Platform Engineering 101 (PE-101) is the first session in a 10-part series designed to guide engineering leaders, architects, and platform teams through the fundamentals and strategic impact of Platform Engineering.

In this session, Graziano and Faisal introduce the evolving landscape of Platform Engineering by exploring current industry trends, including insights from the Gartner Hype Cycle, and modern shifts such as backend-first development, self-service infrastructure patterns, and Pareto-optimal platform design. The conversation will center around why Platform Engineering matters, how to define it clearly, and how DevEx (Developer Experience) is emerging as a critical success metric.

We'll also explore:

What IDPs (Internal Developer Platforms) are and why they’re gaining traction

Platform “planes” that structure capabilities (Security, Resource, Delivery, Observability, etc.)

How to align platform teams with organizational goals using key personas (developers, operators, product owners)

A framework for measuring maturity and positioning the platform as a strategic product

Attendees will leave with a solid understanding of how to make a compelling case for Platform Engineering, how to define early goals, and how to drive toward platform ROI and value realization. Whether you're starting your platform journey or seeking to mature your efforts, this session lays the foundation for what's next.