A blog by Oleg Shilovitsky
Information & Comments about Engineering and Manufacturing Software

PLM Cloud Customization and Online Code Editors

PLM Cloud Customization and Online Code Editors
Oleg
Oleg
7 May, 2014 | 2 min for reading

cloud-code-plm

One size doesn’t fit all. It very true especially when it comes down to PLM implementations. Once released as a toolkit, PDM / PLM systems did a long way from a system that requires special software compilation to be done for every customers to the current system with flexible data models and tools allowing to configure and customize almost everything. Flexibility (in data model and code)  is one of the most demanded characteristics of modern PLM systems.

Customization is also special territory in PLM business. It brings complexity and requires special attention. PLM vendors spent lots of effort to reduce the amount customization required for PLM deployments. However, after all, every PLM implementation requires services. Part of these services is related to customer requests to develop special functionality.

Cloud brings some advantages and complexity to PLM customization-ability. Specific aspects of cloud technology and customization can be different for public and private cloud deployment. Multi-tenant architecture can apply some additional level of complexity. One of the aspects of complexity can be usage of development tools on the cloud.

TechCrunch Disrupt NY presentation by Codeanywhere caught my attention. Navigate your browser to read more Codeanywhere, The Google Docs For Developers, Rocks Startup Alley At Disrupt NY. The idea of Codeanywhere to serve as universal coding environment available on any device is compelling. Look here for more features. I specially liked the ability to manage and store code in different repositories. You can connect to your favorite 3rd party services like Dropbox, Github, Google Drive as well as move files and folders between services.

codeanywhereeditor_large

I have to say that Codeanywhere is not the only provider of coding environment in the cloud. Navigate here to see more tools available. My attention caught service called Runnable. Note, the broad support of languages and tools – C++, Java, Rails, Node.js, JQuery, PHP and more.

runnable-editor-options

Cloud code environments made me think about the opportunity integration (or even embedding) of such type of development environment into cloud PLM platforms. It can provide unmatchable capability to customize PLM systems regardless on location from both sides (customer and developer). The result – low development cost, flexibility to chose the location of service providers and lower customization expenses for customers.

What is my conclusion? Cloud puts some constraints on PLM system customization. To choose special and effective tools can be a game changer for efficient customization. Risk of broad errors and complex multi-tenant constraints raises the need to create a special customization environment. At the same time, cloud  is an excellent opportunity to lower the cost of PLM customization by optimizing the overall customization process and, as a result of that, lower expenses. PLM service providers can work from remote locations as well as have much simpler way to re-use customization. Just my thoughts…

Best, Oleg

pic credit – codeanywhere.com and runnable

Recent Posts

Also on BeyondPLM

4 6
5 August, 2009

Product Lifecycle Management is going full speed to social tools and technologies. With two companies, PTC and DS articulated their...

11 November, 2009

Few publications around a new company called PLM+, which left stealth mode this week, drove my attention. There is not...

12 May, 2010

Everybody in the engineering and manufacturing loves MS Excel. I had chance to write about it multiple times before. You...

2 June, 2024

Data is playing a key role in engineering and manufacturing processes these days. In the past, companies relies on drawings...

20 June, 2014

It has been a year since I published my How to select PDM system in 5 simple steps? Engineering.com article The...

16 November, 2017

I attended Autodesk University technology keynote yesterday. The keynote was led by Amy Bunszel and covered few interesting topics such as...

16 November, 2019

I’m on my way to Las Vegas to attend Autodesk University 2019. The event is an annual extravaganza of everything...

16 March, 2017

Engineering software is slowly moving towards cloud. Vendors, industry pundits and even customers are in a full agreement that cloud...

11 July, 2017

Hybrid cloud is one of these words that makes IT to feel that they can “have cake and eat it...

Blogroll

To the top