Earlier today Microsoft
savaged<http://blogs.msdn.com/stevemar/archive/2009/03/26/moving-toward-an-op...>an
undisclosed effort to develop an "Open Cloud Manifesto" in secret,
tweeting that "*An open cloud deserves an equally open manifesto:
http://is.gd/oZtA (and don't show up to a party making demands without
bringing something)*" while blogging:

"We were admittedly disappointed by the lack of openness in the development
of the Cloud Manifesto. What we heard was that there was no desire to
discuss, much less implement, enhancements to the document despite the fact
that we have learned through direct experience.  Very recently we were
privately shown a copy of the document, warned that it was a secret, and
told that it must be signed "as is," without modifications or additional
input.  It appears to us that one company, or just a few companies, would
prefer to control the evolution of cloud computing, as opposed to reaching a
consensus across key stakeholders (including cloud users) through an “open”
process. *An open Manifesto emerging from a closed process is at least
mildly ironic.*"

Although there's no prizes for guessing who's behind this let's skip the
speculation (the consortium will reveal itself "in the coming days or weeks"
anyway) and get on with the job:

To ensure that the work on such a project is open, transparent and complete,
we feel strongly that any "manifesto" should be created, from its inception,
through an open mechanism like a Wiki, for public debate and comment, all
available through a Creative Commons license. After all, what we are really
seeking are ideas that have been broadly developed, meet a test of open,
logical review and reflect principles on which the broad community agrees.
This would help avoid biases toward one technology over another, and expand
the opportunities for innovation.

It so happens that the Cloud Computing
Community<http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=57700>already has a
MediaWiki <http://www.mediawiki.org/> (ala
Wikipedia<http://www.wikipedia.org/>)
installation (http://wiki.cloudcommunity.org/) for exactly this purpose and
had previously developed a complementary document for users, the Cloud
Computing Bill of
Rights<http://wiki.cloudcommunity.org/wiki/Cloud_Computing_Bill_of_Rights>
.

As such I am pleased to announce the Cloud Computing
Manifesto<http://wiki.cloudcommunity.org/wiki/Cloud_Computing_Manifesto>which
has been seeded with Microsoft's three initial suggestions:

   1. *Open Process*: Interoperability principles and any needed standards
   for cloud computing need to be defined through a process that is open to
   public collaboration and scrutiny.
   2. *Balanced Representation*: Creation of interoperability principles and
   any standards effort that may result should not be a vendor-dominated
   process. To be fair as well as relevant, they should have support from
   multiple providers as well as strong support from customers and other
   stakeholders.
   3. *Continuous Development*: Due recognition should be given to the fact
   that the cloud market is immature, with a great deal of innovation yet to
   come. Therefore, while principles can be agreed upon relatively soon, the
   relevant standards may take some time to develop and coalesce as the cloud
   computing industry matures.

It's an open wiki driven by community consensus and anyone can join and
contribute (there's no invitations, membership fees, etc.) so be
BOLD<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:BOLD>and if you have
something to add then go ahead.

--
Posted By Sam Johnston to Sam
Johnston<http://samj.net/2009/03/announcing-cloud-computing-manifesto.html>at
3/26/2009 09:36:00 AM