Platform Engineering: Cloud-Native, Maturity Models, and Platforms as Products

The blog post provides an overview of Dominik Kress's talk on the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) Platform Working Group, focusing on the role and definition of cloud-native platforms, the Platform Maturity Model, and the concept of treating platforms as products. It highlights the strategic role of cloud-native platforms in enabling organizations to efficiently deliver value by emphasizing vendor-neutrality, scalability, developer-centricity, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement. The Platform Maturity Model is explained as a framework for assessing and advancing the maturity of platforms through five levels, from ad-hoc to optimized. The article also discusses the "Platforms as Products" initiative, which draws parallels between traditional product management and cloud-native platform management to unlock their potential. The CNCF Platform Working Group is presented as a collaborative effort open to various stakeholders, including product managers and engineers, to contribute to the evolving conversation on cloud-native platforms.