Skinny applications have a bright future
By Tom Foremski - January 11, 2006
By Tom Foremski, for Silicon Valley Watcher
There is a new class of software emerging from companies such as Jotspot and Socialtext. The software enables custom applications to be created for small numbers of users, through a simple interface.
This class of software is sometimes referred to as roll-your-own or do-it-yourself software. Although they convey a meaning--they aren't that good because of the other connotations they invoke.
When I met with Joe Kraus, co-founder of Jotspot, before the holidays, he said it would be good to have a different term. And so here is my suggestion: skinny apps. Just skin it!
The reason is that there is an application layer or "skin" on top of a database. I've floated the idea over on ZDNet if you want to take a look at whether it floats or sinks in IT circles.
Or let me know if you have other suggestions.
By Tom Foremski - January 11, 2006 | Permalink | Comment
| Category: Disruptive
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Comments (3)
A UK software company named RealFlair calls them "gap apps" because they fill in between bigger packaged software.
Posted: January 12, 2006 2:47 AM
I use/build with JotSpot and there's a bit more to delivering apps than skinning the thing - that's trivial.
Posted: January 14, 2006 1:12 AM
Dennis, I think the point was that many of the apps in this niche are just a custom CRUD (Create Retrieve Update Delete) 'skin' on top of a database table or two.
I vote for 'CRUDdy Apps', BTW.
Posted: January 15, 2006 9:40 AM