Platform engineer

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Bill Blosen
How to Kick-Start Platform
Engineering in
Your Organization

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Frustrated Developers?

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Software Environment Complexity in 2005
C++

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Software Environment Complexity in 2022

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Platform engineering is
the practice of building and
operating self-service developer
platforms for software development
and delivery.

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Platform
Engineering
Structure
Product & Service Teams
Infrastructure Complexity
Infrastructure Platform

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Platform
Engineering
Structure
Platform
Engineering
Team
X as a Service
Product & Service Teams
Infrastructure Complexity
Infrastructure Platform
Developer Portal
Digital Platform
Reusable
Components
Platform
Services
Tools Knowledge

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Traditional Engineering
of Platforms
Capabilities provided in a structure
to enable software development
and application operation.
Focus: Risk, compliance, cost
Architecture and leadership-driven
This is what we think is best for you.

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Platform
Engineering
Discipline of creating user-friendly,
self-service capabilities on top of highly
complex systems and processes,
to enable software development
and application operation.
Focus: Dev experience, productivity
Managed by an agile product team
reacting to user needs and usage
How can we support you with an optional
easiest path forward?
Traditional Engineering
of Platforms
Capabilities provided in a structure
to enable software development
and application operation.
Focus: Risk, compliance, cost
Architecture and leadership-driven.
This is what we think is best for you.

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Platform Engineering Foundational Concepts
Platform
Engineering
Principles
Thinnest-Viable
Platform
Demand-
Driven
Platform as
a Product
Paved
Roads
Self-Service
Consumption
Source: Gartner

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Platform as
a Product
Demand-Driven

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Platforms are products
for internal customers.
Listen to and address the customers
biggest frustrations or constraints.
Gauge investment by usage/demand.

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Thinnest-Viable
Platform

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Avoid starting with “cruise ships.”
Don’t overengineer the platform.
Start small and iterate based
on usage and value.

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Self-Service
Consumption

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Ban the “ticket system” mentality.
Provide platforms through consolidated
access points such as internal
developer portals.

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Paved Roads

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Make using the platform
compelling, not mandatory.
Engineers will gravitate to your
platform if it truly reduces cognitive
load and improves developer
experience (DX).

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3 Steps
Start with why and find the pain.
Create compelling paved roads
that respond to the pain points.
Grow capabilities over time.
1
2
3

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Why
What
How
Start
With
Why
Source: Adapted From The Golden Circle, The Optimism Company

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Platform
Engineering
Developer
Experience
(DX)
Cognitive
Load
Attrition
Productivity
Value Proposition

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Start with why and find the pain.
Create compelling paved roads
that respond to the pain points.
Grow capabilities over time.
1
2
3
3 Steps

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Journey Map of Platform Customers

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Platform
Engineering
Success

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Satisfaction
Adoption
Retention
Advocacy
Onboarding Time
Cycle Time

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3 Steps
Start with why and find the pain.
Create compelling paved roads
that respond to the pain points.
Grow capabilities over time.
1
2
3

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Continuous Improvement
Act Plan
Check Do

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3 Steps to Kick-Start Platform Engineering
Start with why and find the pain.
Create compelling paved roads
that respond to the pain points.
Grow capabilities over time.
1
2
3

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