Apache gets a PaaS

WSO2, the provider of open source middleware, has been developing an open source PaaS (Platform as a Service) called Stratos since 2010. Now WSO2, with initial contributors from NASA, Cisco, Citrix and Engine Yard, are donating the project to the Apache Software Foundation. The move to the ASF is said to be "signalling that the door is wide open for external contributors," whereas the project has formerly been developed by sponsored WSO2 coders. Version 2.0 of Stratos was launched on 19 June.

The software, which uses Apache jclouds to abstract differences between IaaS cloud platforms, includes a controller for orchestrating PaaS tasks across the IaaS and a set of foundation services including security, logging, messaging, storage, task management and billing. Platforms are deployed as services in a cartridge architecture, where cartridges are preconfigured images for, for example, MySQL, PHP or Tomcat – these three cartridges are being donated to the ASF project. In a short interview with InfoQ, Jonathan Marsh, WSO2 VP of Business Development & Product Design, said the group would not be donating other WSO2 Carbon Middleware cartridges, such as its multi-tenant ESB, App Server, API Management and others, to the Apache Foundation, but those will still be available, under an Apache licence, at WSO2.

Application deployment is managed using git and GitHub and cartridge deployment uses Puppet – a blog post from the 2.0 launch offers a brief introduction to the architecture. The Foundation has accepted the incubation proposal from the developers; the software is already under an Apache 2.0 licence. WSO2 will be rebranding their Stratos named products to ensure there is no confusion; this includes their StratosLive hosted PaaS.

(djwm)