How developer platforms fail (and how yours won’t)

In a PodRocket episode, software development expert Russ Miles discusses why "developer productivity" platforms often fail and how platform engineering can be more effective by treating platforms as products that facilitate the flow of value rather than focusing solely on output. Miles emphasizes that platforms should be seen as habitats that enable teams to perform meaningful work rather than assembly lines for faster code production. He notes that every organization has an internal platform, albeit often fragmented, due to a lack of a product mindset, which can hinder onboarding and consistency. Instead of merely reducing cognitive load, efforts should be made to optimize cognitive burden by simplifying processes at the appropriate times without introducing unexpected complexity. Miles also cautions against simply moving checks earlier in the development process without providing adequate support, as this can lead to inefficiencies and strain relationships with CI/CD systems. He highlights the importance of feedback loops, such as TDD and OODA, in creating effective platforms, suggesting that these loops should be integrated close to development time while also using developer experience surveys to prevent overwhelm and burnout.