We crush 5 common myths about platform engineering [Part 1]

Summary

Platform engineering is a strategic approach that elevates the software delivery lifecycle through automation, governance, and self-service workflows.

The blog debunks several myths: you likely already have a platform in how you deliver software; infrastructure teams remain critical even if their role evolves; an internal developer portal (IDP) is the interface, not the whole system; it’s more than advanced DevOps—it’s the next evolution; and it’s not just a passing fad, but a response to increasing system complexity.

Action points: evaluate your current delivery “platform,” re-skill infrastructure teams toward optimized workflows, differentiate between your portal and platform needs, build beyond DevOps automation toward full lifecycle support, and plan incremental adoption via minimum viable platforms that evolve with feedback and need.

Platform engineering is set to gain further substantial traction in the rapidly evolving technological landscape as we soon approach 2025.

Here, we delve into the reasons behind its increasing demand, the types of organizations that can benefit the most, the potential challenges, and the essential role of test data management (TDM) within this framework. 

What’s fueling the rise of platform engineering? 

Expected to gain considerable momentum, platform engineering is recognized for its ability to accelerate business value, reduce cognitive loads, and enhance the efficiency of application development and management.  

According to Gartner, by 2026, approximately 80% of software engineering organizations will establish platform teams to serve as internal providers of reusable services, components, and tools for application delivery. This trend highlights the growing significance of platform engineering in today’s technology sector. 

Several key factors underpin the growing interest in platform engineering: 

• Developer productivity: Enhancing productivity is a major factor, accounting for around 21% of its rising popularity. 
• CI/CD pipeline implementation: Efficient continuous integration and continuous delivery pipelines drive about 20% of the interest. 
• Standardization of tools and processes: Another 20% is due to the need to standardize tools and processes. 
• Security enhancements: Security improvements also contribute 20% to its appeal. 
• Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC): The adoption of IaC methodologies drives 19% of the growing interest in platform engineering. 

Platform engineering also addresses the inefficiencies that arise from decentralized tools and processes within DevOps, especially as organizations scale. It establishes a more organized and centralized framework, crucial for managing the complexities inherent in modern software development environments. 

Gartner also emphasizes that platform engineering’s ability to offer a frictionless self-service experience for customers and business partners is a key factor for its popularity. This flexibility is vital in an era where technology and market demands are rapidly changing, necessitating businesses to stay agile and competitive. 

These factors collectively make platform engineering a strategic approach for software engineering organizations, looking ahead to 2024 and beyond. 

Platform engineering: understanding the myths and realities 

Platform engineering is a burgeoning approach to software delivery that’s garnering attention from IT organizations and development teams alike. Yet, there’s considerable debate about what exactly it entails, what benefits it offers, and whether it’s worth adopting. 

We believe in taking a holistic view of software delivery, which is why we advocate for platform engineering. Focusing solely on fragmented solutions often leads to problematic systems. Viewing a software delivery platform as an engineered product allows you to “see the whole elephant.” 

Let’s address five common myths about platform engineering, highlighting misconceptions and clarifying what it truly involves.

Myth 1: We don’t need an internal developer platform

Think again! Chances are that your current method of getting code to production is your platform. This could be a chaotic mix of processes, systems, and people that is constantly changing.

Consider a scenario in which you need to submit numerous tickets to various isolated teams to get something done. Alternatively, imagine a situation in which you must consult a specific individual to initiate a process.

Platform engineering begins by modeling your existing process—or an improved version of it—and automating it so every team doesn’t need to be DevOps experts. Starting with simple CI/CD pipelines and enhancing them with consistent observability and managed infrastructure services, a cohesive platform emerges.

The platform engineering team’s role is to create abstractions that stitch these components into a consistent developer experience. 

Myth 2: Platform engineering means you don’t need infrastructure teams 

Even with the most advanced developer platform, maintaining complex infrastructure still requires the expertise of specialists. Tasks such as architecture, management, scaling, troubleshooting, and optimization remain indispensable.

It’s a mistake to get rid of infrastructure teams and expect new teams to take over their duties. The current infrastructure teams already have the necessary skills and can easily shift into platform engineering roles.

Platform engineering changes how infrastructure specialists deal with problems, focusing more on development instead of repetitive tasks. The expertise these professionals bring is essential, and incorporating their knowledge into the platform can greatly improve software delivery. They are crucial in building and maintaining a self-service catalog of best practices, ensuring continuous improvement.

Even with automation, mature platforms will always have parts that need manual attention. Infrastructure specialists handle these tasks and decide what should be added to the platform engineering to-do list. The platform keeps evolving as new systems are added and cloud providers expand their services.

Myth 3:  An Internal Developer Portal and an Internal Developer Platform = same, same, right?

Nope. You may already have a developer portal and think you’re on top of platform engineering. However, a developer portal serves as the interface to the broader internal developer platform (IDP). It’s merely the front door, not the entire system. Despite sounding similar, developer portals and internal developer platforms are distinct in several key ways. 

A developer portal facilitates access to various services and tools within the IDP.

It typically includes: 

– Self-service templates for deploying and configuring infrastructure and applications (golden paths) 

– A service catalog tracking deployed resources and their metadata 

– Platform, application, and API documentation, or even code documentation 

Conversely, an internal developer platform uses golden paths to enable developer self-service, abstracting away technical complexities through codified practices, company-wide configurations, and applied security controls. New services deployed from the IDP are available on-demand, without the need for tickets, manual approvals, or meetings. 

Myth 4:  Platform engineering is just advanced devops 

DevOps is a cultural and organizational movement aimed at improving software delivery speed, reliability, and shared ownership among stakeholders. It includes practices like version control, continuous integration, trunk-based development, continuous testing, and cloud infrastructure. 

However, scaling DevOps can overwhelm infrastructure management, leading to burnout and inconsistencies. Platform engineering evolves from DevOps at scale, incorporating developer-centric approaches, automation, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), security, observability, and continuous improvement.

It’s not merely advanced DevOps; rather, platform engineering embeds DevOps practices into software, allowing developers to follow DevOps principles without deep expertise. 

Myth 5: Platform engineering is just a fad 

Designing and managing modern infrastructure and software stacks have increased the cognitive load on development teams. As a result, abstracting service deployment and management has become essential. In response, platform engineering addresses real-world issues like DevOps overload, developer friction, and enhancing the overall developer experience. 

While Platform as a Service (PaaS) preceded platform engineering, it wasn’t always the right fit for all teams. Platform engineering differs by offering customizable solutions that extend existing products, including PaaS. It fosters an environment tailored to each organization’s unique constraints and freedoms. 

Conclusion 

In summary, platform engineering is emerging as a key evolution of the DevOps approach to increasingly complex systems. As modern software systems grow larger and more intricate, platform engineering has become an essential component in today’s tech landscape. 

Watch this space for part 2, where we debunk more myths! 

To learn more about platform engineering, check out our eBook, “Your real-life guide to platform engineering.” It explains its benefits, misconceptions, and best practices. Download it now.

FAQ

Is platform engineering just another name for DevOps?
No—while DevOps focuses on collaboration and automation, platform engineering builds on it by creating self-service platforms with governance, standardization, and end-to-end lifecycle support.

Does having an internal developer portal (IDP) mean you already have a platform?
Not exactly. An IDP is the interface developers use, but a true platform also includes the automation, policies, and workflows running underneath.

Will infrastructure teams become less important with platform engineering?
No—their role shifts from manually managing infrastructure to designing, maintaining, and evolving the guardrails, templates, and automation that enable developer self-service.