A prototype developed as part of recent research into platform engineering adoption demonstrates an unprecedented achievement: deploying a completely new app in just 22 minutes. This remarkable accomplishment stands in stark contrast to the typical 7 to 8 hours required for modern cloud deployments. In traditional deployment methods, the process often takes even longer than 8 hours. Ruben van de Kamp, a recent Master’s graduate, and Kees C. Bakker, both software engineers at Wehkamp, recently completed a thesis on platform engineering under the guidance of Dr. Zhiming Zhao. Their work featured Red Kubes’ Kubernetes-based production-ready platform Otomi, alongside Spotify’s Backstage.
The research, also spotlighted at Edoc 2023 Enterprise Computing Conference, proposes a reference model for platform engineering called the Platform Engineering Reference Model (PE-RM). The framework seeks to clarify the nature and scope of platform engineering, bridging comprehension gaps among various stakeholders. It dissects platform engineering elements and provides a precise, standardized model, mapping the interconnected components, processes, and roles.
Developed by Red Kubes, Otomi is a first-of-its -kind ready-to-run platform that integrates developer- and operations-centric tools, automation, and self-service capabilities onto Kubernetes, facilitating production workloads on any Kubernetes in any Cloud. Red Kubes is committed to expediting the deployment of modern applications to production, ensuring that companies can fully capitalize on the advantages of Cloud Native architectures. The outcome of the platform engineering study exemplifies the successful integration and application of Red Kubes’ solutions, showcasing a streamlined pathway to production for modern applications. This also attests to the benefits of the Community Edition of Otomi, which makes its self-service features free of charge and available for everybody.
“Our prototype’s goal was to showcase essential platform engineering functionalities. We utilized Otomi as a Service system, to fulfill this aim. This platform integrated various tools, which we configured to meet requirements, while customizations enabled new functionalities, including the integration of additional tools such as Backstage”, says Ruben. “We chose Otomi and Backstage for their flexibility in creating tailor-made solutions, a cornerstone of platform engineering. This enabled us to navigate around the limitations of some other Platform as a Service (PaaS) solutions”, he adds.
The goal of platform engineering is to alleviate the cognitive load on developers, enabling faster delivery. This objective resonated with a majority of those who participated in the study. As expressed by one of the participants — “Using a platform eliminates a great deal of tasks that would normally have to be done manually. In a large organization that would also result in long waiting times for teams to resolve tickets”.
“Much has been said of Platform Engineering in the past years. It’s great to finally see independent research on the topic. The reference model provides a great way for organizations to map their structure. We were pleasantly surprised to hear Otomi was used with Backstage to deliver on the desired prototype. The goal for Otomi has always been to get apps to production faster by way of making developers and operators more productive. We are thrilled to see this research prove how this platform can be achieved, and only in a matter of two weeks”, said Sander Rodenhuis, co-founder and CTO, Red Kubes.
For more information on Red Kubes platform engineering, visit the website here.
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