We’ve talked a lot on ReadWriteStart about how design is an important facet of the development of a web applications for startups. Last week we provided some advice on how to deal with irate customers who hate your design changes, and earlier this month we talked about how small design tweaks can have big impacts of the use of your site. Sponsor The main theme of these posts is that good design is worth the time and effort because it goes a long way in attracting and maintaining users, but really, who is to say what “good design” is? A recent entry on the blog ignore the code by Swiss software engineer Lukas Mathis raises an interesting point about user interfaces and how some users prefer that they maintain their complexity . They like complicated user interfaces? It seems strange, but Mathis argues that mastering a cluttered interface gives users a sense of superiority. One example of this that Mathis points out is the Bloomberg Terminal, a complexly designed business interface whose users might revolt if it were simplified, as some studies have shown. “Some complex user interfaces may also give people the perception of having more control,” writes Mathis. “Another reason why people sometimes avoid simple devices is that they perceive them as being made specifically for children, or for ’stupid’ people.” So how does this apply to Web startup culture? What it says is that not all users are the same. Not everyone is looking for the cleanest and simplest design; some want more features and more complexity. The thing to remember is there is a difference between having a complex interface and having a complicated interface. Even the simplest of interfaces, Twitter , has begun to add more complexity with new retweet features, lists, trending topics, and more. Aesthetically, “good design” means design that is appealing to the eye, and is easily navigated visually. With this idea, it is important that complex interfaces are well designed so that the users who prefer simplicity do not feel overwhelmed. So “good design” may be simply design that is both aesthetically refined, and that also serves to aid both novices and power users in easily finding the features they want without feeling over or underwhelmed – balanced, and right in the sweet spot. I would love to hear what people think of this idea, so please let me know your thoughts in the comments. Discuss

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At times it feels like the concept of cloud computing is as ephemeral as a towering cumulus cloud on a summer day. It passes by, changes shape and looks different to every person who views it. But like those clouds in the sky, there’s a lot of complexity out there, especially as it concerns how data is managed in a multi-tenant environment. The issue keeps coming up. First off, there are no existing standards for moving data in the cloud. Third party vendors like CloudSwitch are providing ways to “drag and drop,” data from on-premise to a cloud environments. But there is just no standardized way to move information between cloud networks. Sponsor But there are some ways to manage the complexity. Informatica’s David Linthicum wrote a blog post yesterday on the topic. We agree with Linthicum to some extent but his declarations don’t entirely reflect the current reality. Linthicum outlines some of the inherent issues that come with data integration in the cloud. The biggest issue comes down to the cloud computing providers. They do not provide syncing back to the customer’s on-premise environment. Linthicum points out that Salesforce.com is the exception to the rule in this regard. So, according to Linthicum, what should the customer consider? Backup: This is the first and foremost issue for Linthicum. You need to have an on-premise backup in case of cloud computing outages,cloud service providers going out of business or to prevent the headaches that can happen when the new owner of your cloud computing provider decides that it’s really not interested in that business at all. Data Movement: It’s the data integration that drives processes between systems that may be in the cloud or on-premise. How do you manage all this information that may be dispersed over geographically distant platforms? It’s a different world than dealing with systems that exist in one data center. We agree to a point but there are lots of various options to these issues. First off, it’s often a matter of what cloud computing platform you choose. The large service providers offer the safest bet. They are vested in the future of cloud computing and are developing ecosystems that consist of third-party partners. A number of these partners specialize in cloud-based application deployments. And cloud-based security is making advances that make data loss as rare as if the data is on-premise. Linthicum does offer some sound advice that may seem more like common sense but it is worth noting: “First, consider the overall requirements of the business. Sounds obvious, but many who deploy cloud computing systems do not have a complete understanding of the overall business requirements. Second, focus on the holistic architecture, on-premise and cloud-delivered, including how they will and should exchange data to support the core business. Finally, select the right data integration technology for the job, and do so only after taking everything into account. You’ll find that there are both on-premise and on-demand options, and in many instances you may have to mix and match solutions.” There are a lot of options out there. We do not necessarily agree that the hybrid approach is the best way to go. There is no one formula. Standardizing on the cloud has its advantages. But, still, the over riding issue is really how data passes between systems. Without standards for managing data transfer, the issues Linthicum points out will never go away. Discuss

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Part of the complexity in the cloud comes down to how the data is managed within a cloud computing environment. But even a bigger challenge is how to move applications to the cloud. How is all the data associated with an application moved to a cloud computing environment? And can you get it out? The cloud computing world is still a bit like the Wild West. No standards exist for moving applications, much less data, which opens opportunities for companies like CloudSwitch . Sponsor CloudSwitch is a drag and drop service for the cloud. According to the MIT Technology Review , CloudSwitch provides an intermediary layer between the data center and the cloud. It’s a service designed to simplify the process for moving to the cloud but it still comes with its complexities. CloudSwitch requires virtualization software to port the customer applications to a cloud environment. With the virtualization software in place, the customer installs the CloudSwitch technology. CloudSwitch takes the data from the customer’s virtualized environment and places it on the cloud platform using a “cloud fitting” algorithm. The algorithm compares the two environments to determine how the application runs on the CloudSwitch platform. CloudSwitch should thrive in this world, where the complexity for moving applications can make it seem not worth the trouble to make the switch. This is a huge market opportunity. It’s not exactly a priority for cloud computing providers. Cloud computing services would prefer that a customer move its data to the cloud and keep it there. If it’s as easy to move data to the cloud, it should mean that CloudSwitch can provide a service that allows for the application to move out of the cloud, too. We find it troublesome that vendor lock is emerging as an issue in cloud computing. It’s why we need more standards based initiatives like what is proposed by the Open Cloud Consortium . Discuss

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