Amazon Simpledb : Lite Edition

What is SimpleDB, how does it compare to relational databases, and how to get started?

Examine Amazon SimpleDB in comparison to traditional relational databases.

Set up an AWS account, and enable SimpleDB service for the account

Install and set up libraries for Java, PHP, and Python.

Become familiar with the SimpleDB data model

In Detail

Amazon's SimpleDB is a highly scalable, simple-to-use, and inexpensive database in the cloud from Amazon Web Services. But in order to use SimpleDB, you really have to change your mindset. This isn't a traditional relational database; in fact it's not relational at all. For developers who have experience working with relational databases, this may lead to misconceptions as to how SimpleDB works.

This focused book is all about Amazon SimpleDB, quickly understanding its power and value, and how to get up and running fast.

What you will learn from this book

Get to Know SimpleDB, explores SimpleDB and the advantages of utilizing it to build web-scale applications.

Get Started with SimpleDB - set up an AWS account, enable a SimpleDB service for the account, and install and set up libraries for Java, PHP, and Python.

Understand the differences between SimpleDB and a traditional RDBMS, as well as the pros and cons of using SimpleDB as the storage engine in your application.

Includes a detailed look at the SimpleDB data model and different methods for interacting with a domain, its items, and their attributes.

Approach

This focused book is an extracted LITE version of Packt's full: Amazon SimpleDB Developer Guide. It concentrates on getting a grounding in the value of SimpleDB, and shows how to set up an AWS account, enable a SimpleDB service for the account, and install and set up libraries for Java, PHP, and Python.

Who this book is written for

If you are a developer wanting to get to grips with a primer into SimpleDB, then this book is for you. You do not need to know anything about SimpleDB to read and learn from this book, and no basic knowledge is strictly necessary.

Prabhakar Chaganti

Prabhakar Chaganti is the founder and CTO of Ylastic, a start-up that is building a single unified interface to architect, manage, and monitor a user's entire AWS Cloud computing environment: EC2, S3, RDS, AutoScaling, ELB, Cloudwatch, SQS, and SimpleDB. He is the author of Xen Virtualization and GWT Java AJAX Programming, and is also the winner of the community choice award for the most innovative virtual appliance in the VMware Global Virtual Appliance Challenge. He hangs out on Twitter as @pchaganti.

Rich Helms

"It's never been done" is a call to action for Rich Helms. He has built a career on breaking new ground in the computer field. He developed CARES (Computer Assisted Recovery Enhancement System) for the Metropolitan Toronto Police in Canada. CARES was the first computer system in the world for aging missing children. CARES has been internationally recognized as pioneering work in child aging. Rich has also created several generations of e-Learning platforms including Learn it Script and most recently Educate Press.

Rich is a seasoned software developer with over 30 years of experience. He spent 22 years in various positions at IBM including Chief Image Technology Architect. His credentials range from deep technical work (five patents in hardware and software) to running multinational R&D.