I’m finally getting around to actual development using the Google App Engine. Since Python is currently the only supported language, I’ve had to do a little up front studying of the language itself. My programming language experience includes “C”, Java, and PHP, so learning Python is no big deal. I just need to work on learning all the syntax and structure.

I have been reading up on the documentation and following the associated Google Group for the App Engine. Along with the new language, I’m working out how to use the App Engine web application framework and the Django template system. The Django template system was rather easy to grasp because it is very similar to how I use XML/XSL for web page templates in Java.

For a test application, I’m building a dynamic blog that will have posts, articles, categories, tags, links, images, etc. It will use Django templates fully and will be integrated with stylesheets and selectable “themes”. Kind of like a mini wordpress system. It will have a management interface for configured “admins” and will use the App Engine datastore for all data. This should be enough of a project to allow me to fully utilize all the various aspects of the App Engine prior to starting a more serious work project that I have in mind.

I’ll keep you updated!