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.



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By Tom Foremski - January 11, 2006 | Permalink | Comment | Category: Disruptive
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Comments (3)

Tim:

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

dahowlett [TypeKey Profile Page]:

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

Michael Bernstein:

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

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