Cloud9 supports Node.js community, teams with Microsoft

Cloud9, makers of the Cloud9 IDE, have announced that they will be working with Microsoft to allow Node.js applications created in the Cloud9 IDE to be deployed to Microsoft's Azure cloud platform. The open source, event-driven, JavaScript-on-the-server Node.js platform was ported to Windows last year with the support of Microsoft. The partnership will provide developers with a cloud platform to which they can deploy their applications from within the IDE. Developers will need to make use of the open sourced client libraries in the Windows Azure SDK for Node.js to access the cloud platform's services. Details of Azure's pricing are available from Microsoft.

The announcement was made at the Node Summit currently taking place in San Francisco. It is one of a number of initiatives that the maker of the online IDE service, which is free to use for open source projects, is announcing to "support the growth" of the Node.js community. Other initiatives include the launch of Nodebits.org, a site designed to inspire Node.js developers with ideas and sample projects, and the opening of NodeManual.org, an official reference site for the Node.js platform and JavaScript. Cloud9 has also announced that it will be providing online and hands-on commercial training around Node.js. Cloud9's IDE service is built using Node.js.

The NodeBits site is currently holding a "build a wiki in Node.js" competition with BeagleBone kits as prizes, complete with a tutorial on how to use the Express framework to start building your own application. The BeagleBone runs Node.js and can be programmed from Cloud9's IDE.

See also:

• The H Speed Guide to Node.js, a feature from The H.

(djwm)