Platform Engineering... Why?!?! Debating the Latest Trend [S2E2]
Posted on Sunday, Apr 16, 2023 | Category: Platform Engineering | Series: Season 2 | Platform Engineering, DevOps, Developer Experience, Internal Developer Platform, Tooling
Transcript
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Trac Bannon Hi there. Welcome to on the road To DevHops
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Show Notes
My oh my! Brian Chambers was game to join Bryan Finster and Trac Bannon for a lively discussion and debate about platform engineering - one of the hottest topics in software development today.
Episode Highlights
Platform engineering is having a moment. But what exactly is it? Is it genuinely different from DevOps, or are we just repackaging old ideas with new labels?
In this episode, we explore:
- What platform engineering actually is (and what it isn’t)
- Why organizations are investing in dedicated platform teams
- The relationship between platform engineering and DevOps - complement or competition?
- How to build effective internal developer platforms that developers actually want to use
- Common pitfalls when implementing platform engineering initiatives
- Real-world examples of platform engineering done right (and wrong)
Featured Guest
Brian Chambers brings extensive experience in building and scaling platform engineering practices. He’s not here to sell you on hype - he’s here to share what actually works in the trenches.
Who Should Listen
- Platform engineers wondering if they’re on the right track
- DevOps practitioners curious about this new trend
- Engineering leaders considering platform investments
- Developers who just want better tools and workflows
Pull up a chair and join the debate!
Guests
Brian Chambers
Brian Chambers is the Chief Architect at Chick-fil-A, Inc. in Atlanta, GA. He and his team are responsible for collaborating with teams across Chick-fil-A’s business to help with applying technology to business challenges. Brian is passionate about the role of the Architect, Cloud and Edge computing, and making smart tradeoffs in technology solutions. Brian writes a weekly Substack called Chamber of Tech Secrets and is active on LinkedIn, in the tech conference community, and on Chick-fil-A’s Tech Blog.
[feel free to link the writing stuff above if you wish]
Hosts
Tracy 'Trac' Bannon (She/Her)
Tracy ‘Trac’ Bannon is a Senior Principal with MITRE Labs, where she tackles some of the most complex challenges in software architecture, engineering, and DevSecOps across both commercial and government sectors.
As an accomplished software architect and engineer, Trac thrives on understanding complex problems and working to deliver value at speed. She brings decades of hands-on experience building systems that matter - systems that need to be secure, scalable, and sustainable.
Passion for People & Community
Beyond her technical expertise, Trac is deeply passionate about mentoring and training the next generation of technologists. She regularly:
- Guest lectures at universities, sharing real-world experience with students
- Leads working groups on software architecture and DevSecOps practices
- Mentors emerging leaders in technology
- Advocates for diversity in technology, helping to narrow gaps as a mentor, sponsor, volunteer, and friend
Industry Voice
Trac is a featured industry speaker, blogger, author, and accomplished podcaster. Her podcasting credits include:
- On the Road to DevHops (you’re here!)
- Real Technologists
- It’s 505! Daily Podcast (part of Sourced Network Production)
She’s known for her authentic, no-nonsense approach to discussing the real challenges and opportunities in modern software development.
Areas of Expertise
- Software Architecture & System Design
- DevSecOps & Security Transformation
- Continuous Delivery & DevOps Practices
- Enterprise & Government Software Systems
- Technical Leadership & Mentorship
- Diversity & Inclusion in Technology
Connect
- Website: TracyBannon.Tech
- LinkedIn: tracylbannon
- GitHub: tracybannon
- Twitter: @TracyBannon
Whether you catch her podcasting, blogging, speaking at conferences, or mentoring the next generation, Trac brings passion, experience, and authenticity to everything she does.