The Simple API for Cloud Application Services project, or Simple Cloud API, is intended to let developers use common application services in the cloud and access value-added features from individual providers, said Zend, which is best known as a provider of tools for PHP application development. Developers would be able to build cloud applications accessing all major cloud platforms. IBM, Microsoft, Nirvanix, Rackspace, and GoGrid serve as co-founding contributors to the community project. Cloud leader Amazon Web Services is among the platforms supported, although Amazon is not now a participant in the effort.
Initially functioning with PHP, the API was designed for translation to any object-oriented language for the Web, Zend said. “We have talked with people in Java, Python, and the Perl community and they’re interested in collaborating,” to support the API in these languages, Sinclair said.
Initial deliverables include interfaces for file storage, document databases, and simple queue services from platforms like Amazon Web Services, Windows Azure, Nirvanix Storage Delivery Network, and Rackspace Cloud Files. Developers can deploy applications accessing services in these environments without having to make changes to source code.
Read the rest of the story at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2009/09/22/urnidgns852573C40069388000257639004F5C93.DTL
