Google launched the Google App Engine

Google did not just talk about application hosting. Today they launched the beta version of the Google App Engine service , an ambitious project, allowing developers to create scalable web applications. The platform is built on BigTable and GFS.

At first glance, this is a copy of their competitor Amazon Web Services with a set of web services offered by Amazon Web Services (S3, EC2, SimpleDB). But unlike AWS, which consists of mutually independent services which can then be linked developers (incidentally, Amazon was yesterday Downey), Google’s architecture is more centralized, but therefore less flexible. (For example, in Amazon you can use your data on S3, independently of any other services, while in Google, using the BigTable service, you need to write a Python script for your application servers to create access to the web interface).

Developers just need to download their Python code, and run the application, and then monitor various indicators.

* Fast code deployment.
Google App Engine provides its computing resources, exactly as much as necessary. Developers need to write code, and the Google App Engine takes care of the rest.
* The issue with a sharp surge in the popularity of the project is being addressed, a sudden increase in traffic is no longer a headache for developers. The Google App Engine will take care of this with its own servers.
* Easily integrates with other Google services. This is a huge saving of time and nerves for developers who no longer need to write authentication and email components from scratch for each new project. Developers using the Google App Engine can use the built-in components, as well as use the large Google API library.

Only the first 10,000 developers who manage to register will be able to subscribe to the beta version and they will be allowed to post their applications.

The service is absolutely free for the beta testing period, but there is a limit on use. Applications cannot use more than 500 MB of total storage, 200 daily cycles of processor time, and 10 GB of traffic per day (in both directions). This is equivalent to roughly viewing a million pages per month, which is normal for a standard web application. After beta testing, these restrictions will be eliminated, everyone will be able to use these parameters for free, but developers will have to pay for any excesses. At the moment, Google has not set a price for the service.

Google plans to make money from the service using AdSense, hoping that developers will embed code in their web applications, but they do not expect real payback from the service.

“The main motivation is to create the most comfortable conditions for developers and move forward, thereby developing the web application market.
If it’s easier for developers to create web applications, which leads to an increase in the total number of applications, and accordingly will attract more users to the Network, and therefore to Google, and this is what we need well ”(Coomen)

One of the current restrictions is that that applications should be written exclusively in Python. They explain this at the moment that Python is their main scripting language (in 2005 they hired the creator of Python Guido van Rossum). Google is considering all options with other popular languages.

via Social Trend