Windows Azure UG Talk: Node.js on Azure

Last Monday, I gave a talk on Node.js with Windows Azure at the Israel Windows Azure User Group. First of all, I find it incredible that the group meets every month and discusses the latest developments in cloud computing from Microsoft. I was delighted to see a group of enthusiasts open to learning about new technologies – I preached JavaScript and Node to C# developers, after all :-)

My talk covered the basics of using Node.js, fundamentals of the express framework and then some modules such as nstore, Mongoose, and msnodesql. We used Node.js with Azure Web Sites and Azure Virtual Machines to develop a bulletin-board Web app and even wrap it with a Windows Azure Mobile Services layer, producing a Windows 8 app in the process!

If you haven’t given Windows Azure a spin, you definitely should – you can have your own free website up and running in seconds, and a virtual machine customized to your needs in a matter of minutes. Windows Azure is very open and incredibly flexible, which shows in the number of modules and integration paths people take with it.

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