The concept of 'platform engineering' has gained significant attention in the Kubernetes and API industry, particularly highlighted at KubeCon 2023. This emerging field raises questions about its definition, best practices, and real-world relevance. In the latest episode of the Livin' On the Edge podcast, the host interviews industry expert Michael Levan, delving into the intricacies of platform engineering.
Xavier is also an involved Community Advocate here at Ambassador Labs, so he’s quite familiar with our tools, particularly Telepresence. Our discussion revolved around how automation, their use of Telepresence, the role of platform engineering, and the importance of standardization all come together to create a developer-happy environment.
Key takeaways from the episode:
- Hybrid development with Kubernetes and Telepresence: Voiceflow transitioned from local to hybrid development using Kubernetes and Telepresence. This shift was due to the challenges of running full stacks locally, which became resource-intensive.
- Efficiency improvements: By adopting Telepresence, Voiceflow reduced their local resource usage significantly, from 30 GB to about 100-200 MB, enhancing efficiency and speed by nearly 10 times.
- Developer-friendly environment: Xavi emphasized the importance of creating a developer-friendly environment at Voiceflow. This includes managing cloud-related aspects like Terraform code, CI/CD pipelines, and development environments, with a focus on developer productivity.
- Increased automation: The Voiceflow team utilizes automation extensively to simplify workflows, which has been crucial in improving team productivity. Xavi, with his background in Java development and integration, advocates for automation in all aspects of the development lifecycle.
- Platform engineering approach: Xavi is enthusiastic about the rise of platform engineering and its impact on DevOps. The use of tools like Spotify Backstage at Voiceflow exemplifies a platform-based approach that aids developers in executing commands more conveniently.
- Standardization as a foundation: Standardizing processes across engineering, DevOps, IT, and cloud teams is vital for creating a seamless and productive developer environment. This includes standardizing documentation, API guidelines, code reviews, and integration processes to avoid creating silos and ensure consistency.
- Community involvement: Xavi, as a Community Advocate at Ambassador Labs, shares his insights on Kubernetes, APIs, and developer experience, contributing to the broader tech community.
Stay Updated with more episodes: Don't miss out on more insightful discussions and expert insights. Check out other episodes of "Livin' On the Edge" for more on the evolving world of technology and software development.
