The value of platform engineering as a natural progression of the DevOps movement is undeniable.
Its tenet is to deliver a rich and easy-to-use developer experience while significantly reducing cognitive load.
While everyone is eager to assemble their tech arsenal, it’s crucial to address a fundamental question:
If platform engineering builds doors with the latest and greatest tooling, who will be capable of knocking?
The Misconception
While many new deployments of Platform Engineering focus on tools, tech stacks, integrations, and other technology details, they risk missing the bigger picture — people and processes.
Platform engineering is not just about tools and components; it is a comprehensive approach that should set the baseline for understanding developers struggles with operationalizing software throughout the organization.
The Current State of Affairs
With the proliferation of technology in the platform engineering landscape, it is essential to remember that the true success of a platform hinges not only on the innovative tech but also the consumers that ensure its viability and success.
Your First Customer: Software Engineering
Assessment
The first step in aligning platform engineering with organizational goals is to evaluate the current capabilities of the software engineering teams. This involves understanding their workflows, pain points, and requirements.
Conduct thorough assessments using methods like in-depth interviews and detailed observational studies to gain a comprehensive and unbiased understanding of the current situation. This will allow you to create a clear picture of where specific improvements are needed, enabling a precise and targeted resolution of issues and enhancements.
Adapt, Overcome
Once the assessments are in, the next step is to champion the necessary changes.
This involves presenting findings to stakeholders, proposing new workflows, and showcasing undeniable benefits of adopting the platform.
Effective advocacy requires clear communication, emphasizing the potential for efficiency and how the change will reduce cognitive load for developers.
Lead by example — I will show you, not just tell you.
The Future of Platform Engineering
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