Google makes App Engine more enterprise-friendly

By Source Seeker on Wed, 04/08/09 - 12:18pm.

Google's added some key new features to App Engine designed to make its cloud computing platform a bit more palatable to typical enterprises. In addition to new support for Java, Google also rolled out database import/export tools and a way to let Google Apps interact with firewalled, on premises data.

Together, the changes should make it easier for enteprise developers to integrate traditional enterprise apps and newer cloud computing-based applications--as well as let users move seamlessly between the two. For example, Google offered the new Secure Data Connector, a downloadable agent that lets IT administrators connect Google Apps spreadsheets, gadgets in Google Sites, and App Engine applications to database resources behind the firewall. As an example of how it works, Oracle showed off an Oracle CRM gadget that uses the new SDC to let Oracle customers interact with sales and customer information from within Google Apps.

Google also added new database import/export tools that make it easier for users to move large amounts of data (in the gigabytes) into and out of App Engine. And it also unveiled early Java support, letting Java developers build apps using their familiar APIs and then simply move them to new application servers as necessary. As an example, Google highlighted an IBM demo, where it moved an app to IBM Websphere "with just a few coding changes."

To learn more, check out the Official Google Enterprise Blog.

* * *

Like this post? Visit the Google Subnet home page for more news, blogs and podcasts.

Tags

About Source Seeker

The Source Seeker blog is written by Julie Bort, editor of the Open Source Subnet site as well as the Microsoft Subnet, Cisco Subnet sites. Indeed, Bort is the Online Community Editor for all of Network World. She also writes The Microsoft Update blog. If you have an idea for a blog, or a news tip on open source, Microsoft or Cisco, contact her at jbort@nww.com, 970-482-6454 or follow Julie on Twitter @Julie188.

Open Source Subnet is the independent voice of open source users and is your gateway to daily open source news, blogs, tips and more. Visit the Open Source Subnet home page daily.