New Windows Azure Tools for Eclipse/PHP CTP Available

Microsoft has launched a new community technology preview of the plug-in it offers PHP developers using Eclipse to build Cloud applications for Windows Azure.

The release is the October 2010 CTP of Windows Azure Tools for Eclipse/PHP, which has been available for a few days now to all PHP devs.

Early adopters that have tested the previous releases of Windows Azure Tools for Eclipse/PHP now have the chance to update to the latest version.

According to the software giant, the October 2010 CTP is a refresh shipped to the September 2010 community technology preview Build.

“This update is based on your feedback and includes many new features, as well as enhancing the workflow of features for version 2, which should be released by November,” revealed Vijay Rajagopalan, Principal Architect, Microsoft Interoperability.

Basing the update on developer feedback, Microsoft has worked to polish the rough edges of the Windows Azure Tools for Eclipse/PHP CTP, taking into account tester input in order to refine the features that were already in place.

At the same time, the company also introduced new features to the Eclipse plug-in designed to enable PHP developers to leverage Eclipse in order to develop and deploy web applications to Windows Azure.

“Here’s a quick rundown of the features we’re introducing:

•One-click deployment of PHP Applications from Eclipse directly to Windows Azure;

•Support for Windows Azure Diagnostics;

•Integration of Open Source AppFabric SDK for PHP Developers for connecting on-premise PHP applications to cloud applications;

•Support for multiple Web Roles and Worker Roles for large PHP applications;

•Support of Windows Azure Drive to enable ease of migration of legacy PHP applications,” Rajagopalan added.

But as always Microsoft is not only offering only the tools, but also complementing the developer resources with training.

In this regard, Microsoft’s Brian Swan has an excellent tutorial on just how to take advantage of the resources provided by the Redmond company in order to build apps for Windows Azure. Just read: “Using the Windows Azure Tools for Eclipse with PHP.”