In June, Google announced the Google Developer Program, a free program that offers developers access to resources to assist them construct applications using Google services. Now that “tens of millions” of developers have signed up (in response to Google), the corporate is introducing a second, paid tier to commercialize this system.
On Monday, Google began the Google Developer Program Premium Membership, a $299 per yr upgrade from the usual Google Developer Program. It offers several advantages, including one-on-one consultations with Google Cloud experts and access to e-learning programs in Google's on-demand training program, Google Cloud Skills Boost.
Beyond consultations and online courses, Google Developer Program Premium Membership includes $500 in annual Google Cloud credits, a certification voucher, and “bonus” Google Cloud credits for developers who pass an annual Google Cloud certification. This is along with all of the resources in the usual, free Google Developer Program, including AI-powered documentation and coding tools, first looks at latest products, and workspaces in Google's IDX app development platform.
The latest offering is characterised by the proven fact that none of Google's major cloud competitors, Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Azure, have a comparable individual development plan. Microsoft offers paid alternatives to its free Microsoft 365 Developer Program, the corporate's rough equivalent of the Google Developer Program, but they’re primarily aimed toward business users. AWS offers premium support programs, but they focus more on architectural consulting and technical support.
Curiously, premium membership within the Google Developer Program for patrons within the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland is “limited to business or skilled use,” the superb print states. This suggests that it’s permitted for private use in these countries; We contacted Google for clarification.
Assuming you reap the benefits of all the advantages, the premium membership within the Google Developer Program could pay for itself quite quickly. But I actually have to assume that some developers can be disheartened to see latest features hidden behind a paid tier, since Google has given no indication that it intends to charge for future improvements to the unique program.
“In the approaching months, the Google Developer Program will unlock latest tools and resources to support you in your development journey, comparable to additional training resources and more ways to have interaction with the community,” Google wrote in a Blog post in June. “To access these advantages, all it is advisable to do is enroll within the Google Developer Program.”
Google is introducing premium membership within the Google Developer Program as a revamp of its now-defunct membership Cloud Innovators Plus Programwhich offered comparable advantages at the identical price of $299 per yr. Notably, Cloud Innovators Plus was not included in Google Cloud Skills Boost, which Google estimates to be value $299 per yr alone.
“This latest offering is the subsequent evolution of our commitment to optimizing the developer experience,” Google wrote in a post Monday, “and represents continued investment within the Google Developer Program as a hub of advantages and resources for all Google programs.” Developer services.”
Developers may grumble – but apparently additionally they vote for Google with their wallets. In the corporate's most up-to-date fiscal quarter (Q3 2024), Google's cloud business, which incorporates each infrastructure and software subscriptions, growth 35% YoY to $11.35 billion. Its growth outpaced the cloud divisions of Amazon and Microsoft, each of that are significantly larger when it comes to market share.
