November 2009 Release of the Windows Azure Tools and SDK

Today we released several new features for Windows Azure through the Windows Azure Tools and SDK.  (Use the direct link while the release propagates)

We look forward to discussing these new Windows Azure features, in detail, at PDC '09.

This release add support for Visual Studio 2010 Beta 2 and VWD Express 2010 Beta 2.

Lots of changes and new features in the November 2009 release:

• Service Model UI: A redesigned and significantly more complete interface for manipulating Role configuration information. To access, double-click on a role node in the Solution Explorer.
• Additional role templates: Support for ASP.NET MVC 2 (2010 only), F# worker roles (2010 only), and WCF Service Application web roles.
• Support for dynamically creating tables: The Create Tables functionality is now performed automatically; there is no longer a need to right-click and select Create Tables… on the project after your table definitions have changed.
• Full support for and installation of the November Windows Azure SDK release:
  • The sample storage client has been replaced by a new production quality library.
  • New Diagnostics library enables logging using .NET APIs and enables the collection of diagnostic information from the service.
  • Service Runtime library updated to support inter-role communication and notification of configuration changes .
  • Support for input endpoints on Worker Roles.
  • Higher fidelity simulation of Development Storage: supports all current cloud storage features, including dynamically creating tables.
  • Ability to choose the size of the VM for a role instance.
  • Ability to persist data in local storage even after the role is recycled.
  • Ability to manage certificates to install to the role VMs.

Updated and additional samples are available at: http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/windowsazuresamples

I’m pretty excited about this for a few reasons. 

• We've been working really hard on it for quite a while now and it feels so good to see it go live. 
• As you can see from the list above, we’ve packed it full of new things that you’ve been asking for!
• You can now use Visual Studio 2010 Beta 2 with the Windows Azure Tools
• I have a ton of things to blog about :) (including updating some of my walkthroughs to work against this new release)

Let me know what you think!