Flings often address a specific problem or offer a utility not found in a VMware product. VMware staffers publish these short-term projects for free on the VMware Labs site, where users can offer feedback and suggestions.
Some VMware flings are go on to become official products. VMware vCenter Multi-Hypervisor Manager, which manages other hypervisors from vCenter, is the first VMware-supported product born from a VMware fling (XVP Manager).
VMware has called upon its user community to submit ideas for useful software tools in the Open Innovation Contest. VMware’s technology team then develops the winning idea into a VMware fling.