Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Open Platform as a Service?TM A: Open Platform as a ServiceTM (OPaaS) is the original and only Platform as a Service in the world that is open, letting you use any tool and environment you like to create and deliver your applications and systems. OPaaS is like older Platform as a Service, except that it is just that - OPEN. You no longer have to live in a walled-garden. You can use any programming language you want, put your code on any server you want, use any database, etc. By addressing the limitations of PaaS, you now have a better way to leverage your existing and new code to create and distribute Web-based applications. Q: What is the difference between Platform as a Service and Open Platform as a Service? A: Platform as a Service, (e.g., Force.com, Google App Engine, Amazon Web Services) are closed systems which don't let you choose the programming language, development environment, server(s), database etc. Open Platform as a Service is just that - "OPEN" and therefore lets you use any programming language, any development tools, any server, any database, etc. Q: Is Open Platform as a Service tied to a specific Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) or server? A: No. You can use Open Platform as a Service with any infrastructure/server you want. This is a tremendous advantage. For example, you can use the OPaaS server here at openplatformasaservice.com, your own server(s), AWS or any other cloud. Further, you can use more than one IaaS/server for your application/system and Open Platform as a Service will make sure it all works seamlessly. Further still, by using Open Platform as a Service, you can float above the IaaS/PaaS outages you see in news because Open Platform as a Service sits on top of it all and will automatically switch to a backup IaaS/server you designate if the the IaaS/server does not respond in a given timeframe you define, (e.g., 1 second). For obvious reasons, this is the future of cloud computing and the only way to do it. Q: Why are developers creating Open Applications for the Open Platform as a Service? A: The reasons are many, but here are a few. Open Applications are better than traditional applications because they let developers and users: Standardizing open development freeing developers to use the best tools for the job Expose functionality to users and other developers over the Web in an open standardized way over the Internet Send parameters to the code/applications to customize them in an in an open standardized way over the Internet Add, remove and modify functionality to both related an unrelated applications in an open standardized way using any programming language on any server Swap out one or more parts of an application to cut costs and improve efficiency Map variables from one function or application to another (Open Map) to enable code/applications not designed to work together to work together Q: I have an existing SaaS or PaaS application, can I migrate it to Open Platform as a Service? A: Yes, we call this "Openizing" an application. You can either "Openize" your application yourself by viewing the developer information, or we can Openize your application for you. Q: What about "Web Services?" A: OPaaS is completely compatible with web services. In fact, OPaaS could be the best thing to ever happen to web services because with OPaaS you can now take advantage of web services to allow an easier way for your users to use web services! Think of OPaaS as the front-end/GUI to web services. Connect to as many Web services, or any other script application accessible over HTTP for that matter and leverage that functionality seemlessly inside of OPaaS! We believe Web Services never really caught on big because the model is too complicated. We believe OPaaS can help change this as the entire base of existing Web Services can be called from OPaaS! Q: Do I need a "Web Service" to create an Open Applications? A: No. OPaaS makes a standard HTTP request to the script or application so it can be any script or application running on the Web. Your script/application just needs to be able to receive the HTTP request from OPaaS and send back the results. Q: Can I implement Open Platform as a Service on my premises/behind my firewall? A: Yes, Contact Us to discuss your needs.