How will the users prefer the JIRA cloud instance when they are not ready to support customization via plugins?

[Mahesh S]

This is something general and not technical. As we know that the strength of JIRA from user community is the feasibility to do extensive customization. How will the users prefer the JIRA cloud instance when they are not ready to support non-Atlassian plugins?

Now this document seems that they are removing the currently supported ones as well. Is my understanding wrong? Is Atlassian planning to provide solutions via some other means like their own features?

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist- · Accepted solution]

You are correct.

First, as a managed service, Atlassian can only afford to support a limited range of functions.  They've chosen the add-ons they are willing to support carefully, and locked out the rest (especially ones that might allow users to create "interesting" breaks in the system). 

Note that you can still install add-ons.  Connect add-ons talk to the Cloud systems via interfaces that Atlassian can, and do support.  Atlassian are trying to remove the reliance on non-Connect add-ons and move as many functions into Connect add-ons as possible (or into JIRA Core)

If a user needs something that can't be done on Cloud, then they have to use Server.

[Robert Massaioli _Atlassian_]

Add-ons can be written for Atlassian Cloud by third parties; and many have been. They use the Atlassian Connect framework which you can find documented here: https://connect.atlassian.com/

[Peter T]

There are alternatives to Atlassian cloud - other cloud offerings based on AWS, Google cloud or Rackspace or others which combine the benefits of both worlds - service like solution for the end user and all the Server add-ons.

Number of Atlassian experts provide such services or you can set it up yourself.

Cheers,
Peter T

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

True - remember that these are all "Server" installations - the 3rd parties are running Server version of Atlassian products for you.  So you gain the flexibility of Server, but lose Connect and the automatic updates to latest.