EDITOR ’ S QUESTION
DEREK ASHMORE , APPLICATION TRANSFORMATION PRINCIPAL , ASPERITAS
hHow can organizations effectively balance improving developer experience with the need for scalable infrastructure orchestration in platform engineering ?
Platform engineering , while intended to improve DevEx , can inadvertently degrade it if not implemented thoughtfully . Here are some ways to keep developer experience balanced with platform engineering needs .
Collaborate with Developers : Involve developers early in the design process to ensure the platform aligns with their needs and priorities .
Iterate Incrementally : Build and release platform features in small , manageable increments based on user feedback . Automated testing for platform engineering products is essential so that incremental improvements don ’ t degrade the quality of the product .
Measure Developer Experience : Track metrics like platform adoption , developer satisfaction scores , and lead time for changes to identify areas for improvement . In short , adopt a product mindset for platform engineering products so that they are more developer-focused .
Focus on Documentation and Support : Provide clear , up-to-date documentation and responsive support to help developers navigate the platform . Additionally , cultivating examples of platform engineering uses within the organization can help developers consume platform engineering products .
What are the most significant challenges organizations face when adopting platform engineering , and how can these be addressed ?
Treating the Platform as a Product is a challenge for most . Treat the platform as an evolving product with developers as the customers . Prioritize usability , performance , and reliability . Release features incrementally and iterate based on developer needs and feedback .
Building self-service capabilities for developers is more difficult than it sounds . Start Small and Iterate . Begin with a Minimum Viable Platform ( MVP ) for a few high-impact use cases and expand based on developer feedback .
Involve Developers Early . Many platform engineering efforts fail as the products don ’ t meet current developer needs . Collaborate with developers during the design phase to ensure tools align with their workflows and expectations .
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