[IPython-dev] Using Google App Engine channels instead of zmq in new IPython

[Jason Grout]

Over the Sage camp, we're starting to experiment with using Google App 
Engine to manage communication between browser frontends and worker 
(kernel) backends.  The idea is to use GAE to host the notebook, while 
browsers and backend kernels communicate to send and retrieve work and 
results through the Google App Engine "channel" architecture [1].  The 
result would be a massively more scalable notebook running in the cloud.

We'd (or at least I'd) also like to eventually switch to IPython 0.12, 
and try to leverage the new IPython architecture and communication in 
the Sage notebook.  So my question is: how well is the zmq parts 
encapsulated, and do you think it would be hard to write a google app 
engine "channel"-based solution that plugs in the place of the zmq 
communication (and websocket for the html notebook) communication?

I've CCd both the ipython list and the sage-notebook list---hopefully 
the discussion can be carried on both lists.  Also a disclaimer: I have 
about zero experience with GAE; I'm just trying to throw the idea out 
there and understand a little more about the possible work required.

Thanks,

Jason


[1] http://code.google.com/appengine/docs/python/channel/