Kubernetes Podcast from Google: Episode Summary

Title: Platform Engineering, with Ben Good
Hosts: Abdel Sghiouar, Kaslin Fields
Guest: Ben Good
Release Date: August 6, 2025

Introduction

In this special crossover episode with the SRE Podcast, Kaslin Fields and Abdel Sghiouar delve into the realm of platform engineering within the Kubernetes ecosystem. Joined by Ben Good, a Cloud Solutions Architect at Google, the hosts explore how Kubernetes serves as a foundation for building robust platforms and the multifaceted aspects of platform engineering in modern cloud-native environments.

Episode Overview

The conversation begins with updates on the latest Kubernetes release, Bitnami's repository changes, AWS's EKS scalability, and CNCF's initiative to incorporate sign language into their glossary. The core discussion focuses on platform engineering—its definition, components, best practices, and evolving trends influenced by industry demands and technological advancements.

Key Discussions

1. Kubernetes as a Platform for Building Platforms

Kaslin Fields introduces the topic by referencing Kelsey Hightower's famous quote: "Kubernetes is a platform for building platforms."

• Kaslin Fields [05:55]: "That famous Kelsey Hightower quote that Kubernetes is a platform for building platforms. Is that true, Ben?"

• Ben Good [05:59]: "Kubernetes is definitely a tool in the toolkit and it's a big one when it comes down to it. It provides a lot of constructs and capabilities that make it a whole lot easier to build platforms."

Ben emphasizes that while Kubernetes is a significant asset in platform engineering, it is not the sole component. It serves as one of many tools necessary to construct a comprehensive platform.

2. Components of Platform Engineering

The hosts explore what constitutes modern platform engineering beyond Kubernetes.

• Kaslin Fields [07:46]: "What kinds of Tools are you using to make that happen and does that describe what you do?"

• Ben Good [07:46]: "Platform engineering is about taking underlying technologies like Kubernetes for compute, managed databases, etc., and building interfaces and automation around them."

Ben elaborates that platform engineering involves integrating various infrastructure components and automating their management to provide seamless interfaces for developers.

3. Golden Paths in Platform Engineering

The concept of "golden paths"—standardized, optimized workflows—is discussed as a means to guide developers through complex infrastructure setups.

• Steve McGee [09:20]: "There's a phrase... golden paths, which is the idea of providing predefined routes for developers to follow to ensure success."

• Ben Good [10:34]: "A golden path can be as simple as a document that lays out the steps to accomplish a task."

The discussion highlights that golden paths can range from simple documentation to more sophisticated interfaces, all aimed at reducing complexity for developers.

4. Deployment Archetypes

The term "deployment archetypes" refers to standardized deployment patterns tailored to an organization's specific needs.

• Kaslyn Fields [22:06]: "Deployment archetypes are making these workflows customized for the environment that they exist within and the users that they're serving."

• Ben Good [22:06]: "You have patterns for ways to deploy things, and these patterns are what you expose through the platform."

This section underscores the importance of defining and implementing deployment archetypes to streamline application deployment processes.

5. Observability and Cost Management

The panel discusses the growing emphasis on observability and cost management within platform engineering.

• Kaslin Fields [17:50]: "I need to make sure that it's all observable and visible to them through the platform."

• Steve McGee [28:13]: "Cost management and observability have become critical considerations, enabling developers to monitor and control their resource usage effectively."

The conversation points out that modern platforms must provide robust observability tools and cost control mechanisms to prevent resource overconsumption and ensure application performance.

6. Customization and Flexibility

Customization is vital for platforms to cater to diverse organizational needs.

• Ben Good [21:06]: "Platforms are very much bespoke things to the engineering organization that they serve."

• Kaslyn Fields [11:55]: "Flexible but structured platform engineering."

Customization ensures that platforms can adapt to different workflows, compliance requirements, and infrastructure setups, providing tailored solutions for various teams within an organization.

7. Evolving Golden Paths and Industry Trends

The panel examines how platform engineering practices must evolve in response to changing technologies and industry trends.

• Ben Good [26:50]: "The underlying technology changes a bit, but we're still accomplishing the same things with different twists."

• Kaslyn Fields [27:27]: "Enabling folks to use different types of hardware... Kubernetes is adapting to new changes."

As new hardware accelerators and specialized workloads emerge, platform engineering must adapt Kubernetes abstractions to manage these resources effectively.

8. Using DORA Metrics with Platform Engineering

The integration of DORA (DevOps Research and Assessment) metrics into platform engineering practices is explored.

• Steve McGee [32:58]: "Platforms are software too... Using DORA metrics to track platform engineering success."

• Ben Good [32:58]: "Using DORA metrics can help understand feature velocity and platform performance."

Implementing DORA metrics aids in assessing the effectiveness of platform engineering efforts, ensuring they contribute positively to development velocity and operational performance.

Insights and Conclusions

The episode underscores that platform engineering is a multifaceted discipline essential for modern cloud-native application development. Kubernetes serves as a foundational tool, but successful platform engineering requires integrating various technologies, automating workflows, and providing flexible, developer-friendly interfaces. Golden paths and deployment archetypes simplify complex processes, while observability and cost management ensure operational efficiency and reliability. Customization and adaptability are crucial as technological landscapes evolve, and metrics like DORA provide measurable insights into platform performance.

Notable Quotes:

• Ben Good [07:01]: "Kubernetes is super helpful, but it's not the only thing that you need to make a platform in my $0.02."

• Kaslyn Fields [12:22]: "Flexible but structured platform engineering."

• Steve McGee [15:48]: "Self-service also applies in the operational context as well."

Conclusion

This episode provides a comprehensive exploration of platform engineering within the Kubernetes ecosystem, highlighting best practices, essential tools, and evolving strategies to meet the dynamic needs of modern organizations. By leveraging Kubernetes and complementary technologies, platform engineering enables scalable, reliable, and efficient application development and deployment.