What’s the difference: Platform engineering vs. DevOps/SRE?

In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, the roles and responsibilities within software development and IT operations continue to expand and overlap, leading to sometimes confusing terminologies. Among the most commonly discussed yet often misunderstood concepts are Platform Engineering, DevOps, and Site Reliability Engineering (SRE).

Each of these disciplines plays a critical role in enhancing software delivery and maintaining system reliability, but what sets them apart? In this blog, we will demystify the differences between Platform Engineering, DevOps, and SRE, helping you understand how these roles complement each other and contribute to a more efficient and robust technology ecosystem.

First, a brief definition of DevOps vs platform engineering:

DevOps, which unites the forces of development and operations, focuses on dismantling traditional, large-scale architectures and team structures to form nimbler, self-sufficient teams capable of independently developing, deploying, and managing complete applications.

Emerging in the late 2000s, it addressed the siloed nature of conventional software development and IT operations. Its foundations lie in fostering teamwork and open communication, streamlining workflows through automation, employing lean approaches to bolster productivity, tracking performance for continuous improvement, and the collective exchange of expertise and practices between groups.

Platform engineering centers on removing infrastructural complexities and routine drudgery that divert DevOps teams from efficiently delivering within their specific domain.

The domain of platform engineering is an advancing speciality within the software development sphere, dedicated to establishing and overseeing a unified platform that serves the needs of software engineering teams. Such platforms generally encompass a suite of development tools, services, and procedures essential for efficient software creation and launch.

This field arose as a response to the need for a more streamlined, error-resistant approach to the software development lifecycle. Diverging from the compartmentalized tactics of the past, platform engineering champions cooperation by merging different facets of software creation and operational tasks into a cohesive process.

The role of platform engineers centres around devising solutions geared towards the expandability and fortification of software development ecosystems, covering quality assurance, staging, and production stages.

Here is a table of the differences between DevOps, SRE, and platform engineering in tabular format:

DevOps engineer vs. software engineer: understanding the differences

While platform engineers and software engineers both work hands-on with development tools and programming, their roles diverge significantly in terms of scope and approach.

Platform engineers are tasked with assembling a comprehensive framework of shared components designed to expedite and unify the application development process. They work on robust infrastructure, microservices, and data management systems, and integrate third-party products with bespoke solutions.

Conversely, software engineers are dedicated to the actual construction of software applications. They engage in designing, executing, testing, and refining software to fulfil certain needs, often utilizing a range of programming languages such as Java or Python. Their work might involve crafting brand-new software or enhancing existing systems.

A notable difference lies in each engineer’s involvement across the application’s lifecycle. Platform engineers typically have a stronger focus on deployment strategies, whereas software engineers are more deeply embedded in the initial development stages.

Effectively employing each type of engineer is crucial for operational success. Leveraging platform engineering allows for a ready-made, adaptable foundation that streamlines the creation and launch of new apps. This partnership of skills enables a shift away from repetitive groundwork towards focusing on strategic outcomes for your business.

Examples that illustrate the distinctions:

Revamping DevOps at Moon Inc: The adoption of DevOps at Moon Inc catalyzed not just technical updates, but a fundamental change in company culture. With the integration of Jenkins for automated builds and a fresh focus on interdepartmental dialogue, the company saw a 40% reduction in the time it took to deploy software. This transition signifies a profound evolution in team dynamics, resulting in quicker problem-solving and an uptick in the frequency of software updates.

Implementing platform engineering at Banana Corp: At Banana Corp, the efforts of the platform engineering group to launch a self-service portal boosted productivity and delivery times significantly (beyond the baselines achieved with only DevOps). It transformed the developers’ workflow, allowing them to launch applications in an already configured environment, substantially cutting down deployment times. This move also promoted consistent adherence to security protocols and regulatory compliance, standardizing these processes across various applications.

Roles in platform engineering – how your team is structured 

A platform engineering team often includes Software Architects, Software Engineers, Product Managers, Product Owners, Platform Engineers, DevOps Engineers, Platform Developers, and QA. The exact structure of a platform engineering team will vary according to the organization’s needs.

Similar professions and job titles to a Platform Engineer are DevOps Engineer, Site Reliability Engineer, System Engineer, Cloud Engineer, Platform Architect, Software Engineer and Infrastructure Engineer.

Cloud engineers provide expertise in cloud-specific infrastructure provisioning, management, and security measures, while platform engineers focus on securing the platform and applications running on it.

Understanding the distinctions and synergies between Platform Engineering, DevOps, and Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) is crucial for leveraging the full potential of each discipline within your organization. While Platform Engineering focuses on creating reusable tools and infrastructure, DevOps promotes a collaborative culture and practices for continuous delivery, and SRE emphasizes maintaining system reliability through engineering principles.

By recognizing and integrating the unique strengths of these roles, businesses can enhance their software delivery processes, improve operational efficiency, and achieve greater system resilience. As the tech landscape continues to evolve, embracing the complementary nature of these disciplines will be key to driving innovation and success.

Closing thoughts

Understanding the distinctions and synergies between Platform Engineering, DevOps, and Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) is crucial for leveraging the full potential of each discipline within your organization. While Platform Engineering focuses on creating reusable tools and infrastructure, DevOps promotes a collaborative culture and practices for continuous delivery, and SRE emphasizes maintaining system reliability through engineering principles.

By recognizing and integrating the unique strengths of these roles, businesses can enhance their software delivery processes, improve operational efficiency, and achieve greater system resilience. As the tech landscape continues to evolve, embracing the complementary nature of these disciplines will be key to driving innovation and success.

Want to learn more about Calibo? Speak to one of our friendly team here.