Comments on: What PaaS Isn’t: An Application with an API http://www.saasblogs.com/saas-platform/what-paas-isnt-an-application-with-an-api/ Understanding the "as a Service" Revolution Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:34:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Remko Vermeulen http://www.saasblogs.com/saas-platform/what-paas-isnt-an-application-with-an-api/#comment-88733 Remko Vermeulen Thu, 07 May 2009 21:29:58 +0000 http://www.saasblogs.com/?p=241#comment-88733 But even if you have yourself a level 3 platform. If it is not used no one will call it a platform. I am sure that in a few years time it will have another name. Does a customer really care how you call it? But even if you have yourself a level 3 platform. If it is not used no one will call it a platform. I am sure that in a few years time it will have another name.

Does a customer really care how you call it?

]]> By: Anand Mohan http://www.saasblogs.com/saas-platform/what-paas-isnt-an-application-with-an-api/#comment-82036 Anand Mohan Sun, 22 Feb 2009 15:38:23 +0000 http://www.saasblogs.com/?p=241#comment-82036 I was reading through some articles on Microsoft MSDN site. In some places they refer to WSS as a set of API's and foundation to build a we application and MOSS 2007 as a single and integrated application. There are also places where they refer to SharePoint as a platform. I think neither WSS nor MOSS is a platform because they both sit on top of .net framework. I was reading through some articles on Microsoft MSDN site. In some places they refer to WSS as a set of API’s and foundation to build a we application and MOSS 2007 as a single and integrated application. There are also places where they refer to SharePoint as a platform. I think neither WSS nor MOSS is a platform because they both sit on top of .net framework.

]]> By: Anand Mohan http://www.saasblogs.com/saas-platform/what-paas-isnt-an-application-with-an-api/#comment-81904 Anand Mohan Sat, 21 Feb 2009 09:08:38 +0000 http://www.saasblogs.com/?p=241#comment-81904 True but misues mostly by the sales and marketing department to make sentences in ppts and brochures look nice and trendy. The difference is clear to the people who work with technology daily like architects and specialists. True but misues mostly by the sales and marketing department to make sentences in ppts and brochures look nice and trendy. The difference is clear to the people who work with technology daily like architects and specialists.

]]> By: Sofie Dittmann http://www.saasblogs.com/saas-platform/what-paas-isnt-an-application-with-an-api/#comment-81625 Sofie Dittmann Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:20:07 +0000 http://www.saasblogs.com/?p=241#comment-81625 "Do you agree that platform and PaaS are often misused? Does it seem to you that the word ‘application’ is falling out of favor as a proper description for standard, non-host software?" I completely agree that the term platform and PaaS are often misused. The Rearden Personal Assistant, with which we are seamlessly integrated, is a true platform in the original sense. ExpenseWire is an expense management SaaS application. While we are integrated with a host of partners, we are still a SaaS application. Thank you for setting the record straight. “Do you agree that platform and PaaS are often misused? Does it seem to you that the word ‘application’ is falling out of favor as a proper description for standard, non-host software?”

I completely agree that the term platform and PaaS are often misused. The Rearden Personal Assistant, with which we are seamlessly integrated, is a true platform in the original sense. ExpenseWire is an expense management SaaS application. While we are integrated with a host of partners, we are still a SaaS application. Thank you for setting the record straight.

]]> By: Abe Sultan http://www.saasblogs.com/saas-platform/what-paas-isnt-an-application-with-an-api/#comment-81588 Abe Sultan Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:13:25 +0000 http://www.saasblogs.com/?p=241#comment-81588 Russ, Thanks for the follow up comment, I think you are right on with your platform distinction. As the industry becomes more aware of choices like SaaSGrid and comparable solutions, it will be harder and harder for the look alikes to continue calling themselves platforms or whatever the standard term is at that point in time. In the meantime the more information that can be made available on the difference of the models the more it helps the cause! Cheers and keep up the great content, Abe Russ,

Thanks for the follow up comment, I think you are right on with your platform distinction.

As the industry becomes more aware of choices like SaaSGrid and comparable solutions, it will be harder and harder for the look alikes to continue calling themselves platforms or whatever the standard term is at that point in time.

In the meantime the more information that can be made available on the difference of the models the more it helps the cause!

Cheers and keep up the great content,
Abe

]]> By: Sinclair Schuller http://www.saasblogs.com/saas-platform/what-paas-isnt-an-application-with-an-api/#comment-81529 Sinclair Schuller Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:32:03 +0000 http://www.saasblogs.com/?p=241#comment-81529 Russ, Thanks for the follow up. Good point regarding the evangelization of a technology forcing 'platform-esque' network effects from a business model perspective. This notion plays well with the idea that spin has co-opted the platform definition. PS: The 10 Easy Steps post is great stuff given that it's "from the trenches" Russ,

Thanks for the follow up. Good point regarding the evangelization of a technology forcing ‘platform-esque’ network effects from a business model perspective.

This notion plays well with the idea that spin has co-opted the platform definition.

