====== Platform Specific Parameter ======

[[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:start|Go to Terms and Definitions]]

===== Discussion =====

A Platform Specific Parameter supplies a value required to realize a platform-independent specification on a particular implementation platform.

The parameter identifies implementation information that varies according to the selection:

  * Cloud provider
  * Operating system
  * Virtualization platform
  * Container platform
  * Hardware architecture
  * Network implementation
  * Storage implementation
  * Security service
  * Deployment tool
  * Runtime technology

A Platform Specific Parameter may provide values such as:

  * Machine type
  * Processor architecture
  * Operating-system image identifier
  * Region or availability zone
  * Network identifier
  * Storage class
  * Service endpoint
  * Resource-provider identifier
  * Package name
  * Runtime version
  * Platform-specific security setting

Platform Specific Parameters allow a common [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:i:infrastructure_blueprint|Infrastructure Blueprint]] or [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:i:infrastructure_configuration|Infrastructure Configuration]] to remain independent of a particular implementation platform while supplying the values required for a specific deployment.

A Platform Specific Parameter differs from a platform-independent configuration value:

  * A platform-independent configuration value expresses infrastructure intent without dependence on a particular implementation technology
  * A Platform Specific Parameter supplies implementation information required by the selected platform

A Platform Specific Parameter also differs from an environment-specific parameter:

  * A Platform Specific Parameter varies because of the selected implementation platform
  * An environment-specific parameter varies because of the operational or development context, such as development, test, staging, or production

A parameter may be both platform-specific and environment-specific when its value depends on both characteristics.

===== Definition =====

//parameter whose value depends on the implementation platform selected to realize a platform-independent specification//

===== Source =====

Dido Solutions, Inc. and Jackrabbit Consulting, Inc.

===== Note =====

A Platform Specific Parameter should identify:

  * The parameter name
  * The expected value type
  * The implementation platform to which it applies
  * The specification element that consumes the value
  * Any applicable constraints
  * Any permitted or prohibited values

Platform Specific Parameters should remain separate from reusable platform-independent content when practical.

Separating the values allows the same Infrastructure Blueprint or Infrastructure Configuration to be mapped to different implementation platforms without embedding provider-specific information in the common specification.

The term does not require a particular parameter format, configuration language, deployment tool, cloud provider, operating system, or implementation technology.

===== Example =====

An Infrastructure Blueprint specifies a compute resource without naming a cloud-provider machine type. A Platform Specific Parameter supplies the machine-type identifier required by the selected cloud platform during deployment.

----

<WRAP centeralign>
© 2026 Dido Solutions, Inc. and Jackrabbit Consulting, Inc.
</WRAP>