google app engine

Cloud computing seems to be the latest buzz word in internet technologies at the moment so I have decided to dip my toes in by trying Google App Engine.

First, its free. Well so long as you don’t need more than the free quota limits provided. But even then the rates don’t seem too bad. However, I have never measured CPU-Hours in any previous app so I don’t really know what’s a lot and what isn’t.

Second, its Google. And, up to now, anything Google that I have put my mind to seems to have worked out ok. it also means you can draw on existing Google technologies and incorporate them into your cloud app.

Third, its new. What I mean is, its something new for me to learn. Currently, App Engine only runs in two flavours, Python and Java, neither of which I am fluent in. Now I started the App Engine tutorial in Java but I just couldn’t get my head around the syntax so I have switched to Python and I am surprised at how quickly I am learning. I feel I am nearly ready to start writing apps in it. plus there is the DataStore which stores objects, not rows. That should be interesting to get my noggin around.

So now I just need an idea, that ‘killer’ app that I can start on. Cloud Computing seems to be bias towards data/network intensive activity rather than SEO based sites so perhaps an online game or similar would be it. Any ideas?