Focus: Multiparadigm Programming Focus: Multiparadigm Programming Focus: Multiparadigm Programming

EVER SINCE THE software in dustry diverged from the computer manufacturing industry, software firms’ business models have been in flux. Over the last decade, the primary software industry has tended to be seen as a combination of a US$200-billion software product industry (with products comprising either enterprise solutions or packaged mass-market software) and a $500-billion professionalservices industry (producing bespoke software systems matching exact customer needs).1 In contrast, the vertical software industries’ role has been difficult to grasp, existing between the primary software industry and industries purchasing specialized software systems for their core businesses.2 One reason for this lack of clarity is the obsolescence of industry classification systems. These tend to conceal the software development activity of media and communication companies such as Apple, Google, Nokia, and AT&T, classifying them among nonsoftware industries. Another reason is the vague border between traditional software companies, which deliver software as packages but also through the Internet, and software-based firms, which use the Internet in new ways, including as a means to create and capture value from delivering content and services. These services include what have become known as cloud applications. Cloud computing refers to the provision of computing capacity and applications as a service across the Internet. There are three service layers (matching the cloud architecture layers):3,4