To read this slideshow in its entirety, please visit eWeek: Microsoft Windows Azure Cloud Platform: Top Attractions for Developers

With Microsoft now touting its Windows Azure cloud computing platform as the best option for developers, this slide show provides multiple reasons why Microsoft officials say Windows Azure could be a game-changer as a development platform. Though Salesforce.com, Amazon Web Services, Google and IBM may disagree, Microsoft maintains that its developer story flexibility puts the company in the forefront among cloud solution providers. As Amitabh Srivastava, senior vice president of Microsoft's Server and Cloud Division, said from its inception, Windows Azure targets developers. Said Srivastava: "We support any language and multiple frameworks. We provide a rich ecosystem of technology or you can use open-source software like MySQL or Apache. Our approach is we don't put any shackles on the developer." Learn what other ways Microsoft claims Windows Azure is a contender for title of the best cloud platform for developers.

Easy On Ramp to the Cloud: Windows Azure provides a low adoption curve for developers considering Platform-as-a-Service (PAAS). Developers can leverage existing skill sets with .NET and tight integration with Visual Studio tools to simulate cloud locally.

Commitment to a Common Application Model: Windows Azure adheres to a common application model across servers and online services, which simplifies development, deployment and management of applications. The Windows Azure platform appliance rounds out Microsoft's server and cloud services offerings.