developer” edition after 30 days, and you will only be able to manage development storage.  You can purchase a “Professional” edition license for the introductory price of only $49.99 (USD) per desktop, and Cerebrata is also offering volume discounts.

 

JetBrains ReSharper 5.0 Beta:

While improving its traditional analysis functionality, ReSharper is at the same time targeting a wider audience, thanks to its new, comprehensive approach to web development, and providing new features that are useful at solution/project level (in addition to class level)
to benefit not just individual developers but whole teams.

Compared to previous versions, ReSharper 5.0 has evolved in four major directions:

1. Web Development . We have greatly extended the toolset available to ASP.NET developers when they work with markup files and web site infrastructure.
2. Project and Team . ReSharper becomes a valuable assistant not only to individual developers but to teams working with large, complicated projects. It allows them to view, change and maintain project structure.
3. Support for Visual Studio 2010 . ReSharper 5.0 provides support for the new Visual Studio version earlier than ever. Of course, Visual Studio 2008 is supported, too.
4. Code Analysis . This area incorporates several improvements, from "plainly" implementing a substantial pack of new code inspections to upgrading foreach and for loops to LINQ queries and letting you track how data values and method calls are passed through your code.

Other enhancements include extended IntelliSense, bookmarking, native NUnit support, and more.

You can download ReSharper 5.0 Beta right now.

 

Enjoy!