Platform as a Service, also known as “PaaS”, has enabled global organizations to cut down extensively on their development costs, leading to mobile apps created in no time.
Still look puzzled? Ever heard of PaaS before?
PaaS is a unified set of development tools meant for tablet, mobile, and web platforms, serving a range of functions; right from data recovery, data backups, data security, to licensing formalities, support and maintenance, as well as server-based scalability. Simply put, developers only need to worry about the development part, letting PaaS vendors take the rest of the pain.
Since PaaS comes with a broad set of tools, developers need not worry about learning different programming languages for platform-specific development. Because PaaS encompasses cloud technologies, it becomes relatively easy to execute right away from the browser interface for both web and mobile. With technology moving towards wearable devices, and Internet of Things (IoT), even the best of PaaS companies like Cisco are automating things to a whole new level.
Defining PaaS from a technical perspective
PaaS is an indivisible part of cloud computing, in addition to Software as a Service (SaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). As of today, SaaS is the most popular among the lot, with applications coming from the stable of Dropbox, Box, Google Apps, Salesforce, and more. SaaS delivers software applications for end users on one hand while Paas focuses on creating a right environmental platform for web-based services, and applications available over cloud servers.
PaaS offers a wide variety of development tools on a pay per use basis, wherein users have to pay for only used resources. Henceforth, developers can choose and pick the right tools useful for them. A developer can simply subscribe to use preliminary services, and pay for advanced features. PaaS vendors not only manage applications but also provide infrastructure support with new features offered every now and then.
Developers are assisted by PaaS vendors from conception to implementation, leading through testing, and finally, delivery. A typical PaaS offering comprises of:-
- An operating system OS for web, tablet, or mobile
- Scripting environment from servers side
- Database management system (DBMS)
- Server side software
- Access to network
- Design and development tools
- Hosting space
- Maintenance and support
- Data storage
Here are 11 PaaS merits after collaborating with mobile application development:-
#1. Cost reduction accompanied with rapid development cycle
Platform level software is not an easy thing to set up. It takes time and effort with lots of complications to handle. PaaS vendors take away the entire headache, with developers left with no worries whatsoever regarding application dependencies and infrastructure. They can simply upload code and get things running immediately without much hassle. Developers need only concentrate on the coding part, rather than thinking too much about peripheral requirements, client server based requirements, payment requirements etc.
#2. Scalability moving on a fast track dividing server workload
Imagine if your apps can be scalable on demand, then how relieved your servers will be by distributing the stress between servers leading to optimal efficiency from sync load balancers and additional servers. After the stress load is nominal, additional servers are automatically delinked with the app size getting reduced.
#3. Upgrading happens way quicker than before
For the deployment of an application, individual attention is demanded at all levels. This includes various activities like re-integration, upgrading, maintenance, and tracking. With PaaS providers on board, it is their responsibility to take care of the related upgrades, and other associated parameters. This in turn helps the developers to avoid the risks involved and saves their time letting them focus on their tasks independently.
#4. Deployment becomes more rapid with quick processing
Now the apps can be tested online directly, without the need to go for an installation or download hardware, middleware, or software on your systems. This way time is not wasted and apps are tested easily.
#5. Ecosystem gets extended allowing more resources
Many UIs, frameworks, and tools are present within PaaS, from which developers have options to choose the most relevant. Using these, developers have the ability to not only build applications, but also manage them on cloud servers. Using PaaS a developer can freely choose the programming platforms like Ruby, Python, PHP, Node.js. .Net, Java, and lots more to develop wonderful apps.
#6. Developers don’t need to stick with specific PaaS vendors
Developers have a great amount of flexibility to choose or change their vendors as per their requirements. They do not have to stay with a particular vendor and avail the services if not required. In short, vendors could be changed without any extra overhead costs.
#7. Non-technical people can get involved in the deployment process
People not aware of technical knowhow, or the coding part, can also deal with the offerings from PaaS vendors. Since done directly through the web browser, one-click functionality helps in setting up many things.Things become easily adaptable as per the needs
#8. Things become easily adaptable as per the needs
Functionalities and features can be adjusted as per the unexpected needs arising from unfavorable conditions. This is the power of PaaS, flexible enough to cover up any anomalies arising in the system.
#9. Remote teams can be collaborated using PaaS
Since cloud computing only requires a web browser and an internet connection, people scattered in diverse locations can collaborate for an effective teamwork in building efficient apps.
#10. Experimentation facilitated anytime and at any place
Because cloud services are easily accessible anytime anywhere, developers have the advantage of playing with concepts and ideas whenever they want. They deal with different scenarios, and merge solutions as per their requirements.
#11. Security is assured with foolproof safety
With apt data recovery, in addition to data backup and data security, PaaS is secured with no margin for unexpected errors.
Some final concluding thoughts
PaaS is among the most revolutionary things to happen in the era of cloud computing, especially in the mobile app development scenario. With incremental enhancements taking place at certain intervals, developers have been able to not only construct affordable mobile apps with minimal efforts, but also launch apps with swift turnaround time, taking into account underlying infrastructure.
Images: ” Platform as a Service – handwritten text in a notebook on a desk – 3d render illustration. /Shutterstock.com“
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