For django/rails or python/ruby/php based startups there are plenty of cheap hosting solutions.<p>What about for grails/java?
Are there any just-trying-out-my-startup-idea hosting solutions cheap enough for the just-trying-out part?<p>I have 100mbit at home and I'd probably be able to scrap together a dedicated server and put in my closet - would you say that would be a better and also cheaper alternative?
Is 100mbit enough?
100Mbit is way more than enough, unless you are trying to break into the adult industry or similar.<p>The problem with doing it at home is usually the reliability of network and availability of network, ventilation, and the reliability of power. But if you have some 100Mbps FTTH then sure, buy a UPS and rack up a server at home. Make sure it's in an area that doesn't get much warmer than you would like for yourself (whatever you do, /do not stick it in the closet./ )<p>Really, the colder you can keep it the better, but you shouldn't have any real problems through 80-85 degrees (I'd like it cooler, but eh.) I've worked in home-made data centers like that where the temp. regularly hit 100 (F, not C) and things mostly worked.<p>Do the math on your power usage, though; many places have retarded pricing for residential power, meaning you could actually save money by bringing it to a data center.<p>Me, I'm stuck on a 3m down, 768M up connection or something like that. Wholly unsuitable for actual hosting.
1. Google App Engine is free to begin with, but you known the cons.
2. Rackspace Cloud Servers (21$ for 512 MB. Pay for BW separately)
3. Slicehost (Same as Rackspace Cloud Server, but 40$ for 512 MB. But you get 100 GB BW I think)<p>I am using 512Mb Slice, with Nginx and Jetty and MySQL on the same slice and its been working pretty well so far.