The new free beta hosting program allows the web developer community to experience the next-generation version of Web Matrix and supports node.js.

DiscountASP.NET, a Windows Hosting provider, yesterday announced a free Web Matrix v2 RC beta hosting sandbox program for the web developer community to experience the next-generation version of Web Matrix. This new free beta hosting program also supports node.js.

According to the company, free node.js hosting Microsoft Web Matrix is an all-in-one web development tool that allows web developers to easily install open source web applications, or use web templates as a starting point to develop customized web sites. The most recent Web Matrix v2 RC includes enhancements to more easily install many open source applications, adds support for more languages like PHP, HTML5 and node.js, adds support for developing mobile-friendly web sites, and adds support for writing extensions which can be made available in a new extension gallery.

It says that the free sandbox hosting program is a limited program offered as an open beta on a first come first serve basis. The beta hosting sandbox comes with 50 MB of disk space and 50 MB of SQL Server 2008 R2 database space and 50 MB of MySQL database space. This platform is only intended for testing purposes and should not be used for a production web site.

"Microsoft continues to simplify and expand the web development experience with their next-generation tools like Web Matrix," said Takeshi Eto, VP Marketing and Business Development at DiscountASP.NET. "Our free Web Matrix v2 RC hosting sandbox will provide the web developer community an opportunity to test out Web Matrix along with node.js."