Heroku vs Pivotal Web Services (PWS): What are the differences?

Introduction

When comparing Heroku and Pivotal Web Services (PWS), it is essential to understand their key differences to make an informed decision on which platform best suits your needs.

1. Deployment Process: Heroku offers a simpler deployment process where developers can easily push their code to the platform using Git with minimal configuration, making it beginner-friendly. On the other hand, PWS follows a more complex deployment process, requiring users to follow a series of steps such as setting up a Cloud Foundry CLI and pushing applications through this interface, which might be more suited for experienced developers.

2. Pricing Structure: Heroku has a straightforward pricing structure based on resources consumed, with different tiers offering various functionalities such as dynos and databases. In contrast, PWS offers a more flexible pricing structure, allowing users to pay for only the resources they use without the need for long-term commitments, making it more suitable for scalable projects with fluctuating resource needs.

3. Maintenance and Support: Heroku handles the maintenance and support of the platform, ensuring that it is always up to date and secure without requiring users to perform manual updates. PWS, on the other hand, requires users to handle maintenance tasks such as updating the platform and applying security patches themselves, giving them more control but also more responsibility.

4. Integration with PaaS Ecosystem: Heroku is known for its seamless integration with various platform-as-a-service (PaaS) ecosystem components, providing users with a wide range of add-ons and services that can enhance their applications. In comparison, PWS is more focused on providing a stable and secure platform, with limited integration options for external services, which might constrain developers looking for extensive ecosystem support.

5. Scalability Options: Heroku offers automatic vertical and horizontal scaling options, allowing applications to handle increased traffic and workload without manual intervention. Conversely, PWS requires users to configure scaling settings manually, providing more control over resource allocation but potentially requiring more time and expertise to optimize for performance.

6. Community and Documentation: Heroku boasts a robust community and extensive documentation that can help developers troubleshoot issues, share knowledge, and optimize their applications effectively. PWS, while having a supportive community, may lack the same level of comprehensive documentation and user-generated content, potentially making it more challenging for users to find solutions to specific problems.

In Summary, Heroku and PWS differ in terms of deployment process simplicity, pricing structure flexibility, maintenance and support responsibilities, PaaS ecosystem integration, scalability options, and community support resources.