Why is AppScale based on virtual machines?

Question

I try to understand the basics of AppScale, more specifically why it apparently relies on being installed on a virtual machine.

Three questions:

1. Why is AppScale not "just" a conventional package (for example a .deb package), just like most other software?

2. There exists an "install from source" option on the download page. Why does that also require the installation target to be a virtual machine? And how can it tell if it really is?

3. Does this virtual machine requirement imply that AppScale can only be used on hosting centers that allows me to upload my own images, e.g. the ones provided on the AppScale download page? The "install from source" option suggests that it is not so - but couldn't I then install AppScale if I had a dedicated machine on my hosting center?

Answer 1

AppScale does not require you to use a VM, but suggests you do for simplicity (just download the image instead of having to build one). You can install AppScale directly on the physical machine if you choose to do so.