Transform your dev team: The secret weapon of platform engineering
The technical landscape is evolving rapidly, impacting our daily lives more than we realise. As software engineers grapple with increasing complexity in languages and workflows, the role of platform engineers becomes crucial. So how can development teams decrease their cognitive load while ensuring quality? Enter the platform engineer, and more specifically, Internal Developer Platforms. Our latest newsletter explores how platform engineering and Internal Developer Platforms (IDPs) are transforming development teams at scale.
The evolution of DevOps
Platform engineering represents the next step in the evolution of DevOps at scale. To illustrate this, consider the metaphor of car manufacturing. Initially, customers had only one option. To improve offerings, manufacturers rapidly expanded what was available, with endless combinations for the customer. This was a nightmare to manage with overly complicated processes. Eventually, manufacturers streamlined choices into standard templates, enhancing efficiency and reducing complexity.
This mirrors the early days of DevOps, where the principle of “you build it, you run it” granted software engineers unprecedented control over their applications. However, this freedom also brought increased responsibility and cognitive overload, resulting in wasted resources and slower output.
Platform engineering addresses these challenges by providing a structured, scalable approach supported by a robust platform framework and APIs. Platform engineers view platforms as products for development teams, designed for self-service and efficiency. They create golden paths –standardised workflows that facilitate rapid and safe development.
These golden paths are integral to Internal Developer Platforms (IDPs), which are particularly beneficial for large organisations with multiple development teams working at scale.
How IDPs are changing the game
IDPs consolidate APIs, tools, services, knowledge and support into a self-service experience for engineers. This centralisation allows teams to access pre-configured environments, deploy code efficiently, manage resources effectively and access monitoring services – all while adhering to best practices.
Key takeaways for platform engineers
Based on Ricardo Pinto experience at BBD, here are some practical tips for platform engineers:
A new frontier in motion
As organisations scale and demands on development teams grow, platform engineering and IDPs emerge as critical solutions for streamlining workflows. Gartner predicts that 80% of software engineering organisations will have platform teams building IDPs by 2026. By paving golden paths, platform engineers enhance productivity while reducing cognitive overload—empowering development teams to concentrate on innovation rather than infrastructure.
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The shift towards IDPs signals a pivotal change in how modern development teams operate—prioritising consistency, security, and autonomy while allowing flexibility when needed. As the role of platform engineers continues to grow in significance, they will serve as architects guiding development teams through an increasingly complex landscape.
To read more on the platform engineer’s role in modern dev teams, click here.
Curious about what it means to be a Platform Engineer at BBD?
In this video, we dive into the dynamic world of platform engineering with two of our experts in the space – Nicholas Pym and Mic Zingarelli . Learn how our experts design, build and maintain the robust, scalable platforms that power today’s cutting-edge applications. From cloud architecture to automation and DevOps practices, discover the skills, challenges and rewards of this critical role. Whether you're aspiring to be a platform engineer or just want a behind-the-scenes look at tech in action, this is the video for you!
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Is your business ready? How AI and LLMs are disrupting the work world
Are you curious about how AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) are reshaping the workplace? Join Angelo Camacho , Streicher Stegmann and Robert Jones in the latest episode of BBD's podcast as they explore the transformative impact of these technologies on businesses and their operations.
In this engaging discussion, they tackle pressing questions such as:
This episode is packed with insights that will prepare your business for the future. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or a business leader, you'll find valuable perspectives on navigating the complexities of AI adoption.