Title

AWS re:Invent 2023 - Break through the complexity limit with platform engineering (DOP102)

Summary

• Andrew Boyaji from Atlassian discusses how to overcome complexity in software development using platform engineering.
• The common goal for software teams is to deliver high-quality software quickly, but there's a significant variation in how companies achieve this.
• The story of Steve, a developer, illustrates the increasing complexity in a developer's role due to additional responsibilities and organizational processes.
• Complexity in software development comes from two sources: intrinsic complexity (related to the nature of modern software development) and organizational complexity (related to the specific organization's processes and size).
• Atlassian tackled both types of complexity by adopting platform engineering, which lifted the complexity limit and enabled high-performing software teams.
• Three tips for using a developer experience platform to reduce complexity:
  1. Reduce the need to remember things by centralizing information in a software component catalogue.
  2. Make it easy to understand and meet company standards with scorecards that communicate expectations and track compliance.
  3. Make the right way the easy way by using templates to provision infrastructure and tooling according to company standards, reducing toil and security tasks.
• Atlassian uses its product, Compass, to implement these strategies, resulting in improved developer satisfaction and productivity.

Insights

• The increasing complexity in software development roles can lead to cognitive overload, reducing the effectiveness and satisfaction of developers.
• Centralizing information and automating processes can significantly reduce the cognitive load on developers, allowing them to focus on core development tasks.
• Platform engineering is not just about tooling but also about creating a culture and environment that supports developers in their work.
• The use of scorecards and templates in a developer experience platform can streamline compliance with company standards and security practices, reducing the need for developers to attend numerous meetings and navigate complex governance processes.
• The approach presented by Atlassian, focusing on both intrinsic and organizational complexity, can serve as a model for other organizations looking to improve their software development practices and team performance.