Come learn about IBM's new cloud development platform: Codename: BlueMix.
BlueMix is an open-standards, cloud-based platform for building, managing and running apps and services of all types (web, mobile, big data, new smart devices). Capabilities include Java, mobile backend development, application monitoring, as well as capabilities from ecosystem partners and open source — all through an as-a-service model in the cloud.
The 200 BlueMix Days include Meetups, BlueMix Advantage sessions, and Hands-On BlueMix Workshops.
BlueMix is an open-standards, cloud-based platform for building, managing and running apps and services of all types (web, mobile, big data, new smart devices). Capabilities include Java, mobile backend development, application monitoring, as well as capabilities from ecosystem partners and open source — all through an as-a-service model in the cloud.
The 200 BlueMix Days include Meetups, BlueMix Advantage sessions, and Hands-On BlueMix Workshops.
I attended a run-through of one of the events at IBM Hursley Park this morning, and got my hands dirty.
This event was hosted by the IBM Innovation Centre for Business Partners ( IIC ), where I used to work back in the early-mid noughties :-)
So what did I learn ?
- Codename BlueMix is IBM's new ( announced at Pulse a few months back )
- BlueMix is a cloud-based Platform-as-a-Service offering
- BlueMix fits into the DeveloperOperations - DevOps - suite of solutions
- BlueMix runs on IBM SoftLayer
- Currently BlueMix is free to use, via a self-registration beta service
- Eventually BlueMix will become a fully functioning IBM-hosted offering
- BlueMix is an implementation of the open Cloud Foundry PaaS offering
- BlueMix ( and, of course, Cloud Foundry ) provides an up-in-the-clouds collaborative development / run-time environment
- BlueMix provides a series of target run-times, including Java ( powered by the WebSphere Application Server Liberty Profile ), node.js and Ruby on Rails
- node.js and Node-RED both look very very interesting
- BlueMix enables a developer to create an application via a self-assembly model, bringing applications and services together in one place
- As an example, there's a number of database services, including mySQL, PostGreSQL and, of course, IBM's DB2
- BlueMix gives one the ability to rapidly create an application that leverages one of these databases ( or the new crop of no-SQL databases including MongoDB and IBM's recent acquisition, Chordiant )
- BlueMix can work alongside IBM DevOps Services, formerly known as Jazz.net to provide a collaborative development AND run-time environment
So what did I end up doing ?
Via the excellent labs that were included as part of the workshop, I installed a bunch of new software onto my MacBook Pro, including: -
Eclipse Kepler ( I chose the Java EE package )
The last two items are purely optional, as one can actually develop and upload code to BlueMix using a command-line tool :-)
What version of Cloud Foundry do I have: -
$ cf -v
cf version 6.1.1-7d2b86f
How do I log in ?
$ cf login -a https://ace.stage1.ng.bluemix.net
How do I get help ?
$ cf -help
How do I create a MySQL service ?
$ cf create-service mysql 100 NickAndDave
How do I upload my code ?
$ cf push myupload-NickAndDave --no-manifest --no-start -c "node app.'s"
How do I bind my service ?
$ cf bind-service myupload-NickAndDave NickAndDave
How do I start my application ?
$ cf start myupload-NickAndDave
Now, for someone like me, that's absolutely perfect, as I can easily script it.
However, one does not HAVE to use the command-line.
The web GUI is absolutely spectacular, and does all the things that one might require. Equally, one can use Eclipse ( hence why I downloaded the plugins for Eclipse Kepler ), or develop the code in IBM DevOps Services ( fka Jazz.net ) and have it automatically "publish" / deploy to BlueMix, each time something changes.
Now I didn't get in to node.js, but that's definitely something for another day - server-side JavaScript, what's not to like ??
So some references: -
plus this really interesting blog post on node.js: -
So, in conclusion, that was a really really useful day out.
Thanks @IICHursley, you rock :-)
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