Platform Engineering: A Guide for Technical, Product, and People Leaders

Description

Until recently, infrastructure was the backbone of organizations operating software they developed in-house. But now that cloud vendors run the computers, companies can finally bring the benefits of agile custom-centricity to their own developers. Adding product management to infrastructure organizations is now all the rage. But how's that possible when infrastructure is still the operational layer of the company? This practical book guides engineers, managers, product managers, and leaders through the shifts required to become a modern platform-led organization. You'll learn what platform engineering is "and isn't" and what benefits and value it brings to developers and teams. You'll understand what it means to approach your platform as a product and learn some of the most common technical and managerial barriers to success. With this book, you'll: Cultivate a platform-as-product, developer-centric mindset Learn what platform engineering teams are and are not Start the process of adopting platform engineering within your organization Discover what it takes to become a product manager for a platform team Understand the challenges that emerge when you scale platforms Automate processes and self-service infrastructure to speed development and improve developer experience Build out, hire, manage, and advocate for a platform team Review: Excellent guide to building trusted platforms - I first became familiar with Camille's work through The Manager's Path., which has been an invaluable reference throughout my career as an Engineering Manager. It's a book I find myself returning to repeatedly for guidance and inspiration. Platform Engineering by Ian and Camille is about to become another essential resource for me. This book dives deeply into the nuances of building trusted platforms, covering everything from managing stakeholders to planning, operating, and evolving platforms. The level of detail and practical advice is excellent. One of my favorite chapters explores adopting a product-focused approach to platform building. This perspective strongly resonated with me, as it mirrored successful platform strategies I’ve observed in my own experience working within engineering organizations. Also, the chapter on "Rearchitecting vs. Building a v2" offered great insights into the hidden costs of migrations and emphasized the value of iterative modernization for existing platforms. This book is a must-read for anyone involved in platform development or engineering leadership. Review: Platform Leadership: A Practical Guide - The book's accessible and clear writing style makes it relevant for readers from all backgrounds. Having led a large platform team myself, I found the content both relatable and an invaluable reference. In particular, the insights on stakeholder management in complex organizations are both practical and immediately actionable. For those stepping into similar roles, I recommend sharing this book with your leadership team. It provides valuable perspective on upcoming challenges and effective strategies to address them. Highly recommended reading for technology leaders.