Developing over the cloud with IBM Bluemix

IBM has launched its cloud platform for developing applications. The savvy platform which is based over Cloud Foundry open source is a PaaS (Platform As A Service).

I have been into design and development of Software Applications for over a decade now. When I first started using Bluemix I was like Wow! I can do so much stuff and fast. Essentially the Bluemix platform takes the sting out of development which is environment maintenance and deployment. So now I could actually think of learning or better develop my new application on Node.Js or Ruby, Java or even create a Mobile App or probably go for a Analytics app using technologies like Map Reduce and choose from an array of database service which could be either DB2, or MySQL or json based MongoDB.

So, any of this or all of this in less than lets say 15 mins, amazing isn't it?


Well that's what Bluemix allows you to do. It enables you to focus on just the code and your logic and leave everything else to the platform.





In the not so distant past IBM acquired a company called Softlayer which essentially deals into an aspect of cloud called IaaS i.e Infrastructure as a Service. The SoftLayer databases acts as a host for the Bluemix.

What is Bluemix:

IBM Bluemix is a Cloud based PaaS (Platform as a Service) for developing applications. It is based on CloudFoundry, for those who don't know what CloudFoundry is, should look in to it. It reduces the development time and allows a developer to focus on what is most important in any application development that is Logic. It removes the shackles of environment setup and upgrade. Feel free to explore new technologies and create fantastic Mobile and Web Apps.

Bluemix Features:

1. Fast, easy interface, scalable and adaptable with improved performance.
2. Separation of concerns for development and deployment.
3. Reduced overhead of managing runtime environment.
4. Built over open source and open standards.
5. Cloud-centric platform
6. Key IBM services available over Bluemix
7. Supports Polyglot (programs written in multiple programming languages) models
8. Continuous availability
9. Provides Liberty Java, Node.Js, Ruby on Rails, Ruby Sinatra runtimes and also allows to import external builpacks (CF supported)
10. Simple one click application creation and deployment through CF commandline

Steps to creating an APP on Bluemix:

• Register on Bluemix [http://ace.ng.bluemix.net] using IBM Id (or create one for free)
• Login using your IBM id
• Click on Dashboard or Catalog
• Select either a Runtime or from BiolerPlates (it is a mix of runtime and services)
• Name your application
• Wait ! Once the application status is green, now click on the application 
• Click on View Guide on top RHS
• Install CF command line tool
• Download the starter package on your local machine
• Do your coding, create a great app and build your code (eg. using build.xml)
• Now upload your .war file to Bluemix through CF command line (you can also have a Eclipse plugin if using eclipse)
• Voila ! Access your app. Play around

You can also use Jazz Hub for IBM DevOps services and creating your code (JazzHub would be covered in later topics).

Happy Coding !