Today we let our hosting users know that we are transferring our Apache CouchDB hosting service to a new company called Iris Couch. The hosting offering is still in beta but close to being generally available, so it was important that we make some decisions about our ability to build both the world’s best NoSQL software and build a great hosting service. In a small company it’s extremely important to focus on as few things as possible and do them really, really well. At the end of the day, we decided focusing on building great software was our top priority and that it was better to let a separate company focus on building the hosting service. We think the hosting business will develop more rapidly with this approach and is the best solution for users as a result.
Couchbase will stay actively involved in making sure the hosting service is successfully transferred to Iris Couch and that the transition is as transparent as possible for users. We also plan to maintain a very close relationship with Iris Couch for as far as we can see. We think Iris Couch will play an important role in building a thriving ecosystem around Apache CouchDB so we have a vested interest in making sure it succeeds. For those of you that have had some exposure to the hosting service, you may have interacted with Jason Smith – the person that drove the hosting service effort for CouchOne and more recently Couchbase. Jason will stay with the hosting service and now run Iris Couch as founder and principal. This will provide needed continuity to the transition and assure a very close relationship with Couchbase over the long run.
I think this transition and the resulting focus of Couchbase on building great NoSQL software and of Iris Couch on building a great hosting service is the right thing for all involved. I hope you agree.
