๐ Book 2 - Building Local-First Systems - Chap 5 - Why SaaS Became the Default
Software-as-a-Service did not become dominant because it was inherently better for users. It became the default because it aligned with the economic incentives of companies and the operational realities of the web. This chapter explores the forces that led to SaaS dominance and why those forces continue to shape modern software architecture.
๐ This is a paid article. To unlock the full content, open this page using the private link you received (it includes a
?code=...parameter).
ENCv1:aWN_nsWQp6dvxd5mJk5x1BdTSSs3ChdcIO8IjhMqicyGOdUjqzSeBVAZZv2ecZlcDgwEvomgkhlZZrVIQKLCD0xiIbblgfFe1VrJjjsiNPvzu0a8ZAeKeLKva4kUW6f6iVhebH5jqzr2C5GWelvHNTTzFX30up7mvYbrmV_UHYHAvh0zn0roPmWleyMy9RZrXqkv1YXnHeqUdS0EsBi_5THaHvjDMQR16kVxjFP5OeFNtp4brq6lf2FQQnTb7_HJELxHcRFkcTExHryjaCviYb3zo-Nd_SCiLAJUDHB7Uua12jFZraLAKQmS8zjS4lNvQ39D7rWya1PmzKRms38jozOsZmTNVTOHToKtdliduYB8V0IyMGfFzLkl8w6txVxMymtfIps_NiVM8P2695mY8S7qtJ6h_QB4h7vZaxE07bh2UcWvAjlkJ-7xJRozZ2kSRszjo9PR4HzzIQMGoKwRstZYeC6wAdXzUehRLMpaayLJPn7ZD6ikCNNlFtBvBtmxpRsymi2izitMZ9wzLz1-kqgrh34peHzAgA7sKra5FUc98ZpZ5AUoRN5TLFpJNYh4ZOJ7gfKObeOksf1KrBkdupX_EzuIKxMnHCm33rN_9R7nZmZJMzPEpAMv0o32vK0odFOBtk9pTfABjz7qlotPY9bOVhBHcv_wm0Tc5c0aPoT2ynee6r1_SsMOZDYqpxBz03U-9heK0B83lfORURzfoCdqvysA28nLD0RQe1FX0Dfm0DixyvrhYk6aKDgUdS6O-oJQx_iJOA76eoVxOamPFUB74r7J607XDz1L56QJQG-DkAzACe1q5N67qUluIt_u8DXImJih4GpZN-ELxOiyt7Eyb9ZLmBIpa6Zgc9yAnxUk4Guma8bQMPe9-X7DF8O9n3c1HyWqEwqRkhJcywN9ZuDUdISXpmFAS66hCJxEqi8Z6-Yy6h1cYpozZpV5JCPH5gOYZTlR77hug5wZCDOiiuNyliyKpg5dtosFUBr8s61hq3IU2YtecDslKk0DWH6THox0QowkKwvkVYbmcYIe1oYdW3zvHzCiuayGsPqylN7gdUFjsF-TBmqC5aCvHyveTnFMw4ZlAKsVUGleoK2RViP-gof-k16TKFu_hV_pGJ5TCmow4ffP3O1R2S2mOGER31fq__Kta4Ql2yGctElDJkTS5jYSltC1W0_jFoPYPhIqoTqFLx3B2rsOmrY5jkZ02QjQWQlk85q8u06UcxJNQAnPpBHdRwm_iRp5Oaw3vgAwwTY4QvZBwi0iG9cFZgbjSvpshDHSJ90Lv3wHPchCidvl3ndHxHUtswn22-vrWymamXRwhYKzsEkfTbuOOUNHLb6AZWOz5yRjtADhEN3Rp1f0AQf45SZdcNJ8mPbM0HrlePt9tMCuMpN2VHtUGyqJsBLbB8FfJDtfcaEP9q37BKY74ZKqJ8s4BbE4xqfzJ8rJI8MaE86m9Tpp6tTd4dNQWe_PElwzvX0wCbxDSk742Druf81l4kZ91DvBXLii61oVgeNDQ4HvlCL_S4Ysi9d23VUgWw0e8rSqP8VD2hMXfNxcP286mS51_mjYJaN7KvkNsxYWYtRvYOnla_zuOF1MyLHzTpps2HRc4HtIloN0qXfK4MGaGq9dXViNvUg9QjvGTtCAQranzrB2YanS7hn8UVXdzzVclesjgXwPXHJuwZIhCO1cKtLYqYfvKI8lYy8PWw7D-DwAQzgOLx8vdMiV7MeBMxkzVsWvcd838XwtaUtJCmhytjycH6irBrBiz0PUlDmFpVXU-1EFjqaAA5JIV4S5ewVMKbnSCuYC9DxH5tZgh-P0nQa4dJBiS0hNYptsHOFCiGZ_poMPoySSpPSTo4FZ1sFxvkVsve-Z5VLbUjRfVE0HDYrCxh3x1Ie4IqZg3gSm67CGaVHurZZrQu-7e9T9yeShugNw3pf6nDHZvygTTsEAhsCqCujeIXcDXwS47TXvPHNDgzBNJ3yo4jbGxsP6XLVwQwVMN2M-QyJlCrFotro0PocVHhL-UI8umQRzJUJGQf7gqy2VKWBL5fR2Bn_Ze6lVp_46Hzfz5DPR2Si-0cytXZdmaS_Zw2MSyDVkF_9RjJNZWD3yVpVH5p4wTw2aHBdSj09qCASRW9b38jbAZuYnjbI3nS6UNFMCbjBO0en-nUtRF3T0CxPKjVqGVhhbJ8qzj0HgfIWOZj-6vZHql8RX4PeNnI0NZmbJfiNwYTY4rsC6RPNGLHqCSr3qnP2LUlvNu2swIII_0AIeI7TzQJSoqSnqqeaVgjheljBAGKLKGhQwJxXJr7wHLRM-syi5xJ5PcVgQDhB612bVM9YnfJm-SubPpf6eojeQ5AcQiUsXllurEH4cwzZUmzwiN1R-whet9dCVtargbx3HkF3oxMho8kWvF-HNFEiYscf0trKEga0U7rYlX93zl3JxDZAAEIxDWzQV3qrug-2cS2CEOir3TfM7oRn13lHXa67yWWv69vM29bPyZA7Mk0Q9kCjaDBCj2tSmudyWqlvpiiOhz7Oez8NyabddEVYyJcUyG6nJXYBGsIIN4Icogy4awo4N57GdJf_RTTBg0DOUBTSPT2Ow71PxECVoauenCiPktk7FTp2B7-IDX9kR32HYg4zqfdc24EArtT7kbbwkmK8FclgI2QdW4qjHEsTpysJXj2-iWM0LAi0WaWFGdloITDpkYnKZXlDa741r-b1AxjoTMGzfh9C7ktPAzdCaVF5gFq8rGpscLpRklKSfdr-i_1UWTvDfA9ADlX0PCVFbmJw_FR8A_4xCWwuDvKt6Mu1QQIsuY3YyE2o5y7whhvsFicd7K_TsVYJ0sCoj1UnwIvjSmGTbfGOevh5iFxpq4GIa9nISZv774QXk_L4Ln0KlG2rSowEb20Oeh5oIPPPsIKV-DL3opmhvI0TICBEJmtiYruUiWxjoQ6Cdk4SPtH9k14ql7Xeca6ZLNNCi4YR9aIrJxflju7cJP1PrYWs4Baeal_bJe9SC2MhMruB0xnCRH1XzzwSRDIaDFxfU3Y9G07RkGoXnbnCPiyt6rJ492QBNY8IAK1ROtqWyH7YZrvVSa5KH0d6KLbhSTzIfd5UtG66faw5jz3gPMzT84L2SgSxT1XAVr0bSXnlsmxOGUIBbg-Z2uuUpr0ek3rBw9dFYDR5WOsYKdTKvOkyzG-5JTNoiDEawgy32gGv5t8uLz3Dkv-SEQKO-18IUxbc6pHg_jKSETw8QelLgPbmxGcZyKHmxWX45SB8_iziX9S8kLti6tGZX1UAF_zwd1ENR4WIbWHl7f5iDE4znUJy74spwTAkjW746xJ-TuOXqbpY46qOD0daQrLFwtHii2YE9gIcvUIlvnInPSWTkTUe1H6IbxhX61c3Kx3GZyeYOP0apX80oc5nj7xW0mdBrWA7HyvWZzgSPRVLmaNYg-UBhmnYROMynawUdN3lVh81FWsB6HYtWTAOsOfimEgB7XDBTMFOffGaaJx_O-X45s40n_qOuFJGfEhmPP75NgktvkLacGGL6yV0So56F0Q2am6AXxbc7LOHpiEzix1t2eApMqGvbt_5xBPdiDeADhGgV4LGc2hCcRjMAaVtoFQ6Bre99OPxG1BlIfLDSlkh6W6EIJp_SqEihMFxfphmGyxzw_yyEu3dsN_jf_cURCBkkd-cm480pj0n24AwIkPiN11wPMQNgONGIhLE0zZGkHGopa-p0uT4B2ktCH1MUqiHaooeA65oxMdPdd4vemQX5qS4cKF-fKuypMwke46c3AsreaoHo-QHqy-dKnoV6SMBTnMq0spuf5VkQe3IW3W-oX6MEXDKybOnpT6IHhJMV-w4VLfMlDizlNtx7xwUpsBaf5eegqPfG1ZfU44tvcfRNB3iuE2Jpe4txFPn5Z2zGsSa1jTUTpqsL1n6lwG4Bk33bti3agC0xA40_YbmkdHaMYKBAAoe1IX5Ed3QeYhtGaQIa-Mog3cd04Fh1wTkITbq8s9pcNggcrttEvGCHGuBSxcAikPbFGlhrRJL0yOTYyTm1qtSMMqW9r0Ynqo8ZataGvvF1IFO7aw1fxhWW6oBefyNQ5d9yWV1HUiwT_5c4I6pINHpVlc5xsvDYGovzXS7nEipBK4K1WpCOH_myBs7VLwcDwMakZIR59f7hkfqcJRyCLdFcgCVGcjdRaGyRuTCsGGvfO_04OoIxAu0o6tq9Kny2H7p9zvMG-y0rRKcdHAxo8x-xL3FDlf12u7SFtINRprS-6qTWlLZKMRoxf9QQonUHnlpr_WCHZJAy3x7FTccqc0bsl4M77e4mertx4ZmbDZEh3n0ejPiibda4maGr--IBXoQj0Jwv-JTlOOkeN4vaVYSzx2r9kH6Kv18gsEaJ8Qh7l_SsIn2J-8Gx55fAxIQD4zFAJ1n4JfuF2T1zVzvlPTguccGX5_Uw_YeFmN0LPtft2NL7NrPrMuBKACtYdRoZdOl0OMu4QZZfUkfuEqnafn9oqLlQGjoxQf_snI0WXKV9aNIWaD0IhySUOHVk1fUHXoSSWmnewO2NnEKTf1XvSbwX-lWmTBFmQd2b4J8Z3AKbNs3C1ZPdm7Y2RmSDwGI8TU8lnaGBNFaJJBBet1S7K70BfluHAe60CxzLqYgLJDQmbv4i95EIbFiAiwZyFxawAEuhcrvcR5g4gC7aX5ajv-q0p3f5njAtoNqFee2ze7dsoLG3XVu7ZXJa8S4iVi1VS2O7maQGxngwao_P5GgZhkTSgIExDMvcVD_d4jWUGX9Pl36NfDw89_PbNWi-xdkTnE6awLFkq1BQYCtfxoymklYPNtrM1cA7t1HgpG82moJWeKhLpOwwx2xPkaqPCOmz47Lsd0KG15zovUm7lP1rDH9ny_porEr5seorBf1boX0v6q55ir7kD4MDw0ldDBpHIRwogEHFUoMisjG9kyGSKfNUD-BwWl1P012QYd6CLQcp0z7ruc7wrOrjhnX3CVNmjdf-nfqVLPDH4xkIF-s4LwhLI4U3e_Ploe88OgzpQ24cxxpNIP6QSIaJai4NcRDrsB3XBLk4h1zoXDKRP2hQF5SDkQskGhq6QDduy3VPHF51FWZS1Zzl1WPH9KmtFjBQshR-GnmVAahtRKdEYem74OAXzUPF6qbOLXof_3DXM-kZoF7_wV73DtcUz26KMNPAXtsD4vT0au04sNKted8RkWBB5agNlqUdVWPy7-4Uq2wCkXOExMiqBMcu3eXA9aWXJ6_jRj57q00mDAJDtyiSp8e6iAtf-gDQ-olaZPJhBFUyTxeAc61hB2CH9lhZlEZUofY6CE-Fg61PDdcxxuLm_hnzgmtZV1Kxah1AeaYFyvaAHYqW5tvBCLXoX2X08o4puR_iE3oYlXnYUpl9SIIyd-fsqJyqI5Y55S6vEgTf1vb_lgUpuZAdYjI_1rcFdraosz6Fk5MdHgRxdL9p4nO1OJIs0NbxpeM4yh5PnUmgCWCS9IP4E5Lhdjv8-dEfWUUYn6XXOyDBQ7G6-2u6LlH5rY1smN_x9DHTc2FCquoCp55KavJTK2DxLKsqKtr2zdOYxRgZHmbImtTg8DVKbpPiMaorK-PdEnCJVrxeAe8J7zXjc9VZpzLwKAVp0BMvIq9f0u_94QVHZHlKLS8wQoxma