Explain why Cloud computing isn't killing the inhouse IT data center.

These days, whenever enterprises are deploying new software, they increasingly turn to a cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) solution. But doesn't this do away with the inhouse data center and staff?

Respond to the following;

My first post here is not a direct contribution to the debate, but rather a genuine technical question to the class and professor about cloud technology.

As an aspiring future application developer, I am trying to understand what it means to host an application that I have created on the cloud.

I think I generally get the concept of a thin client interface like a hosting a web application on the cloud, or accessing software via a virtual desktop like Citrix or similar.

But when the document talks about a thick client, or program interface on the cloud, what would be an example of that?

Also how would that be different from platform as a service?

Is it possible for me to write a program for a specific operating system, host it on the cloud, and thereby make the program usable by folks accessing the program via the cloud on all types of OS and devices?

Sorry lots of questions, but I am genuinely interested to deepen my understanding of these things for my future career.

Respond to the following questions;

Q1: Hosting an app on the cloud.

Simplest way to answer this is: Instead of a server being in your building, it is located elsewhere in the US or the world. (FYI...for security and liability reasons, it is advisable to have the server in the US.) And clearly, without high speed Internet access, cloud computing would be greatly hindered.

Apps will have a piece that runs on clients and a piece that runs in the Cloud. When delivering a cloud service, thick client (beefed up servers at the cloud service provider) is key for so-called "rich" content. For example, SaaS-based apps allow the thick clients to concentrate on rich UI functionality and rendering.

For more, see this article on developing a mobile app for the cloud.

- Q2: PaaS. This cloud service is ideal for developers for development, testing and production. Take testing, for example. No need to buy hardware to test an app across different platforms. You rent time with a PaaS vendor to do the testing.

And yes, with virtualization, a program for a specific operating system is accessible on all types of OS and devices.