paasi

PaaSi is a term used in cloud computing discussions to describe a class of platform provisioning models that emphasize standardized interfaces and composable platform services. It is often presented as an extension or variant of Platform as a Service (PaaS) in which the platform’s capabilities are exposed through well-defined APIs and can be combined or substituted without changing individual applications. The goal of PaaSi is to improve portability across clouds, reduce vendor lock-in, and enable automated governance and self-service provisioning.

Etymology: The name combines Platform as a Service (PaaS) with Interface or Integration, highlighting the role of API-first design.

Architecture and characteristics: A PaaSi implementation typically includes a service catalog, an orchestration layer, an API gateway, and a set of platform microservices such as runtime environments, data services, identity, and observability. It relies on API-first design, standardized data models, and declarative configuration to support programmatic provisioning and lifecycle management.

Use cases: Multi-cloud deployments, automated development workflows, policy-enforced governance, and rapid experimentation with platform capabilities.

Limitations and challenges: Standardization across vendors can be difficult; there may be added latency and complexity from abstraction; skills in API design and platform engineering are required.

See also: Cloud computing, Platform as a Service, API-first design, Service mesh.