PS: The 10 Easy Steps post is great stuff given that it’s “from the trenches”

]]> By: Russ Hertzberg http://www.saasblogs.com/saas-platform/what-paas-isnt-an-application-with-an-api/#comment-81516 Russ Hertzberg Mon, 16 Feb 2009 06:24:26 +0000 http://www.saasblogs.com/?p=241#comment-81516 Abe and Sinclair, thanks for these clarifications and additions. I am wondering if it is also useful to distinguish between 1) classic platform technology and 2) systems or applications which become 'platform like' as a result of effective API evangelism. In this sense any popular application API which is well evangelized, and develops a large stable of API integrated 3rd party ISV solutions, begins to experience 'platform like' competitive benefits in it's particular marketplace, where the wide range of bolt on solutions provides desireable network effects. This may very well have been a key rationale for Force in the beginning. As I try to come up to speed on SaaSGrid, the approach of being an extension to .Net strikes me as also having the potential of providing the most positive network effect in the dev community...and many in that community may want the most advanced and immediately available alternative in the near term. Seems like the titanic player there tiptoes into the space trying to carefully manage the financial impact of a business model change as a public company. Personally, I wish you guys had been around 3-4 years ago. See these '10 easy steps' and you may understand why. http://blog.saasrealist.com/2009/01/22/become-a-saas-realist-in-these-10-easy-steps.aspx?ref=rss Best, Russ Abe and Sinclair, thanks for these clarifications and additions. I am wondering if it is also useful to distinguish between 1) classic platform technology and 2) systems or applications which become ‘platform like’ as a result of effective API evangelism. In this sense any popular application API which is well evangelized, and develops a large stable of API integrated 3rd party ISV solutions, begins to experience ‘platform like’ competitive benefits in it’s particular marketplace, where the wide range of bolt on solutions provides desireable network effects. This may very well have been a key rationale for Force in the beginning.

As I try to come up to speed on SaaSGrid, the approach of being an extension to .Net strikes me as also having the potential of providing the most positive network effect in the dev community…and many in that community may want the most advanced and immediately available alternative in the near term. Seems like the titanic player there tiptoes into the space trying to carefully manage the financial impact of a business model change as a public company.

Personally, I wish you guys had been around 3-4 years ago. See these ’10 easy steps’ and you may understand why.

http://blog.saasrealist.com/2009/01/22/become-a-saas-realist-in-these-10-easy-steps.aspx?ref=rss

Best,

Russ

]]> By: Sinclair Schuller http://www.saasblogs.com/saas-platform/what-paas-isnt-an-application-with-an-api/#comment-81392 Sinclair Schuller Sun, 15 Feb 2009 02:30:53 +0000 http://www.saasblogs.com/?p=241#comment-81392 Russ, I'm in agreement that Andreessen's first two levels are APIs and don't really need to be described as 'platforms'. As for Force.com, I lean in Abe's direction. What makes me shy away from calling it (Force.com) an all out platform is that while it is a runtime environment per se, it's very diluted. Am I going to make complex analysis software or an online 3D rendering engine to deliver ondemand? Probably not. It fits a niche, and some could argue it might fit that niche well (CRM-focused runtime). Unfortunately, as per Andreesen's post, everyone and everything is a 'platform' as soon as they open up an API, making the whole topic very confusing! Russ, I’m in agreement that Andreessen’s first two levels are APIs and don’t really need to be described as ‘platforms’.

As for Force.com, I lean in Abe’s direction. What makes me shy away from calling it (Force.com) an all out platform is that while it is a runtime environment per se, it’s very diluted. Am I going to make complex analysis software or an online 3D rendering engine to deliver ondemand? Probably not. It fits a niche, and some could argue it might fit that niche well (CRM-focused runtime).

Unfortunately, as per Andreesen’s post, everyone and everything is a ‘platform’ as soon as they open up an API, making the whole topic very confusing!

]]> By: Abe Sultan http://www.saasblogs.com/saas-platform/what-paas-isnt-an-application-with-an-api/#comment-81381 Abe Sultan Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:24:15 +0000 http://www.saasblogs.com/?p=241#comment-81381 Hi Russ, The problem with Force is that it was borm from extracting "platform" functionality from Salesforce.com's CRM application so its capabilities are limited to the extent of a CRM extension API with the goal of enhancing Salesforce.com, Granted since Force was launched and announced it has grown to a more general purpose platform but it still has many limitations that make it a hard choice for an ISV trying to develop their application if it has nothing to do with CRM. Cheers, Abe Hi Russ,

The problem with Force is that it was borm from extracting “platform” functionality from Salesforce.com’s CRM application so its capabilities are limited to the extent of a CRM extension API with the goal of enhancing Salesforce.com,

Granted since Force was launched and announced it has grown to a more general purpose platform but it still has many limitations that make it a hard choice for an ISV trying to develop their application if it has nothing to do with CRM.

Cheers,
Abe

]]> By: Russ Hertzberg http://www.saasblogs.com/saas-platform/what-paas-isnt-an-application-with-an-api/#comment-81340 Russ Hertzberg Sat, 14 Feb 2009 17:52:26 +0000 http://www.saasblogs.com/?p=241#comment-81340 Levels 1 and 2 are APIs. His Level 3 can be be cleanly distinguished as a 'platform'. Best platform examples: operating systems of many types and database management systems of many types. Force is a trend setter in PaaS and we will see in the long run whether most of the 'applications' built on Force are just add-ons to Salesforce CRM or broader business applications. Levels 1 and 2 are APIs. His Level 3 can be be cleanly distinguished as a ‘platform’. Best platform examples: operating systems of many types and database management systems of many types. Force is a trend setter in PaaS and we will see in the long run whether most of the ‘applications’ built on Force are just add-ons to Salesforce CRM or broader business applications.

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