Methods and systems for dynamically building a software appliance

An apparatus for providing a software, the apparatus comprising:

• a program interface adapted to receive a request for a software appliance, the request comprising functionality to be performed by the software appliance;
• a building module configured to build the software appliance, the software appliance comprising at least one application capable of performing the functionality and portions of an operating system necessary to provide an execution platform for the at least one application;
• and
• a control module coupled to the program interface and the building module, the control module configured to determine operational requirements for the software appliance, the operational requirements comprising a minimum amount of computing resources to support the software appliance,
• wherein the program interface is further adapted to provide the operational requirements to an initiator of the request and to receive a response to the operations requirements, the response including at least one of a confirmation to provide the software appliance and a request to modify the software appliance.

A system for developing providing software, the system comprising:

• a network configured to provide a communication channel for a plurality of users;
• and
• a network portal coupled to the network and configured to provide products and services to the plurality of users, wherein the web-service portal further comprises:
• a program interface adapted to receive a request for a software appliance, the request comprising functionality to be performed by the software appliance;
• a building module configured to build the software appliance, the software appliance comprising at least one application capable of performing the functionality and portions of an operating system necessary to provide an execution platform for the at least one application;
• and
• a control module coupled to the program interface and the building module, the control module configured to determine operational requirements for the software appliance, the operational requirements comprising a minimum amount of computing resources to support the software appliance;
• wherein the program interface is further adapted to provide the operational requirements to an initiator of the request and to receive a response to the operations requirements, the response including at least one of a confirmation to provide the software appliance and a request to modify the software appliance.