Zoho has introduced Catalyst 3.0, an updated cloud development platform designed to help developers move applications from AI-assisted coding to deployment without managing separate infrastructure services.

Announced on September 2, the latest version adds integrations with AI development environments, Agent Skills, Model Context Protocol (MCP) support and AI-assisted workflows. The company said the changes are aimed at reducing the operational work involved in taking applications from prototypes to production.

Catalyst 3.0 combines frontend hosting, serverless functions, computing and data-management services on one platform. It is designed for software companies and system integrators building custom applications, as well as independent developers working on their own products.

A central addition is support for AI coding assistants. Catalyst’s Agent Skills allow these assistants to understand the platform and generate code intended for production use. The skills are also available through the Claude Code and Codex marketplaces.

The platform now includes a non-interactive command-line interface that can execute tasks without requiring manual input during a process. MCP support is intended to allow developers to complete Catalyst-related actions from within an AI coding assistant rather than switching to the platform’s graphical interface.

Zoho has also open-sourced the Catalyst AI skills, SDK, CLI and its lightweight Slyte JavaScript framework. The company said this will allow developers to inspect and contribute to the underlying resources.

Catalyst applications can use Zoho’s cloud security infrastructure and can be hosted in the company’s India data centres for data-sovereignty requirements. The platform is also available in regions including the US and EU and offers several open-source large language models hosted on Zoho infrastructure.

Zoho has introduced a free student programme for educational and non-commercial use. Developers can also access a monthly free tier, while users seeking broader access can receive free credits equivalent to ₹15,000 for six months.

Catalyst 3.0 is available for use immediately, according to Zoho.
Source:Zoho announces Catalyst 3.0, an AI agent-ready platform that helps developers take apps from prompt to production in one cloud