VMware launches Node.js, Rails and Spring PaaS

It doesn't seem like its different people from Heroku. If you've seen Mark Benioff's cloudforce pitch (link below), he mentions that they're partnering with VMWare to launch a PaaS similar to Heroku (which they acquired in December).

That said, I think its a bit surprising that VMWare is launching this under their branding - the machinations of large corporations continuously confound me.

http://www.salesforce.com/video/cloud2011-nyc.jsp

Re: VMware launches Node.js, Rails and Spring PaaS

#7

Post by acconrad » Tue, Apr 12, 2011, 5:08 PM UTC

This seems fine for fun apps or testing, but I would be incredibly concerned to agree with these terms of service if I was running production software or charging for it.

From their terms of service:

b. Your Applications and Code. If You create online applications or program code using the Service, You authorize Cloud Foundry to host, copy, transmit, display and adapt such applications and program code, solely as necessary for Cloud Foundry to provide the Service in accordance with this Agreement. Subject to the above, Cloud Foundry acquires no right, title or interest from You or Your licensors under this Agreement in or to such applications or program code, including any intellectual property rights therein.

...and yet somehow you own exclusive rights to the data.

Re: VMware launches Node.js, Rails and Spring PaaS

#8

Post by mrkurt » Tue, Apr 12, 2011, 5:11 PM UTC

acconrad wrote: post #7

This seems fine for fun apps or testing, but I would be incredibly concerned to agree with these terms of service if I was running production software or charging for it. From their terms of service: b. Your Applications and Code. If You create online applications or program code using the Service, You authorize Cloud Foundry to host, copy, transmit, display and adapt such applications and program code, solely as nec…

That seems pretty reasonable, and maybe even necessary. If they're copying your code around or distributing it to users, they may need those rights.

"..solely as necessary for Cloud Foundry to provide the Service..." is the key point, there.

Re: VMware launches Node.js, Rails and Spring PaaS

#9

Post by acconrad » Tue, Apr 12, 2011, 5:13 PM UTC

mrkurt wrote: post #8

acconrad wrote: post #7

This seems fine for fun apps or testing, but I would be incredibly concerned to agree with these terms of service if I was running production software or charging for it. From their terms of service: b. Your Applications and Code. If You create online applications or program code using the Service, You authorize Cloud Foundry to host, copy, transmit, display and adapt such applications and program code, solely as nec…

That seems pretty reasonable, and maybe even necessary. If they're copying your code around or distributing it to users, they may need those rights. "..solely as necessary for Cloud Foundry to provide the Service..." is the key point, there.

Just so I understand you correctly, does that imply that their intention is to prevent being sued if they need to change your code in order for it to work on the platform, in the event of say, an upgrade of their core infrastructure? If so, that makes a lot more sense. Thanks.

Re: VMware launches Node.js, Rails and Spring PaaS

#10

Post by jasonmccay » Tue, Apr 12, 2011, 5:13 PM UTC

thesethings wrote: post #5

mcantelon wrote: post #2

"the industry’s first open platform as a service". First? How is this different from Heroku and other such folks?

It also supports multiple frameworks/languages.

Technically, so does Heroku. CloudFoundry does offer Java support, which is a bit different.

I am interested to see how it looks once it gets out of beta. I am betting it will be a solid platform, but after seeing the demo a few months ago at RubyConf, it did feel like a model I had seen before.