Platform Tips #11: Don't be shy! Be inspired and copy the Bests! (my story)
Hey Folks 👋,
I'm Romaric Philogene, CEO and co-founder of Qovery, and this is my 11th post on my Substack. In my previous post, I shared my view on the perfect Platform Engineering team.
Today, I'm sharing a journey close to my heart — a journey of inspiration, creativity, and innovation. It's about how VMware, a titan of the tech industry (acquired by Broadcom), sparked the idea that led to the creation of Qovery, an Internal Developer Platform (IDP) designed with one goal in mind: to elevate the Developer Experience to new heights.
Be yourself inspired and don’t be shy to copy the best products to build your platform.
Discovering the Gem: VMware as a Source of Inspiration
My adventure with VMware began in my days at Ullink (acquired by Broadbridge NYSE: BR), a time rich with exploration and discovery. It was VMware's ESX and ESXi clusters that first caught my eye, revealing the sheer power and flexibility that technology could bring to managing complex systems. But it wasn't just the technology that impressed me; it was the vision and the philosophy behind it. VMware wasn't just building products; they were creating ecosystems that empowered engineers to do their best work with ease and efficiency.
The game-changer for me was witnessing VMware's VMotion in action. The ability to move a running VM from one server to another without downtime was revolutionary. It was a clear demonstration of VMware's commitment to solving real-world problems with elegant, user-centric solutions. This moment was more than inspirational; it was a call to action.
From Inspiration to Innovation: Building Qovery
Carrying the torch of inspiration from VMware, I embarked on the journey to create Qovery. The goal was clear: to craft an Internal Developer Platform that not only addressed the technical needs of deploying applications but also prioritized the Developer Experience above all. I wanted to replicate that sense of empowerment and flexibility I felt with VMware, but within the context of application deployment and management.
Drawing from VMware’s unified control plane concept, we developed Qovery as a seamless layer on top of Kubernetes, offering developers a straightforward and intuitive way to deploy, manage, and scale their applications. But it wasn’t enough to just simplify the technical process; we aimed to make it a delightful experience, ensuring that developers felt supported and empowered at every step.
A Call to Platform Engineers: Embrace External Inspirations
One of the most valuable lessons I've learned on this journey is the importance of looking outward for inspiration. The tech industry is a treasure trove of brilliant ideas and solutions. VMware's approach to technology and customer experience was a goldmine of insights that directly influenced the creation of Qovery. This experience taught me that good ideas don’t exist in a vacuum and that incorporating these external innovations into our platforms can lead to remarkable advancements in how we serve our developer communities.
Platform engineers, my message to you is this: don't be shy about drawing inspiration from the tools and technologies that inspire you. Whether it's the elegance of a control plane, the ingenuity of a VM migration tool, or the simplicity of a user interface, these ideas can fuel your creativity and help you build developer platforms that truly make a difference.
Conclusion: Fostering Autonomy through Inspired Innovation
At the end of the day, our mission as platform engineers and builders is to create environments where developers can thrive, innovate, and autonomously bring their visions to life. By embracing the wealth of ideas the tech world has to offer, we can design developer platforms that not only meet the technical demands of today but also inspire the innovations of tomorrow.
So let's keep our minds open and our spirits curious. Let’s take the best of what exists, adapt it to our context, and build something truly amazing for our developers. After all, in the realm of technology, inspiration knows no bounds — and the next great idea might just be waiting around the corner, ready to ignite our creativity and drive the future of platform engineering.
Let's revolutionize Platform Engineering by putting developers first. Subscribe now to join me on this exciting journey!