Ajay Chankramath⁠, Head of Platform Engineering at ⁠ThoughtWorks⁠, discusses measuring and improving developer experience through platform engineering. Platform engineering is the abstracted set of tools, principles, and techniques that make developers' lives easier and enable DevOps. It focuses on improving developer productivity and reducing friction in the software development process. The key to successful platform engineering is adopting a product management mindset and prioritizing capabilities based on their value. Platform engineering can benefit organizations of all sizes, but the scope and implementation may vary. Internal developer platforms and managed platform engineering services are emerging as options for startups and smaller organizations. Platform engineering is the evolution of software development and delivery. It is not a passing fad or a replacement for DevOps, but rather a cultural paradigm that brings together tools, techniques, and processes. Platform engineering aims to simplify and automate the development process, improve compliance gating, and provide internal developer portals for self-service. It also involves the use of generative AI to enhance operational productivity and enable proactive issue detection. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to platform engineering, it is important for organizations to invest in platforms that align with their specific requirements and skill sets.

Takeaways

• Platform engineering aims to improve developer productivity and reduce friction in the software development process.
• Adopting a product management mindset and prioritizing capabilities based on their value is crucial for successful platform engineering.
• Platform engineering can benefit organizations of all sizes, but the scope and implementation may vary.
• Internal developer platforms and managed platform engineering services are emerging as options for startups and smaller organizations. Platform engineering is the evolution of software development and delivery.
• It is not a passing fad or a replacement for DevOps, but rather a cultural paradigm that brings together tools, techniques, and processes.
• Platform engineering aims to simplify and automate the development process, improve compliance gating, and provide internal developer portals for self-service.
• Generative AI can be used to enhance operational productivity and enable proactive issue detection.
• There is no one-size-fits-all approach to platform engineering, and organizations should invest in platforms that align with their specific requirements and skill sets.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Ajay Chankramath and ThoughtWorks

03:08 Defining Platform Engineering and its Importance

07:48 The Role of Product Management in Platform Engineering

10:21 The Genesis of Platform Engineering and the Importance of Value Modeling

13:22 Platform Engineering for Organizations of All Sizes

22:16 Breaking Down Platform Engineering into Five Planes

25:41 The Importance of Observability in Platform Engineering

29:19 The Role of Orchestrators in Platform Engineering

33:26 The Impact of Platform Engineering on Developers' Daily Work

35:56 The Importance of Compliance Gating

36:47 Internal Developer Portals

38:17 Abstraction with Terraform and Other Tools

49:04 The Potential of Generative AI

55:53 Coexistence of Self-Serve Portals and Conversational UIs

01:06:25 Platform Engineering as an Evolution of Software Development

In this conversation, Krish discusses the need for software development to evolve. He emphasizes the importance of adapting to change and exploring new ways of doing things. Krish also highlights the role of AI in software development and the potential benefits it can bring. He encourages reevaluating problem-solving approaches and finding more efficient ways to document and create tickets. Ultimately, Krish emphasizes the need to embrace change and stay ahead in the rapidly evolving software industry.

Takeaways

• Software development needs to evolve by adapting to change and exploring new approaches.
• AI can play a significant role in improving software development processes and delivering solutions more efficiently.
• Problem-solving approaches should be reevaluated to ensure they are still relevant and effective.
• Efficient documentation and ticket creation processes can enhance productivity and collaboration.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:01 Adapting to Change

03:54 Reevaluating Problem Solving

05:18 Approaching Documentation

06:40 Efficient Ticket Creation

07:08 Embracing Change

In this conversation, Krish shares his thoughts on the challenges of entrepreneurship and building a software company. He emphasizes that while technical challenges are expected, non-technical challenges often prove to be more important. He discusses the evolving challenges of AI and the need to balance priorities and efficiency. Krish also highlights the importance of motivating teams and overcoming discouragement. He explains the exponential nature of startups and encourages listeners to embrace challenges and take action.

Takeaways

• Entrepreneurship is not just an option for some, but becomes their only option.
• Non-technical challenges are often more important than technical challenges in building a software company.
• The challenges of AI are constantly evolving and require adaptation.
• Balancing priorities and finding efficiency is crucial for startups.
• Motivating teams and overcoming discouragement are key to success.
• Learning by doing and embracing challenges leads to growth and success.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Resonance with Entrepreneurship

01:20 The Challenges of Building Software

04:41 The Evolving Challenges of AI

06:04 Balancing Priorities and Efficiency

07:02 Motivating Teams and Overcoming Discouragement

09:00 The Exponential Nature of Startups

10:28 Embracing Challenges and Taking Action

12:19 Learning by Doing and Spreading Wings

13:43 Conclusion and Call to Action