Chapter 1. The Concepts of Windows Azure

"The irresistible forces meet the movable objects."

—Pat Helland

In this chapter, we will provide an overview of Windows Azure and also briefly explain the history of the platform, why it was created, and why it is interesting and applicable for startup companies. We will also explore the evolution of Windows Azure from its early days back in 2008 right to where it is today. The internals of Windows Azure and the way Microsoft datacenters work will also be explained from a user experience perspective. It describes exactly what happens under the hood of Windows Azure after a developer deploys an application to the platform. The last sections of the chapter contain brief overviews of key features of the platform.