Shippable Expands App Development Platform
Shippable, the developer of a platform for speeding code development and delivery of enterprise applications, has added cloud options and tighter integration with source controllers like GitHub while expanding support for micro-services and applications containers.
The Seattle-based startup said Monday (Feb. 29) the latest version of its software development and continuous delivery platform supports emerging applications technologies like containers along with traditional multi-tier apps. Along with native integration with GitHub and other source code control providers, Shippable also said its expanded platform connects natively with container registries from Docker along with cloud providers Amazon Web Services (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Google (NASDAQ: GOOG, GOOGL).
Developers use container registries to store, manage and deploy container images—in this case—Docker container images.
Shippable released code development and delivery platform in 2014 that included containerized development and test capabilities designed to replicate production environments. The expanded platform is designed to automate deployment so developers can focus on application development while getting them out the door faster.
The company said the new platform builds on its existing integration service, which it claims in used by more than 50,000 developers.
Another new feature is a "cloud adapter" capability that allows applications to be moved from one cloud platform to another. The list of cloud options includes the AWS ECS container service, Google container engine, Microsoft Azure (NASDAQ: MSFT) and other platform- and infrastructure-as-a-service providers.
Along with cloud flexibility, Shippable said users could attach their own build nodes on-premises or in their own private cloud. That security measure means developers' code never moves beyond corporate firewalls.
Another major selling point is the ability to move to new DevOps platforms or technologies like micro-services without the need for new tools or infrastructure. The company stressed that the automation of "DevOps plumbing" would allow developers to use preferred tools for app development and platforms for running builds along with the ability to pair apps with the appropriate cloud.
Container management upgrades include the ability to customize Docker workflows and speed up build times. The automation platform also allows use of Docker Compose, a tool used for running multi-container applications, to test against live services. Along with faster build times, the platform isolates container builds, a security feature that ensures one container cannot "see" the contents of another.
The Shippable API also expands access for DevOps tasks handled via a user interface. The feature is designed to provide a way for users to build apps on top of the platform.
Shippable and others have been leveraging Docker containers as a platform for speeding application development while scaling delivery as Docker shifts to production workloads.
Shippable said its new platform is available now. Pricing ranges from "freemium" to enterprise plans.
