Blockchain is something that many people think is the solution to a bunch of existing problems. And here, tech companies are getting into the bandwagon in a big way.
Microsoft which is considered as one of the largest in tech, has launched 'Azure Blockchain Development Kit', which is a cloud-based blockchain development kit.
The aim is to allow businesses to create distributed ledger technology for specific use cases, and to help with the integration of the technology with existing data and legacy systems.
According to Microsoft blockchain engineering lead Marc Mercuri:
Here for example, users can leverage Microsoft Flow and Logic Apps, and extend capabilities with a REST-based API for client development and a message-based API for system-to-system integration.
The initial release focuses on three key themes: connecting interfaces, integrating data and systems, and deploying smart contracts and blockchain networks.
Azure Blockchain Development Kit purportedly enable individuals, organizations, and devices to connect to a blockchain via user interfaces.
Microsoft said that the development kit also includes SMS and voice interfaces for tracking and supply chain solutions, Internet of Things (IoT) device integration, support for mobile clients like Android and iOS, bots, virtual assistants, and other related solutions.
With all the capabilities, Azure Blockchain Development Kit should enable users to get their own distributed ledgers up and running quickly, enabling them to build applications in days instead of what traditionally could take months.
And because it is compatible with different ledger technologies, including Ethereum and Bitcoin, Microsoft calls the kit an "end-to-end" blockchain solution.
Over the years, Microsoft has been exploring how to use blockchain and other distributed ledger technologies to create new types of digital identities to enhance personal privacy, security and control.
"End-to-end blockchain solutions require integration with data, software and media that live off chain," said Mercuri. "External updates and events can trigger actions on smart contracts. Smart contract events and state changes can then trigger actions and data updates to 'off chain' systems and data. These external systems and AI will also need the ability to query attestable data from smart contracts to inform action."
"The Azure Blockchain Development Kit is the next step in our journey to make developing end-to-end blockchain applications accessible, fast and affordable to anyone with an idea," continued Mercuri. "The resulting applications will run atop a network that has higher rated cloud performance than other large-scale providers and enable federating identities between participants using Azure Active Directory."
Microsoft is hardly the only tech giant that made foray into blockchain.
Others like IBM, Google, and Amazon have also launched similar development kits for permissioned business blockchains. The Linux Foundation also has an open-source blockchain collaborative, called Hyperledger, and also has released SDKs for deploying and running business blockchains.