Avoid using the term "Cloud Computing" except when being ironic | Hacker News Reader

Avoid using the term "Cloud Computing" except when being ironic

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66 pointsprogga20 comments

Okay, I'm supposed to use ambiguous, obscure, or unpronounceable acronyms when speaking to people?

Maybe we've reached the point where non-geeks know what "SaaS" is, and don't confuse it with the attitude or the statistical software or anything else. But does anyone outside of Silicon Valley recognize "PaaS" when I use it in a sentence? Anybody want to tell me how to pronounce "IaaS" without inadvertently slandering myself?

Maybe the time has come when the general public needs more fine-grained terms for what folks have come to call "cloud computing", but I doubt these are the right terms.

> "Cloud" is what marketing and non-technical people use. I'm ok with that.

I would assume this means he'll use the general "cloud" term when talking with non-geeks.

Technical people should know that [SPI]aaS are specific parts of the "cloud." Within technical communities, the correct terms should be used to avoid ambiguity. It's about knowing your audience and making sure they can relate to you.

I agree with you, in order to fix a problem the article presents terms that are not suitable.

For instance in the context of a service like gmail, why we should talk about "cloud" or say "SaaS" when it is as simple as a "web application"?

PaaS IMHO it's better translated as "cloud applications platform", or "cloud application service".

Finally I don't think IaaS is acceptable as it covers too much things, especially two things that I would simply call:

* Virtual Machine Service (EC2, Linode, ...)

* Cloud Storage Service (S3, Dropbox, ...)

Edit: yes... I used three times Cloud in the end, so at least for me the problem is that "Cloud" alone means very little.

I think Dropbox is considered SaaS (and doesn't precisely fit your definition of "web application"). I would put S3 into PaaS as it boils down to a storage platform.

Right now I agree with saying IaaS is just a VM service, but I'd hesitate because there may be future changes that invalidate that connection.

Keep in mind these terms are provider-centric not customer-centric. For example, Amazon provides their networking and computer infrastructure as a service to you the customer. You realize this service as VMs. Similarly, GAE provides a platform for you to use, and you realize this as a place to run your cloud application. And to finish the triad off, SaaS provides customers with software and they realize it as an application. So it somewhat depends on if you are looking at these things from a customer perspective or a provider perspective.

I believe this NIST document provides fairly clear terminology: http://www.nist.gov/manuscript-publication-search.cfm?pub_id...

"IaaS" is often pronounced "ice". And "Paas"/"Saas" is "pass"/"sass". Useful for geeks. "Cloud" works for non-geeks.

Meh. When I say "cloud", people understand that whatever it is, it exists "out there", and not in some server in the basement of my office or as an app they need to install on their computer/device.

Nobody cares about the more fine-grained terminology, and in fact they shouldn't be expected to. This is nothing more than a purist rant.

So why use cloud rather than ’Internet-based'?

Because it doesn't matter what is it based on. Important is _where_ it is. I mean, yes, instead of "in the cloud" you could say "out there", but that's more confusing, because can mean too much things. Cloud is a nice word that does it's job well.

"Internet-based" could still imply "The server in the basement" to someone non-technical, as long as they access it via the browser.

Of course, if they demand a "private cloud" (WE CAN'T JUST LET AMAZON STORE OUR DATA THINK OF THE CHILDREN), then it's just on several servers in the basement :-)

Oh the list of terms we should avoid.. it could fill a NoSQL database.

It's not a big revelation, but you should always use the language that fits the audience. If you feel the audience can handle it, all you have to do is define concepts (with reminders if it's easy to forget them) before you start using them.

I would avoid using ambiguous catch phrases or buzzwords completely. For serious discussions anyway. If you are marketing, or just chatting it's fine. But if you're in a professional technical meeting just don't do it. Don't talk about "the cloud". And please don't say "AJAX".

You shall not PAAS!

"sass" "pass" and "ee-ass"?

I hate "Cloud" as much as the next nerd, especially when it's used to mean, "Internet", but these just aren't going to work.

Why is "internet" a better word for the cloud?

because by the "inter" you refer to connections and by the "-net" you imply almost clearly a structured environment.

What does cloud mean, besides something structure-less "out there"?

I'd say because it was first. But then again, it's not unusual to replace established terms after some time to give it some fresh paint.

The "cloud" has always just been a marketing term. If anything I would say it refers to a snapshot of the ongoing IT development at a certain period of time.

The 'internet' is an interconnected network of computers. A cloud is a bit of weather phenomena.

I don't like trying to re-purpose the word cloud, because isn't all that descriptive. Do you have high-availability provided by distributed, load-balanced servers? Maybe. Local mirrors? Maybe. A machine in your basement you rent VM images on to suckers? Maybe.

I am going to be paid $325 for spending 2 hours talking about cloud computing as part of a focus group. I figure this study has to be sponsored by some big, clueless company - IBM maybe? If anyone in the Boston area is interested in participating contact me and I will get an additional $50!

Performance Plus / Boston Field & Focus, Inc. is a market research facility with offices in Greater Boston. We are looking for individuals that are interested in participating in a discussion group about software development. Come discuss these emerging technologies, including cloud development and services, in this field with other professionals from start-up companies. These groups will take place on the evening of November 14th in Boston and will last for approximately 2 hours. You will receive $300 and $25 for parking for participation in the study.

We're conducting this study for research purposes only. You won't receive any sales or marketing follow-up.

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