It’s been a very good first half of the year for Java-based platform as a service (PaaS) provider CloudBees. The Belgium-based cloud company reported a revenue increase of 148% in the first two quarters of 2013, as well as a 135% increase in its customer base.

The news, which CEO Sacha Labourey describes as “definitely a great step for us”, could also be seen as more affirmation of the sharp rise in the PaaS market.

Almost every recent research paper you come across will mention it.

Market Monitor, a service of 451 Research, recently forecast that PaaS would be the fastest growing area of cloud computing, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 41% through 2016. Cloud overall would have a CAGR of 36%.

TechNavio, in May, put the CAGR at near 50%, with their beancounters expecting the global PaaS market to hit $6.45bn by 2016 and …