Simple DB is a distributed non-relational database part of the Amazon Web Services (AWS). It can be used in stand-alone mode or in conjunction with any other AWS services. Next paragraphs describe how to use the database with Visual Studio 2010 (VS 2008) and .NET/C#.

Service Setup

To create an AWS project in VS 2010 download AWS SDK for .NET from the Amazon site and install the package using the default settings. Before you create an AWS project you have to sign up for the AWS/Simple DB service at http://aws.amazon.com. Any AWS API call requires a Secret Access Key and an Access Key ID; in order to get these keys visit the Security Credentials page of your account (http://aws.amazon.com/security-credentials):

Scratchpad

Scratchpad (http://aws.amazon.com/code/1137?_encoding=UTF8&jiveRedirect=1) is a sample web application very useful in testing the Simple DB API. Download the application then launch the Index.htm page. Let’s create a Domain called Customers (a Domain is an object similar in concept with a Table in the relational databases).  Enter the AccessKey and SecretAccessKey in the top left text boxes, select the ‘Create Domain’ entry in the Explore API pick list and click Invoke Request button.

To verify that the domain was created open VS2010 select the AWS template and AWS Console Project

Select a name for your project and enter the key pair in the next screen:

Once the project is selected one may notice that a new library called AWSSDK was added in its references list:

Now replace the content of the Program.cs file with the following code:

 Running the application will produce the following screen confirming the existence of the Customers domain: