| Cloud computing is offering some very interesting | | | | be stored in redundant disk arrays, on redundant |
| alternatives to desktop and laptop computing. As | | | | servers or be configured to be backed-up on a |
| more businesses move their operations to the cloud, | | | | regular basis. A customer's computer may crash, but |
| the viability, reliability and general advantages are | | | | their data will be safe with cloud computing. |
| starting to become apparent. Cloud computing will | | | | 5. Usage statistics - Usage statistics are made readily |
| continue to have a big impact on the structure and | | | | available when software operates in the cloud. |
| design of software for decades to come. | | | | Software developers can quickly and easily see what |
| What is cloud computing? Cloud computing is the | | | | features their clients use and what features are |
| general term used to describe internet-based | | | | missed. There is a level of tracking available in the |
| computing as opposed to desktop-based computing. | | | | cloud that is not very easily collected with desktop |
| For instance, if an application is placed in the cloud, | | | | software. |
| the core computing, software and resources are | | | | 6. It's good for clients - Your clients will appreciate |
| shifted to servers and away from personal | | | | the cloud-based computing move. Instead of worry |
| computers. If you are looking for more info, | | | | about installing proprietary software on every |
| Wikipedia has a good article introducing cloud | | | | computer they wish to use, they only need to worry |
| computing. | | | | about remembering the web address and login. Work |
| Who is going to the cloud? It seems that many see | | | | at home, in the park, at the coffee shop or |
| cloud-based computing as the next place to be. While | | | | even-heaven forbid-in the office. It won't matter |
| the history of such computing goes way back, some | | | | where or what computer is used if the software is |
| of the best examples of this technology have come | | | | cloud-based. |
| around more recently. Google has invested | | | | Are there drawbacks? Cloud-based computing does |
| considerable resources in cloud-based computing with | | | | come with some obstacles that should be taken into |
| their Google Docs sweet. Microsoft has incorporated | | | | account. It is not all just a dream. Here are some that |
| the cloud in their newest versions of Microsoft | | | | come to mind: |
| Office, allowing online document storage and | | | | - Browser-quirks - Every web browser is not equal. |
| collaboration. | | | | Any web designer will tell you that the older versions |
| What are the benefits? The benefits of moving | | | | of Internet Explorer are especially hard to work with. |
| applications to the cloud are numerous, but here are | | | | An experienced and dedicated web programmer will |
| a few. Here are some that come to mind: | | | | be able to work around these quirks and provide a |
| | | | great user experience no matter what browser is |
| 1. Source control - The company or individual who | | | | used. Generally speaking, the problems that come |
| uses the cloud for their application has tight control | | | | with cross-browser support and much less |
| over the source code of their application. The | | | | problematic than creating special builds for every OS |
| software functionality is generally much harder to | | | | version. |
| reverse engineer, software registration or licensing | | | | - Internet-access required - While this is a problem |
| cannot be bypassed and updates can be made at | | | | that is slowly and steady disappearing, it is |
| any time and all users are affected. | | | | nevertheless a drawback. Some people just don't |
| 2. No software to install - Many software packages | | | | have high speed internet access. Without it, there is |
| come with complicated and time-consuming software | | | | no way to tap into the cloud. Also, internet access |
| to install. It places a burden on IT staff and general | | | | has been known to go down or become unavailable |
| users whenever a new computer is purchased or | | | | on occasion. Remember, however, that these issues |
| software needs to be reloaded. With cloud-based | | | | are slowly becoming more and more minor as the |
| computing, the software is on the servers so the | | | | FCC puts into place its broadband internet access |
| end-user never needs to worry about installs or | | | | plan and people begin to invest in technologies that |
| keeping software packages up-to-date - this is all | | | | provide secondary means of internet access (e.g., cell |
| done for them. | | | | phones and mobile hot spots). |
| 3. Simple cross-platform support - Many times | | | | - Not for all apps - The cloud is a wonderful place to |
| software is only available for PCs or for Macs. And | | | | put software for many, but not for all. There are still |
| more often than naught, the software is only | | | | some software applications that just work better on |
| available for certain versions of Windows or Mac OS. | | | | a personal computer than in the cloud. For example, |
| Moving software applications to the cloud greatly | | | | as a web developer, it would not probably be |
| reduces the headache of being cross-platform. All | | | | advantages for me to put web authoring software in |
| modern operating systems (OS's) come with web | | | | the cloud. However, if I where collaborating on a |
| browsers and can connect to the internet and these | | | | website design, the collaboration would be a perfect |
| are the only requirements for accessing a | | | | fit for the cloud environment, allowing all stakeholders |
| cloud-based application. No need to worry about | | | | to come together in one place (the cloud) even if in |
| special compilers or special builds. | | | | remote locations. |
| 4. Data back-ups and reliability - If designed and | | | | Moving from desktop software to the cloud requires |
| implemented correctly, cloud-based applications can | | | | planning and research. If implemented correctly, the |
| provide much more reliability than the average | | | | potential benefits to businesses and software |
| desktop computer can. With redundant servers and | | | | companies is quite impressive. As we settle into the |
| the impressive failover technologies in place at most | | | | "internet age", cloud-based computing will become |
| datacenters, websites can be designed such that | | | | more of a mainstay of popular software programs. |
| they should never go down. Furthermore, data can | | | | |