The Advantages of Platform Engineering

One of the primary benefits of platform engineering is the capacity to utilize shared tools and services, which can greatly diminish both development time and costs. This is especially beneficial for organizations with multiple teams engaged in diverse projects, as it establishes a unified framework for both development and deployment. Platform engineering represents a progressive approach that can expedite application delivery and enhance the speed at which business value is created.

• Lori Perri (Gartner)

The Communication Challenge

Nonetheless, the efficacy of platform engineering is contingent upon robust communication between teams. This is where the Bezos Mandate comes into play. Formulated by Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, the Bezos Mandate encompasses a set of principles that underscore the significance of collaboration and communication among teams. The core tenets of the mandate are as follows:

1. All teams are required to expose their data and functionalities via service interfaces.
2. Teams must interact through these interfaces exclusively.
3. No other forms of interprocess communication are permitted: direct linking, direct database reads, shared-memory models, or back-doors are strictly forbidden. Communication must only occur through network-based service interface calls.
4. The choice of technology is irrelevant. Whether it’s HTTP, Corba, Pubsub, or custom protocols, the specifics do not matter to Bezos.
5. All service interfaces must be designed to be externalizable from the outset, enabling exposure to external developers. Exceptions are not tolerated.
6. Failure to comply will result in termination.

• Source

The Bezos Mandate has been crucial to Amazon's achievements, enabling the establishment of a shared infrastructure across teams. This has facilitated quicker development cycles, enhanced quality, and fostered greater innovation.

Summary

To summarize, platform engineering is essential for organizations aiming to scale their engineering efforts effectively. By leveraging shared tools and services, companies can significantly cut down on development time and expenses. However, the success of this approach hinges on effective inter-team communication. The Bezos Mandate serves as a prime example of how to enhance communication and collaboration through APIs.