Beyond Buzzwords: Understanding the Real Differences between DevOps, SRE and Platform Engineering.

DevOps, SRE and Platform Engineering can be compared to the teams responsible for building and maintaining a skyscraper.

DevOps is like the construction team that builds the building from the ground up, while SRE is the maintenance crew that ensures everything is running smoothly. Platform Engineering is like the architects who design and create the foundation that supports the building's structure.

These teams work together to create a strong and resilient building that can withstand changes in user demands.

The concept of DevOps was introduced in 2009 by Patrick Debois and Andrew Shafer, aiming to bridge the gap between software development and operations.

On the other hand, SRE was pioneered by Google in the early 2000s to improve the reliability and efficiency of their services.

Platform Engineering emerged as a more recent concept that builds on the foundation of DevOps and SRE practices. It focuses on delivering a comprehensive platform for product development that supports the entire business perspective.

While DevOps builds and deploys the application, SRE ensures that it runs smoothly, and Platform Engineering creates and maintains the underlying infrastructure.

It is important to remember that these teams work in tandem, and their roles often overlap.

For example, an SRE engineer may also contribute to the development process, and a DevOps engineer may also have responsibilities in monitoring and maintenance.

In summary, DevOps, SRE, and Platform Engineering are three distinct but interrelated practices that work together to ensure the successful development, deployment, and maintenance of software applications. DevOps focuses on building and deploying the application, SRE ensures its smooth operation, and Platform Engineering creates and maintains the foundation that supports it all.

By adopting these practices and working collaboratively, organizations can build robust and scalable applications that meet the needs of their users and business goals for years to come.