Scalable Software Systems: An Upcoming Internet Commodity

You may remember AOL. Millions joined. Millions left. Millions of dollars changed hands. Most people moved on to MySpace, Facebook and a dozen other sites where they had more control over their content and persona. Now Ning and similar sites offer netizens the ability to set up their own social networking site, a mini-MySpace, if you will. It is easy to see where this evolution is leading. The next, logical step is the ability to create a site which, in turn, allows others to set up their own social network, a sort of Ning-daddy.

Most importantly, this is where the money is. It won't matter whether it is Google-zilla or a basement hacker. The one who can shrink-wrap a decent, scalable, software solution holds all the cards. The precedent is already there. A few smart fellows figured out long ago, there was a need for "create your own forum" software. Licenses have changed hands many times, but off-the-shelf software that allows you to deploy your own forum is readily available. Scalability is the key to the more successful versions.

For the simple purpose of this brief article, we'll define scalability as flexible, customizable, and simply usable. The ability to pick and choose the desired features from the off-the-shelf package will be a key to success for the next, bit thing. It also gives the seller of such software the ability to make some decent coin by offering add-ons. Sell the basic package and let your buyer customize their software with options, not unlike a new car.

Imagine people paying you for the ability to deploy a mini-Facebook. Now imagine you are the person who created and controls the software that makes it possible. Partnered or licensed to a company with the infrastructure to handle the load (think Amazon, Google, or Microsoft) and you have the perfect, internet storm. Now, the buyer not only has the ability to purchase your software, but also can pay you for the space in which to deploy.

Certainly, you could just sell the software and people could set up their own web servers, but remember, our definition of scalability includes "simply usable." Selling the software for $50,000 to nerds with servers, limits your profit and market. Selling your software for $49.99 to anyone with an email address, makes you a billionaire. You do this by selling the complete package: software, support and space.

The concept isn't new. Only the product has changed. The next, evolution of the internet will be scalable, social network, creation/management software. Why? Because everyone likes money and this is one of the few ways to make money within the current internet paradigm. Why be Tom MySpace when you can be the one responsible for creating an army of Toms?