May 1, 2024
Updated May 10, 2025
21 minute read
Platform as a Service, or PaaS, is a cloud computing model that provides a comprehensive environment for developers to build, run, and manage applications without the complexity of managing the underlying infrastructure. Think of it as renting a fully equipped workshop, complete with tools and machinery, where you can focus solely on your craft—in this case, creating software. The PaaS provider handles the servers, storage, networking, operating systems, and development tools, allowing developers to concentrate on writing code and deploying applications quickly. This abstraction of infrastructure is a key characteristic of PaaS and a major draw for development teams.
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Reading list
We've selected 29 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Platform as a Service.
Delves into the patterns and practices for building cloud-native applications, which are frequently deployed on PaaS platforms. It provides a mental model for designing resilient and scalable applications in a cloud environment. This is essential reading for understanding contemporary approaches to software development that leverage the full potential of PaaS.
Provides a comprehensive and vendor-neutral introduction to cloud computing, covering essential concepts, models, and architectural layers, including PaaS. It is highly valuable for gaining a broad understanding of the foundational principles underpinning PaaS and is often used as a textbook in academic settings. The book helps solidify an understanding of where PaaS fits within the broader cloud landscape.
Provides a comprehensive guide to building and deploying applications on Microsoft's Azure PaaS platform. It covers everything from creating your first Azure account to deploying and managing complex applications. The author Microsoft Azure MVP and has extensive experience in developing and deploying applications on Azure.
Focuses on the architectural considerations and design decisions involved in implementing cloud service models, with significant coverage of PaaS. It is practical and vendor-neutral, offering insights into best practices and common pitfalls when architecting solutions on PaaS platforms. This book is particularly useful for those looking to deepen their understanding of the practical application of PaaS.
DevOps practices are crucial for successfully deploying and managing applications on PaaS. This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of DevOps principles and practices, including continuous integration and continuous delivery, which are highly relevant to leveraging PaaS effectively. It is considered a must-read for understanding the cultural and organizational shifts needed for cloud adoption.
Combines the concepts of cloud-native development, DevOps, and Kubernetes, all highly relevant to working with PaaS. It offers a practical guide to building and deploying applications in a cloud-native manner, often the goal when utilizing PaaS. It helps bridge the gap between theoretical understanding and practical implementation.
Kubernetes leading container orchestration platform often underlying PaaS offerings or used in conjunction with them. provides a practical introduction to Kubernetes, essential for understanding the infrastructure layer that supports many modern PaaS deployments. The latest edition covers updated features and best practices.
Microservices architecture common pattern for applications deployed on PaaS. comprehensive guide to designing, building, and evolving microservices. It provides foundational knowledge for understanding the architectural style that is highly complementary to PaaS environments. The second edition includes updated information on container orchestration and serverless, relevant to modern PaaS offerings.
A practical guide to building microservices, this book offers hands-on examples and patterns that are directly applicable to developing applications for PaaS platforms. It complements theoretical knowledge with practical implementation details.
Offers a practical and hands-on approach to learning cloud computing concepts, including PaaS. It provides real-world examples and exercises to help solidify understanding. This book is suitable for students and professionals looking for a practical introduction and reinforcement of cloud concepts.
Serverless computing is an increasingly important aspect of PaaS. focuses on building serverless applications on AWS, providing practical guidance and patterns. While specific to AWS, the concepts and architectural patterns are broadly applicable to understanding serverless offerings within PaaS.
Building upon foundational concepts, this book delves into advanced topics and applications programming in cloud computing. It is useful for those looking to deepen their technical understanding of developing for and interacting with cloud platforms, including PaaS.
Focuses on the organizational and cultural aspects of transforming to a cloud-native approach, which often involves leveraging PaaS. It provides practical patterns for driving innovation and adopting cloud-native practices within an organization. It is useful for leaders and teams undergoing cloud adoption.
While not exclusively about PaaS, this book is fundamental for anyone building applications in the cloud, including on PaaS. It covers the core concepts and challenges of data systems in distributed environments, which are highly relevant to the services provided by PaaS platforms. It is considered a classic in the field of distributed systems design.
Explores the patterns for building scalable and dynamic infrastructure in a cloud-native environment. While focusing on infrastructure, the patterns and principles discussed are highly relevant to understanding the underlying layers of PaaS and how applications interact with this dynamic environment.
This handbook provides a clear explanation of cloud computing, including PaaS, from an enterprise perspective. It covers the benefits and challenges of adopting cloud-based approaches and guides the reader through the implementation process. useful reference for IT professionals and decision-makers considering PaaS adoption.
Focuses on the architectural considerations of adopting cloud computing in an enterprise context. It provides insights into designing and integrating cloud solutions, including PaaS, within existing enterprise architectures. It valuable resource for enterprise architects and IT planners.
This business novel illustrates the principles of DevOps and their impact on IT and the business. While not directly about PaaS, it provides valuable context for understanding the operational challenges that PaaS aims to solve and the benefits of adopting agile and DevOps practices in a cloud environment. It highly recommended read for gaining a broader perspective.
Security and privacy are critical concerns in cloud computing, including PaaS. provides an enterprise perspective on the risks and compliance issues related to cloud adoption. Understanding these aspects is crucial for securely leveraging PaaS offerings.
Offers a broad overview of cloud computing concepts, including PaaS, IaaS, and SaaS. It covers various cloud technologies and vendors, providing a wide-ranging introduction to the field. It good resource for gaining a general understanding before diving into more specific PaaS topics.
Provides a comprehensive overview of PaaS, including its benefits, challenges, and use cases. It also covers the different types of PaaS offerings and how to choose the right one for your needs. The author cloud computing expert with over 20 years of experience.
Specifically focuses on programming for PaaS platforms from a developer's perspective. It explores the types of services offered by various PaaS providers and best practices for developing applications that leverage these services. While an older publication, it provides foundational insights into the developer experience on PaaS.
Provides a comprehensive guide to designing and building scalable systems. It covers a wide range of topics, including PaaS platforms. The author leading expert in scalability and has written several books on the topic.
Provides a comprehensive guide to operating web applications. It covers everything from setting up your infrastructure to monitoring and troubleshooting your applications. The authors are both experienced web operations engineers and have written several books on the topic.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/topic/p88cuw/platform
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