Government releases second iteration of CloudStore

New service immediately criticised by industry. Also, platform not built using open-source tools, despite government commitment

The government has released a new version of its CloudStore, an online service for public sector bodies that lists 1,700 cloud-based products and services from 257 different vendors.

The new iteration, which the government initially promised would be available in April this year, adds the ability to make purchases through the store so long as the buyer is registered to use the government's eMarketplace platform.

For buyers, it also adds:

For suppliers, it adds:

Despite the government's commitment to using open-source tools where possible, the CloudStore has been built with proprietory software. According to Eleanor Stewart, engagement manager for the G-Cloud programme, her department's hands were tied by a commitment to use existing technology.

"This iteration is built as part of the government eMarketplace so it's made use of an existing government platform."

A spokesperon for the G-Cloud added later on Twitter:

"We just couldn't [use open source] for this version as [we're] reusing existing government systems. [We are] still committed to doing it in open source though."

Stewart added that her team will now work on enabling users to leave reviews of products and services on the store, among other new functionality.

"We're going to focus on improving access to the CloudStore catalogue data so others can create stores tailored to different audiences and look at putting in place ratings and reviews so customers can tell others what they think about the quality of different services," she said.

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Government releases second iteration of CloudStore

New service immediately criticised by industry. Also, platform not built using open-source tools, despite government commitment

However, the new version received criticism from the industry almost as soon as it was announced. Posting a comment on the site announcing the new iteration, CEO of dedicated hosting company Memset, Kate Craig-Wood, said that it still suffered from many of the problems of the earlier version.

"It still seems to have a lot of the issues of the last [iteration]. First, I think you're going to need to constrain options for your selection lists. For example on the General API access you have: 0/NO/No/Yes/Test/Yes - Castrum, etc.

"I can't actually make it show my own services other than by searching for our company name either (try a search for 'IaaS'). Shows a small sub-set of suppliers when you do that.

"The side nav doesn't appear to work properly – it only appears after you search for something in the main search box. People should be able to drill down into a sub-set showing comparable services, not have to guess the right combination of search terms and flags to select."

She added that the decision to use the existing platform could have stymied its development.

"As for constantly reloading the main page, that's rather last-millennial tech! It is also extraordinarily slow, though that could be launch activity. While I appreciate you've based on a pre-existing system dare I say that the pre-existing system is a bit poor and you're trying to fit a square peg into a round hole."

Craig-Wood concluded that the new CloudStore is a backwards step from its previous iteration.

"At present this seems a step away from an easy-to-browse, intuitive web front end for G-Cloud services. We seem to have gone from beta to alpha."

The government has previously stated its hope the store will save the UK £120m by 2014.