Mitigating Technology Obsolescence in Cloud Software Services

Abstract

Cloud computing is a promising computing paradigm wherein computational resources such as processors, storage, and software applications are provided as services to the clients over high bandwidth networks. The diverse software services (SaaS) in a Cloud may not exist in isolation; they require interaction with each other in order to accomplish tasks. Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) enables applications to be designed and developed as a collection of services, each accessible through well-defined interfaces specified for the purpose. Since SOA inherently fosters interoperability, it would enhance the integration and interaction among the Cloud software services. However, hardware and software technologies are constantly evolving at a tremendous pace and technology obsolescence is a major challenge to the software industry. Consequently, a software development approach that could alleviate the undesirable effects of technology shifts is desirable. In this perspective, the Model Driven Architecture (MDA) becomes a preferred methodology for developing software applications. This chapter proposes to integrate the three paradigms, namely Cloud computing, SOA, and MDA, to yield Cloud software services that are robust, flexible, and agile. Convergence of SOA and MDA paradigms in the development of Cloud software services will provide an apt solution to technology obsolescence.