Assessing PaaS: a simpler way to build software applications
An opinionated application development platform typically trades flexibility and complexity for convenience and speed of delivery, so developers can focus on their code. Here we define PaaS and lay out its strengths and weaknesses.
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Platform as a service (PaaS) is an enabler for software development where a third-party service provider delivers a platform to customers so they can develop, run, and manage software applications without the need to build and maintain the underlying infrastructure themselves.
Most platforms as a service include templates or build packs, which provide an
opinion as to how certain types of applications should be built, typically around the popular 12-factor methodology. This is why PaaS options are often labeled “opinionated” and are best suited for new, greenfield applications.