Using the API blockchain.info provides you can check any balance you want, it also allows you to very quickly import a private key and send money from it. This is great but I want to do it on my own servers.

I am looking for a tool that can read the blockchain and:

• Runs on my own server using the blockchain/p2p network for input
• Quickly return the balance for any address
• Quickly send a payment from any private key

It seems to me that the default client cannot do this as it has to rescan the blockchain every time you add another key.

I am thinking that perhaps the server that the electrum client uses could be used for something like this?

I am pretty good with perl and building API clients. Any advise on a good starting point would be appreciated.