Web Application Development on Cloud; A Starter Guide

As we are getting advanced in the field of technology and web development, we are seeing an evolution in the ways of sharing information, storing, accessing information, and every other technology-related service. In the earlier days, we used to communicate through landline as there was no other option. But now, we can connect through a network and communicate seamlessly. These internet-based services do not need any wired connections and still work like you end to end connected with other people.

Cloud computing is one of the best examples we can take here. It is a technology by which we can connect to a person or a cloud through the internet, and we can share information, store information, and access information whenever we want. Well, cloud computing is not magic, and it has some machines behind all the working. These are the virtual machines that have their databases at a remote location. Cloud service providers take care of these databases and virtual machines. They look after their maintenance, management, and the security of data that is available in those databases. It is precisely like electricity if we require an example, we have all our appliances running accurately, but the central power is provided to us from a remote location.

As of now, cloud computing is one of the most used technologies in the enterprise sector. As companies are transforming their businesses and bringing them to the cloud environment because they know what the future is all about. Another industry that is taking the leverage if this technology is the IT industry. They are developing more advanced technologies keeping cloud computing as a reference. There is another area of information technology that is seeing some great changes due to this technology that is web development.

What is Web Application?

It is a simple application like others, but there is a difference. This application can be operated, accessed, and maintained through the internet. As we are going more and more towards digitalization, it is the need of time to develop some applications that can directly link the client with the host, as it enhances the customer's satisfaction.

Some of the examples of web applications include online funds transfer, online billing, online ticket booking, instant message service, and online stocks report that we run through the internet. There are a lot of developers looking for just an opportunity and platform to install their web-based applications. There is always an option for setting up a server, but not everyone goes for this option as it is an expensive one. Cloud-based services are very helpful in this kind of scenario.

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Web Application Development on Cloud

There are some necessities when it comes to the development of web-based applications, and the most fundamental one is to have a server-based application that can provide a suitable environment for launching codes on the internet. Another necessity of a web-based application is that it requires continuous monitoring, and we need a team to monitor it like every time. It is just to ensure that nothing gets in the way of the normal working of the application.

The development of web-based applications is not something new in the information technology industry, there were traditional ways before. That was the reason why they went after a solution that was better and faster. It is now when all the big giant companies are looking towards cloud computing for their web-based applications and even for DevOps as it is an automated process of application development. We can learn about the relation of web-based applications and DevOps by doing a certification like Azure DevOps Engineer Certification, Azure administrator certification and there are many more.

There are a lot more benefits to this interaction that is based on a virtual cloud. It is because of cloud computing that the web application development cycle has become easier and affordable.

Options we can Use to Develop Application on Cloud

There will always be a question on the line, why use the cloud for application development? There are many other options one can go for. Well, one of the answers would be its cost, but that is not it. Joining a cloud will give you access to a lot of latest services, plus you can reach various geographical regions and operate globally. So, if there isn't any hurdle, you should always opt for a cloud to develop web-based applications or any other applications.

When it comes to developing or hosting an application over the cloud, we have multiple options to choose from, and why not? There is infrastructure as a service, model in which we can use virtual machines and networks, and containers as a service, in which we can run a container over multiple machines and many more. Let's look at them in detail to know what options do we have if we develop our web-based application on a cloud.

Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS)

It a cloud-based service model in which you can access virtual machines and networks and utilize them for your work. You can configure these machines as you want, and you can also get a pre-configured virtual machine. It is always an option if you want to host something over a cloud. If you opt for infrastructure as a service, you can go for one of the following popular options.

• DigitalOcean is one of the best services IAAS has to offer as it has data centers all around the world. There is only one problem it offers virtual machines with Linux only.
• Amazon EC2 is the market leader when it comes to IAAS based services. Setting it up is relatively complex, but it gives a free tier of 12 months with small VMs that can be helpful for a starter.
• Azure virtual machines are an IAAS based service offered by Microsoft that offers a lot of pre-configured VMs, and you can also configure it as you require. You get to test this service as well, as Microsoft offers a free tier of $200 for small VMs.
• Google compute engine is a service offered by the Google cloud platform that is based on IAAS, and you also get to test it with the free tier.

Platform as a Service (PAAS)

Platform as a service, a service custom made for web-based applications. It is very easy to set-up and has a lot to offer. In PAAS, you do not need to set up the environment as you get the platform to run your application freely. You get to have a user interface in PAAS that you can use to run, stop, and manage your application. There is an option of vertical and horizontal scaling, and you also get the monitoring and logging options. Some of the PAAS based services now offer docker service as well, in which you can run any application regardless of which language it is written in. Let's look at some of the offerings of PAAS in the domain of web application.

• Heroku is a PAAS service that has been out there for the longest time. You can run applications based on PHP, Java, Ruby, and many others, plus it can be used to deploy applications on Docker containers. There is a free tier available, but your application will go to sleep after inactivity of more than 30 minutes.
• Netlify is a web hosting service that offers automated deployments and a free tier for A/B testing, backend logic with AWS Lambda, and many more functions.
• Azure app service is a PAAS based service offered by Microsoft. It offers Windows and Linux both platforms, and you can host applications that are in various languages. You can also run it on docker containers that mean any application can be run on this.

Containers as a Service

Containers as a service have been on the rise, and many cloud platforms are using it right now. It is a complex task to host a Kubernetes cluster on your own so we can use Containers as a service to deploy on a managed cluster.

Why should we Use Cloud for Web Application Development?

As we have discussed how crucial cloud computing is for the present and the future of information technology and the enterprise world, we cannot neglect its benefits when it comes to web-based application development. According to research, developers tend to capture a bigger market of customers when they use the cloud computing platform for their application development.

Well, there are many reasons why we should use a cloud service for web application development. The first and important thing is scalability, which is a crucial thing for any application. Cost-effectiveness is another thing, cloud services are cheaper than any other option. Security if data is one of the things, as security is the key point for every organization. Easy accessibility, productivity, and mobility are some of the reasons well.

Cloud computing is the technology that will be making big in the future, and web development with the blend of cloud technology is not going to be much behind.