IBM announced new solutions for developers to create and deliver software in both public and private cloud environments. The offerings include application lifecycle management and software delivery tools from IBM Rational, as well as new services.
There is tremendous pressure on software development teams to hasten 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. "IBM views cloud computing as a new, emerging paradigm for delivering and consuming IT-based services," he says.
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 is also offering free and open access to the IBM Smart Business Development and Test on the IBM Cloud, designed to augment and enhance software development and delivery capabilities, particularly in large enterprises where IT departments handle hundreds of development projects every year. The 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.
In addition, to help customers leverage existing investments, these new services support development across heterogeneous environments, including Java, open source, and .NET. Pre-configured integrations of some of these Rational services, based on the Jazz framework are also now available, designed to help dynamically integrate and synchronize 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 feature services optimized for delivering software throughout the enterprise including agile development services to enable collaborative development and test; an integrated set of services for test management, test planning and test lab management; and tools to help develop for the cloud.
IBM Rational Software Delivery Services for Cloud Computing seeks to 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.
IBM says it is also helping software developers 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.