Cloud9: An open source and web based Cloud IDE for kick ass code editing - Flourish! 2011
Channel: Flourish Conference
Date: 11/11/2013

Flourish! 2011
Rik Arends is co-founder and CTO of Ajax.org. As a C++ developer with over 15 years of experience in 3D, computer vision and video, Rik has developed software engines behind browser based video mixing, large stage projections and multi-touch tabletop computing used by Coca Cola and Nokia. Well versed in declarative techniques as well as having a strong focus on performance and pushing the boundaries, Rik focuses on the web environment from both JavaScript and C++ angles.

Talk Description: We believe that  that the browser is the future; therefore we have always seen the Open Web as a robust platform for application development. Meanwhile JavaScript is making its grand comeback. Cloud9 combines these ideas ideas. Cloud9 is a tool to develop in the cloud that is aiming to be the IDE (integrated development environment) for JavaScript developers built by JavaScript developers. JavaScript applications run online for a purpose, so why shouldn't you develop your application online too? In this talk we will elaborate on the advantages for developers to develop in the cloud.
Now we can stretch the limits of what can be achieved with today's browsers. With running an IDE in the cloud, all the data needed to run and maintain applications is continuously accessible online. Therefore the collaboration between developers is taking new dimensions, it all becomes easier. Developers can work together on projects from any location worldwide. Now anyone can easily view and alter the code. Fixing bugs now becomes easier, newly hired developers can work with the codes of older pojects. Moreover, setting up the project is less tedious than it used to be with desktop IDE's.
Plus you don't need to worry about your storage of the integration; The integration is moved up to the API with which we develop applications. Next, you don't need to worry about scaling. Lets say you built an application running the VM at a hosting company, and suddenly it becomes popular! Problem: the scaling of the backend resources, rent servers, load balancer... and you have to find a way to scale your database. This is a small nightmare. The cloud solves this problem with cloud API'S architected for scaling; scale e.g. from 1 to 1 million users, no problem.
 With all the extra time, the developer can be focused on the application itself, hence the quality of the application will become better.