Engine Yard opens its tracks in the cloud
- TAGS:Amazon, EC2, Engine Yard, Ruby on Rails
- IT TOPICS:Cloud Computing, Data Center, Development
If the promise of a pervasive, flexible and functional realm of cloud computing is to be realized, the distinct cloud services currently available are going to need to work together, merging, metaphorically speaking, like one indistinguishable cloud mass hanging over the Willamette Valley in Oregon. (Much like today's weather.)
Well, tomorrow Engine Yard Inc. will take a small, but important step toward that goal. The San Francisco-based company is announcing Solo, a service for Ruby on Rails developers to launch their applications using Amazon.com's low-cost EC2 cloud computing services, but with more advanced deployment and management tools than currently available on Amazon's site.
The developer can use Solo to manage his app on EC2 until it needs the more sophisticated management resources and expertise Engine Yard offers to the growing number of Ruby on Rails developers. Tom Mornini, chief technology officer, claims the shift from EC2's data center to his company's site will be easily achieved with Solo's self-service tools.Â
The appeal of Solo is, he says frankly, is the value it offers to developers on a budget. Solo's entry level price is $129 per month.
According to Jayson Van Tuyl, the company's software architect, Solo's intent is to "be a bridge between the clouds."
Although only available with Amazon's EC2 operations, there's nothing technical to prevent Engine Yard to work with, say, the Google App Engine service, should the two companies strike a deal.
Solo goes live on January 28.
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