Windows^® Azure Platform Introduction:
Programming Cloud-Based Applications

What is this course about?

In this course, you gain the skills to build scalable, fault-tolerant and secure cloud-based applications using the Windows Azure Platform. You learn how to leverage existing knowledge of Visual Studio and .NET to develop applications for the cloud; create, deploy, configure and monitor ASP.NET applications that run in the Azure cloud; and host Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) services using Azure. Through practical hands-on exercises, you build and deploy Azure applications using Visual Studio and .NET.

What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing refers to any service that is delivered over the Internet. Rather than relying on a local infrastructure or support, cloud computing extends the existing capabilities of IT and application developers. Working in the cloud means reduced costs, faster application development, improved reliability and on-the-fly maintenance.

What is the Windows Azure Platform?

While deploying an application is simple, making that application scalable, fault-tolerant, secure and up-to-date requires a huge investment in hardware and administration.

The Windows Azure Platform offers a flexible framework for developers to create cloud applications and services. Because the Windows Azure Platform provides operating system, database and application services, it simplifies administration, streamlines maintenance and reduces costs.

Who will benefit from this course?

This course is valuable for those who want to take advantage of Windows Azure to create scalable, secure and affordable cloud-based applications. Typical participants include programmers, architects and application designers.

What background do I need?

.NET programming experience at the level of Course 502, Programming with .NET: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction, is assumed. For example, you should know how to:

• Program in a modern language like C#
• Create an application using Visual Studio or some other modern development tool
• Create an ASP.NET Web application

Which version of Visual Studio is used in this course?

This course uses Visual Studio 2010. However, everything covered in this course could also be done using Visual Studio 2008 with the Azure SDK installed.

I use an older version of Visual Studio (Visual Studio .NET 2003 or Visual Studio 2005). Should I take this course?

The Windows Azure Platform is a new technology and can only be used with Visual Studio 2008 or 2010.

The express (free) versions of Visual Studio would work with the Azure SDK, as well. If you use an older version of Visual Studio, it will be necessary to upgrade to 2008 or 2010 to use the Windows Azure Platform.

Which .NET languages does this course cover?

This course is presented with C# 4 as its basis. Exercises, sample solutions and sample code are only offered in C# 4.

How much time is spent on each topic?

How much of this course is hands-on?

You spend approximately 50 percent of class time engaged in hands-on exercises. You create and deploy a complete ASP.NET application that uses Azure storage, Web Forms security, profiles, membership and sessions in the cloud. You also create WCF services that use Azure compute services and queues.

Exercises performed in Visual Studio include:

• Creating a Windows Azure account
• Testing Azure applications with the development fabric
• Uploading an ASP.NET application to the cloud
• Storing data in blobs and tables
• Enabling Web Forms authentication, sessions and profiles for Azure applications
• Hosting a WCF service within the cloud
• Utilizing Azure queues for asynchronous processing
• Saving relational data in the cloud with SQL Azure

How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses?

The following courses may be of interest:

• Course 1200, Cloud Computing Technologies: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction, provides a general overview of cloud computing. You gain the knowledge and experience to leverage both the business and technical benefits of cloud computing.
• In Course 506, Building Web Applications with ASP.NET and Ajax: Hands-On, you create a scalable multitier Web site that is both secure and reliable using Visual Studio and .NET.
• Course 2601, Programming WCF Web Services for .NET: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction, offers the skills to program the full range of .NET Web services with Visual Studio.

• Course 503, Visual Basic^® Programming for .NET: Hands-On, provides the practical knowledge and techniques needed to build distributed and multitier Visual Basic applications.
• In Course 419, C# Programming: Hands-On, you gain the skills to exploit the capabilities of C# and of the .NET Framework to develop programs useful for a broad range of desktop and Web applications.
• In Course 975, Windows^® Presentation Foundation (WPF) and Silverlight Introduction: Hands-On, you learn how to create compelling, modern user experiences with Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF). You also learn how to target your WPF applications for multiple platforms with Silverlight.
• Course 511, .NET Best Practices and Design Patterns: Hands-On, offers the skills needed to solve real-world software development problems and deliver fast, reliable applications.
• In Course 2620, .NET 4 Programming for Existing .NET Developers: Hands-On, you gain the skills to enhance applications using new .NET features, including ASP.NET 4, Entity Framework and Silverlight.