Development-as-a-Service(DaaS):Redefining Product Development

Ever since the ‘- as a Service’ trend started, there has been no looking back. One of the more recent acronyms is DaaS, which is up for grabs with varied meanings such as Data as a Service, Development as a Service, and Desktop as a Service. This week, we’ll discuss Development as a Service, which is being touted by Salesforce.com as their on-demand platform for developers.

DaaS consists of a new set of development tools and APIs that allow enterprise developers to harness cloud computing and develop applications without the need for software and hardware client/server architecture. It is an extension of Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) as it allows developers to build, test and deploy applications using tools provided within the hosted platform.

The DaaS platform offered by Salesforce.com includes a set of features with the ability to create database applications on demand, a workflow engine for managing collaboration between users, and a Web services API for programmatic access along with mashups and integration with other applications and data. Full access to the database, logic, user interface and other capabilities of the Force.com platform allows easy development of enterprise software.

Earlier, ISVs used various development tools to build their products and most new development had to be started from scratch. But with the shift now towards web-based/on-demand applications and the easy availability of development frameworks in the cloud, it is probably a wise decision for start-up ISVs to tap existing infrastructure and services and build on top of it, and focus their efforts on business innovation

While it means less re-invention of the wheel and freedom from maintenance and upgrades for developers, ISVs also can gain from DaaS. It acts as a marketing channel for ISVs where they can place their products in front of several businesses seeking innovative business solutions. Of course, ISVs will have to ensure that their target market will overlap significantly with the platform users and that they do not get locked-in to the platform to their disadvantage.

Platform-as-a-Service(PaaS):Unleashing Web’s Full Potential

SaaS products have always been associated with an issue of limited customizability. In a move to tackle the same, another ‘as a Service’ model -Platform as a Service (PaaS) has evolved. Often being considered as an outcome of Service-oriented Architecture (SOA), it can best be described as an application development and deployment functionality available as a service.

With SOA, we have defined certain web-based interfaces which are specific to an existing system or module. It also has rendered it reusable too. Now, PaaS promises to extend these functionalities to the next level, wherein the whole platform would become accessible through a web browser. This means that enterprises now have to just develop and deploy their applications through a browser without shelling out any extra revenue on infrastructures.

It is agreed that PaaS readily helps create and deploy applications. However, the question here is, “Why should Enterprises adopt PaaS?” as they already have tools and technologies to meet the same goal. It certainly has some clear cut advantages such as no infrastructural costs, instant IDE, instant deployment, to name a few. They just have to choose the right platform depending on their needs and resources and subsequently, can shift their focus onto creating innovative applications, rather than the complex IT infrastructures. This would also mean the removal of critical barrier to entry for smaller ISVs.

The time has come when anyone with an internet connection can build various applications and deploy them across the globe. PaaS is here to stay, but it should be ensured that they are kept open so that the developers and designers do not get alienated from the mainstream.