Understanding the core of platform engineering
Platform engineering typically involves constructing comprehensive toolchains and workflows designed to give developers self-service capabilities throughout the entire software development lifecycle. This aims to simplify and streamline the development process, enabling developers to focus on coding rather than managing peripheral tasks.
These tasks include setting up infrastructure, configuring repositories, and handling continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. Through automating and managing these components, platform engineering frees developers to focus on writing high-quality code and delivering value to production.
Internal Developer Platform (IDP) is at the heart of platform engineering
The IDP is a centralized hub, integrating all the required technologies and tools that developers need to perform their tasks. Expertly-conducted integration makes sure that developers have access to everything required for their work, reducing the time spent on setup and configuration.
Technology and tools tailored to developers’ needs
An IDP is made up of a variety of technologies and tools, each selected and configured to meet the specific needs of the development team. These typically include version control systems, build tools, testing frameworks, deployment pipelines, and monitoring solutions.
Providing a well-curated set of resources, the IDP makes sure that developers can work more effectively and productively, leveraging the best tools available without needing to spend time on integration and compatibility issues.
Abstracts setup according to individual developer requirements
The IDP abstracts the complex setup processes, tailoring configurations to the needs of individual developers so that developers do not need to worry about the underlying infrastructure or the specific details of the toolchain setup.
Instead, developers can focus on their core competencies, knowing that the platform engineering team has optimized the environment to support their workflow. This, in turn, boost productivity and reduces the likelihood of errors and inconsistencies in the development process.
Why your business needs platform engineering now
Let developers do what they do best: Code
Traditionally, developers have had to spend a large portion of their time on non-coding tasks such as managing infrastructure, setting up CI/CD pipelines, and configuring repositories. These tasks, while essential, can distract from the core activity of writing code.
Developers can offload these responsibilities to the platform, freeing them up to focus their efforts on developing features and solving problems, which in turn accelerates the pace of innovation and delivery.
Sidestep common DevOps failures
While DevOps aims to foster collaboration between development and operations teams, it often fails due to a lack of cohesion and proper infrastructure management. Platform engineering addresses these issues by providing a standardized, automated environment that bridges the gap between development and operations.
Platform engineering minimizes the risk of DevOps anti-patterns, such as developers being burdened with infrastructure management, which can lead to inefficiencies and even project failures.
Capitalize on platform engineering’s growing popularity
Organizations across industries are recognizing platform engineering’s potential to streamline development processes and boost productivity. As more companies share their success stories and the tangible benefits of platform engineering become more apparent, the interest and adoption of this approach continue to grow.
This rapid rise is also driven by the increasing complexity of software development, which requires more efficient and scalable solutions to manage development lifecycles.
Cloud giants backing platform engineering
Major cloud providers like AWS and Azure are investing heavily in platform engineering, developing services specifically designed to support this approach. These services provide comprehensive, scalable solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing cloud infrastructure, making it easier for organizations to adopt platform engineering practices. These industry giants validate just how important platform engineering and provide businesses with reliable, high-quality tools to implement it effectively.
Platform engineering complements, not replaces, DevOps
A common misconception is that platform engineering is a replacement for DevOps. In reality, platform engineering complements DevOps by addressing infrastructure gaps and improving existing DevOps practices.
While DevOps focuses on bridging the gap between development and operations teams, platform engineering provides the necessary tools and infrastructure to support this collaboration.
Organizations should integrate platform engineering to resolve issues that often limit DevOps success, such as inconsistent tooling and manual processes. Platform engineering standardizes these elements, creating a more reliable environment for DevOps to thrive.
Streamlining development with Golden Paths
Golden paths bundle tools and workflows to meet common developer needs. These predefined paths simplify the development process, providing a set of best practices and tools that developers can use without having to configure everything from scratch. This reduces redundancy and streamlines the workflow, letting developers shift their focus more onto coding and less on setup.
Golden paths are designed to address typical use cases, so that developers have a clear and efficient route to follow for common tasks, which in turn speeds up development and improves consistency and quality across projects.
When to implement platform engineering in your business
Ideal team size for platform engineering adoption
Organizations with 20 or more developers are typically well-suited for adopting platform engineering. At this scale, the benefits of standardization, efficiency, and collaboration are more pronounced, making the investment in platform engineering worthwhile. Smaller teams may also benefit, but the impact is more substantial in larger organizations.
Smooth transition to platform engineering
The learning curve for adopting platform engineering is relatively gentle, especially for teams already familiar with DevOps or GitOps practices. Many of the tools and methodologies used in platform engineering are common in these areas, smoothing the transition. Familiarity helps reduce the time and effort required to implement and start reaping the benefits of platform engineering.
A growing need for platform engineering
As development processes become more complex and demands for faster delivery increase, platform engineering’s structured and automated approach becomes increasingly necessary. Organizations should prepare for future adoption by staying informed about industry trends, training their teams, and evaluating their current processes to identify areas where platform engineering can add value.
4-step action plan for adopting platform engineering
1. Evaluate your business need for platform engineering
Assessment begins with understanding your organization’s current and future requirements. Examine your development processes to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and areas where automation could provide tangible benefits.
- Conduct surveys and interviews: Conduct surveys and interviews with your development team to gather insights on their pain points and what tools or processes could improve their productivity.
- Analyze your IT infrastructure: Analyze your IT infrastructure to see if it supports the implementation of an Internal Developer Platform (IDP).
- Strategic considerations: Consider your strategic goals, such as faster time-to-market or improved software quality, and evaluate how platform engineering could help achieve these objectives.
2. Start with pilot projects to test platform engineering
Begin with a small, manageable project to minimize risk and gather insights. Select a team or a subset of your development department to work with the new platform. Monitor the pilot closely, collecting data on performance improvements, developer satisfaction, and any issues encountered.
Use these findings to iterate on the platform, making adjustments before a full-scale rollout. Pilot projects also act as a proof of concept, showcasing the value of platform engineering to stakeholders and securing buy-in for broader implementation.
3. Stay informed and engaged with the community
Regularly read blogs, articles, and books on platform engineering. Join user groups and attend conferences to network with other professionals and learn from their experiences.
To add to this, participating in online communities, such as Slack channels dedicated to platform engineering, can provide valuable peer support and insights. Engaging with the community also helps you stay ahead of the curve, adopting new techniques and tools that can further optimize your development processes.
4. Invest in training
Businesses must invest in end-to-end training programs for your platform engineering team and developers – covering the basics of platform engineering, specific tools and technologies used, and best practices for managing and using an IDP.
Consider certifications from recognized organizations to validate your team’s expertise.
Continuous training makes sure that your team is proficient with the latest advancements and can fully leverage the benefits of platform engineering.
Final thoughts
Businesses must craft an environment in which developers can thrive and focus on innovation to gain a competitive edge. The true value of platform engineering lies in its potential to transform workflows, reduce bottlenecks, and ultimately drive growth.
As you consider this path, reflect on how empowering your development teams with the right tools and frameworks can unlock new levels of productivity and creativity. The future of your business could very well depend on the choices you make today.