1acM7DPKsNUoYdpE1KPvOhC_b97i0VHyD1LuunO6wOSJwTQxK3VvrcVnxby4nUmrcztSwAP_-yLmbP5f5htzsCtgjD8TQ92zfJrJS1JCSZ7GGdxW1evR-BOJ8bHq4ykk2USHmWPWTn8OnN51zjTlzwGS_sdwGBXj2DD393jN4xk4cmezFNZwRdPi_ZX92FvxewOTFeVNfGlPsT5bfA2fd6TG5Do9KyK_Qkx0oZA5LYMAHZ55ZHsXVtJyPUEtBnMIXY08_UDw1Szz1HHP3O-dktwkAyWsRy3IRU5Z6msctvUv_bm2nRdgQ79mktV8eYOS1OBj-7It7d2ftiw_uz-BzLa4WBtZ1rJJpg_YSOo94-95AiFZeQ1O30ZDxR3XxibQ4-ag6bbeKB9Cr5TWMaXdzb3vRr0TCBs3EaHf5sW_v6JOg0xL16aPAzCEepzFZkJD9Kj3O42yORdFHFy8n263ZK0VkjVLXahBStE_jyKrPE3X-jrwUgFVKz9N_upiC0EXXm0qjcxCKLm186yadT5kE5-VKq-aVeMHyXfdZDvQv5OZwjZFkwsTxG4gGpUNN0sqAmx7deiUs3ftW3u2Rb80rdDSIjVWW7tgZT38G8ceo4GVkiV8XnnhPKWhGZ5JC93SMn-pdcc9tgRIYt-9Zpv5koDhdtBwvwC4cW7g3wUYWtGUUqChxBiTiMZjKJ988UdOw3ldorQnwDdjDxzOH0BbgXp4IEwKVNpp0UfjYBoJxLFxsQt8RtjbBUobB4cUa_izG2FRVVAnd3tPGRLc5Pho3P2sr_oYHOEyv0hLxszz_m8xy8XDb7055oY07ZU8ed-D4fVsEwL7RGGKvj-iLZ9FlCrWJSITz4y7r2GJxlp5JJon6L6lH-C_yFAEfDvg6XvstW1H8rXFF4K2rlk72hHZ0SCOa2SodjUbnzVhfkAjFcCBiMP2IB6If5-cPVFmSg4HkfE1ipl92O_bd5Icw0VttgilGbRWMq46Rs-px8aMU9Ixh6MLgsJ7FzrXkXisJObKaeKC_fc0zHevVaf6aUsEz5qC3AF9stUFAqoA6OLAXf0ivDJOn54bZ1wlh1E4GWihdJkbxrwECIApWxeRTat3SLXs372EopbQ4Gqcu5sO9hoYtdFYpN1YS8-3gI7JDboupvnG_G8E0s1Ap76peiufbNpWt0xKswuTRTCpJadORQE-dYtNhIKUEzcESOE_CMEAeNTvO6og2M7i81y94GylIBWFkmoPERN88oT99Cnc98OfpOyP_e-gjVmFuelgyWZhcMouAjWT1f7lj5NH8VHqwSIlE2-rBJQLTLCXd38DjDNpQPqHSfKnJpbYI7fLh73cunS7iYTKG6H9bEf0O6f17viDNNvTuhfZJPBRsaHGKDc_WfCPhSrtRhfULKdsBE8Kl7KRzV4L0GrxUHtGtWGXDdKl9qsNmUs-0fbjGSgm_6xswV9XhLMZ5GOYctphUPoVGj8W3tyP4-2iioSHlkGOUUUuRKHPBqWO_wTefq9XPumcdw8ghyeLCX9-0Y9IjxTBrDEnN0MuTm3P7iQETrpBptwMFISMLtBnU6XXq_0t-nygS6fw9IdxArqAYkeFAcE3wFA4So4l6xfdYnTH4e_NTOcI8ZIRHxXavq-myZuvkkqEtOYZrz-PYf1coDetT5feo8gxnd5g5XjprXRSV-utxwMWXuw9i0Pn12lqEkQHb_hFu0glnlKePAL9Zd9PgV0Eaq3DVfA6PuG0b83uFVW7k-Kb7Smtm6hv5Y8B08BTHWmYZjzcZzlB_SloNaka2SLrPHOYAT8F26tMVNN8-n9WqSkwPoNvFX479XP_haZtQFNpDIS0ZBZQkMAyoVPfohsOAm2wg1-SgjJdvY0QeA350BbEydXZbOCnP2wiFMJCgP7GsLU-vf4ikTc19dobPgoBMPfVS2WKhvMTWNPsoWEL0TQt7Nt6WyPWjI_36rtUiAK5p8YrOKugNI16AVwN2aH2SzdS3tX9yg8gLJKhjt5pxl0Yum-XlFMhF6JSejfY4gCnPJIzu-aOT2OFA7U4yTQuus65SquyuIFjawPA