Microsoft says it is focused on helping developers build the next generation of client applications that are “tethered to a back-end cloud,” and app developers here in Austin are paying close attention.
Microsoft is calling its new Windows Server 8 “the cloud-optimized server operating system.” The company says Windows Server 8 builds on its experience creating the Windows Azure public cloud and that Windows Server 8 shares management, identity and development tools with Windows Azure. Windows Server 8 gives developers a choice of delivering services across private clouds, public clouds, or both.

Satya Nadella, president of Microsoft’s Server and Tools Business, said this week at the company’s BUILD Developers Conference in Los Angeles that “developers have long been the cornerstone of Microsoft’s success, and that relationship is now more important than ever.” Developers at Austin’s Mutual Mobile are watching Microsoft closely. Earlier this year Mutual Mobile hosted Microsoft Developer Evangelist Chris Koenig to talk to Austin app developers about the Windows 7 Phone. Koenig emphasized tha phone’s “Metro” design which he said was much easier to view and more pleasing to the eye than the interfaces of other smart phones.

This week Microsoft demonstrated new support for Windows 8 Metro style applications built with HTML 5, JavaScript, C#, Visual Basic and C++. The new tool, called Visual Studio 11 is expected to be available for public preview on Friday, September 16.