Razvoj aplikacija za Azure platformu

Rad se bavi konceptom računalstva u oblaku (engl. cloud computing) i razvojem aplikacija u oblaku i to na Windows Azure platformi. Rad polazi od definiranja današnje percepcije pojma računalstva u oblaku te razmatra trendove i okolnosti koje omogućuju pomak dijela računalstva ka oblaku. Uvidom u povijesni kontekst, paradigme i tehnologiju uočava se da su koncepti računalstva u oblaku – virtualizacija, mainframe računala, distribuirani sustavi i slično – otprije poznati, a većina ih je nastala 60-tih i 70-tih godina u laboratorijima tvrtke IBM. U sklopu rada razmatraju se temeljne karakteristike računalstva u oblaku koje oblikuju današnju percepciju računarstva te se na temelju njih pojašnjavaju osnovni modeli računalstva u oblaku i izazovi prilikom korištenja i implementacije takvih usluga. U drugom dijelu rada analizira se platforma Windows Azure kao platforma za razvoj aplikacija radi predstavljanja osnovnih premisa na kojima se temelji usluga Windows Azure. Također se daje pregled dostupnih resursa i ekonomskog aspekta pojedinih usluga. U zadnjem dijelu opisuje se izrada jednostavne aplikacije koja demonstrira neke od temeljnih koncepata i servisa sustava Windows Azure. Razvijena je jednostavna aplikacija koja dočarava neke ključne odlike platforme kao što su jednostavan razvoj, postavljanje aplikacije u oblak, skaliranje i upravljanje pomoću Windows Azure građevnih blokova.This paper analyzes the concept of cloud computing. More specifically, it deals with developing applications in the cloud on the Windows Azure platform. Initially it defines the current view of cloud computing and examines trends and circumstances enabling the shift to the cloud. The paper shows that when historic context, paradigms and technology are analyzed, it becomes apparent that the idea of cloud computing rests on already familiar concepts – virtualization, mainframe computers, distributed systems etc. The majority of these concepts have been developed in the 60s and 70s in IBM laboratories. The paper also examines the basic characteristics of cloud computing which inform the current view of computing. Based on these characteristics, basic models of cloud computing and challenges arising from the use and implementations of such services are explained. What follows is an analysis of Windows Azure as a platform for application development which serves to demonstrate basic premises on which the Windows Azure service is built. There is also an overview of available resources. Individual services are presented from an economic viewpoint as well. Finally, there is a description of a simple application demonstrating some basic concepts and services of the Windows Azure system. A simple application was developed in order to showcase some key platform attributes, such as simple development, setting applications in the cloud, scaling and managing by using Windows Azure building blocks