IBM has announced new solutions for developers to create and deliver software in both public and private cloud environments. IBM Rational Software Delivery Services for Cloud Computing include ready-to-use application lifecycle management tools for developing and testing in the IBM Cloud, and use infrastructure management capabilities, to help organizations build software applications in the cloud. IBM Smart Business Development and Test on the IBM Cloud is a free public cloud beta for software development that provides compute and storage as a service, as well as Rational Software Delivery Services to help application developers and testers speed the development and delivery of software applications.
IBM Smart Business Development and Test on the IBM Cloud is designed to augment and enhance software development and delivery capabilities, particularly in large enterprises where IT departments handle hundreds of development projects every year. This new environment provides compute and storage as a service, IBM Rational Software Delivery Services, WebSphere and Information Management software to help application developers and testers speed the development and delivery of software applications. To help customers leverage existing investments, these new services support development across heterogeneous environments, including Java, Open Source, and .NET. In addition, pre-configured integrations of some of these Rational services are available based on the Jazz framework, which dynamically integrates and synchronizes people, processes and assets associated with software development projects.
IBM is also extending its IBM Rational Software Delivery Services for Cloud Computing to a private cloud infrastructure for enterprise customers who prefer governance and control of their own cloud environment. Behind a client's own firewall, these services can provide users with additional development options and customization needed to deploy applications in a private cloud.
IBM Rational Software Delivery Services for Cloud Computing bring the best practices of IBM's Global Technology Services, Global Business Services and Rational Lab Services with a full suite of capabilities to adopt and deploy cloud delivery options and identify areas for return on investment in cloud adoption. IBM's new Global Technology Test Cloud Services and IBM Global Business Cloud Consulting Services offerings are also available with the new IBM Rational Software Delivery Services for Cloud Computing.
There is "incredible pressure" on development teams to expedite the delivery of software solutions, observes Kristof Kloeckner, IBM's CTO of Enterprise Initiatives. Putting the infrastructure for software development into the cloud can support developers and testers with a dynamic, flexible and self-service environment, helping them achieve their goals effectively in a more timely fashion.
"Take for example a development team that wants to establish a Rational Team Concert environment. In the traditional way, they would have to go to their administration, request a server, set up a team a Team Concert on the server and then configure it to the needs of their team. With the cloud they can simply request an image of Rational Team Concert already set up according to best practices, and within minutes of requesting, make it available to their team," explains Kloeckner.
IBM is also helping software developers to gain cloud computing skills with no-charge access to online workshops, skills tutorials, and social networking tools through My developerWorks.
To access the open beta for the IBM Smart Business Development and Test on the IBM Cloud, go here.