CNAP → Cloud Native Application Platform
An open platform for building and running application clouds.
Introduction
The Cloud Native App Platform (CNAP) is a platform for building and running application clouds. It is based on the Cloud Native Computing Foundation and Cloud Native Application Bundle principles and is designed to execute bundles installations, upgrades, custom actions, etc. using Porter on Kubernetes. The format of installations is not limited to Kubernetes and can look however and run anywhere.
Compared to alternatives, CNAP is built on more flexible standards and does not enforce any specific app structure, runtime, language, nor deployment config. It does not fall into the trap of hiding useful abstractions behind over-engineered solutions, but rather provides a simple and consistent experience for all users.
We’re building the future of cloud-native application platforms. Since our inception, we’ve been working tirelessly to create a unified ecosystem for developers, providers, and users of cloud-native apps. Our mission? To simplify the installation, management, and monetization of cloud-native applications while providing a secure and user-friendly environment for all roles and cross-team sharing organizations.
State of Cloud-Native
The cloud-native community is the heart of CNAP and fundamental to how we build and deploy software today. CNAP is designed to address the key challenges in modern DevOps and cloud-native environments, as highlighted by leading industry reports.
- 72% of companies use multiple cloud-native application platforms, highlighting the need for flexibility but also creating management and consistency challenges.
- 65% of stakeholders report at least one direct financial benefit from cloud-native approaches, including new revenue-generating customer experiences (26%) and improved IT staff efficiency (70%).
- However, 55% cite compliance with security and governance requirements as the biggest challenge in creating or adopting a cloud-native application platform.
State of DevOps
The longest-running, most widely referenced research report in the DevOps world.
State of App Platforms
The most comprehensive report on the state of cloud-native application platforms.
Users and Use Cases
The spectrum of users is broad, ranging from developers, end-users, hosting providers, SaaS teams, agencies, to enterprises. CNAP is designed to empower use-cases for all these users, providing a consistent experience for all.
Build a SaaS, PaaS, IaaS
Users can build their own managed SaaS, PaaS, or IaaS on top of CNAP to streamline facilitating selling their software installs or services to end-users through a self-service portal provided by CNAP or a custom UI built on top of CNAP’s API.
Internal Use
Enterprises can use CNAP purely for internal purposes, such as managing their own internal apps, services, or infrastructure, and sharing them with their teams, standardizing the way apps are installed, upgraded, and managed across the whole engineering organization.
Agency Services
Agencies can use CNAP to streamline installations to their clients. Sell apps, services, or infrastructure, providing a faster time to market while best practices are built into the platform.
Next Steps
MVP Features
CNAP’s Minimum Viable Product (MVP) focuses on delivering core functionality to connect end-users, developers, and infrastructure providers. Here are the key features:
- User Authentication and Authorization: Secure access control for different user types.
- Application Marketplace: A catalog of deployable cloud-native applications.
- Deployment Mechanism: Streamlined process for deploying applications using CNAB bundles.
- Basic Infrastructure Management: Tools for providers to register and allocate resources.
- User Dashboard: Central hub for managing deployed applications and resources.
These features form the foundation of CNAP, enabling a seamless experience for all user types while showcasing the platform’s core capabilities.