Editor's note
Platform as a service is a category of cloud computing that streamlines how developers build and deploy applications. While a primary goal of any PaaS implementation is to minimize infrastructure management and overhead during the app development process, these products can offer a range of other advantages, including reduced application delivery times, a flexible pricing model and access to emerging cloud services and technologies.
And while there are some potential risks that come with PaaS -- such as vendor lock-in -- adoption is expected to rise. According to analyst firm Gartner, the public PaaS market will grow from $11.9 billion in 2017 to $27.3 billion in 2021.
To find the best PaaS tool for their company, buyers must assess a number of factors, ranging from cost to functionality. They should zero in on two categories of features in their search -- productivity and stability -- and evaluate how PaaS tools differ in their support for functionality such as low-code/no-code and data export. On top of these guiding factors, the PaaS market varies widely from provider to provider in terms of cost, supported programming languages and more.
This product guide helps buyers assess how PaaS would -- or would not -- benefit their development team, the specific features they should look for in potential PaaS providers and some of the leading public PaaS options available on the market today.
1Determine the best PaaS provider for your app dev needs
Take a high-level look at the leading PaaS options on the market and how they compare in terms of two crucial types of features: those for developer productivity and those for application stability.
2Compare leading PaaS vendors and their notable features
The PaaS market is diverse, making it difficult for buyers to sift through all their options. Read this in-depth overview of various public PaaS offerings on the market today, including their standout features, licensing models, supported programming languages and other key components.