The Lure of Platforms

Platforms seem to be everywhere, whether it’s platform business models that fuel the most valuable companies and most unicorns, 100-billion Dollar cloud platforms, or in-house developer and analytics platforms. And that's no surprise: platforms appear to be able to rewrite the laws of physics, for example by boosting innovation thanks to harmonization.

Most organizations looking to harvest the power of platforms discover that building one, or even deploying one, is far from easy. Many in-house platforms are outdated by the time they’re launched, restrict rather than enable users, and face a certain demise when their use is mandated in a last-ditch effort to make the economics work.

Harvested from a decade of building successful in-house platforms and enabling enterprises to utilize cloud platforms, this book provides a fresh look at what makes platforms work, why they are different from other IT services, and how you can use them to boost developer productivity. Sticky metaphors (“are you building a fruit salad or fruit basket?”; “is your platform sinking or floating?”; “build abstractions not illusions!”) provide actionable design guidance without being lecturing or boring.

Contents

The book accompanies you on your  platform journey, supplementing architectural rigor with real-life examples::

• Part I: Understanding Platforms: because "platform" is an overloaded term, this part delineates the types and characteristics of platforms
• Part II: A Strategy for Platforms: building platforms requires significant investment and stamina. Learn how to articulate your platform strategy for both technology and organization.
• Part III: In-House Platforms: internal platforms are all the rage. Learn how to build one and how to avoid common pitfalls.
• Part IV: Designing Platforms: platforms hide a lot of complexity but that means building one isn't trivial. Learn how to make design trade-offs using fruit salads and submarines. ..
• Part V: Implementing Platforms: drilling deeper yet, this part discusses platform anatomy and architecture blueprints
• Part VI: Growing Platforms: mandating platform usage is sure to backfire. Instead, learn how to build communities and support platform adoption.
• Part VII: Organizing for Platforms: platform teams need to balance customer feedback and a clear vision.

This book is part of the "Architect Elevator" series, which provides essential tools for architects and IT leaders to drive major strategic initiatives in enterprises or late-stage start-ups. By showing the big picture and developing deep insight, the books forgo simple answers and buzzwords in favor of mental models that help readers make better decisions.

A note on pricing:

Leanpub is DRM-free and therefore doesn't foresee regional pricing. For some readers, $10 is a lot more than for others, so I set a low minimum price to reach the broadest audience possible. If you are well employed and believe this book will help you in your career, please consider paying the recommended price. If you are a student, not employed, or on a low wage, feel free to pay within your means.