Building resilient platforms requires understanding both the art and science of creating infrastructure that others depend on for critical applications. Drawing on over twenty years of experience building platforms that support critical applications, the perspectives shared here apply to anyone who builds software consumed at scale, whether developing infrastructure, software development, messaging, or banking platforms.
Great platforms deliver an intuitive experience by hiding complexity and appearing magical; they operate so seamlessly that users take them for granted and never need to think about the underlying infrastructure.
Financial services platforms support mission-critical operations such as trading systems and credit card processing. These systems have zero tolerance for downtime, security breaches, or scaling failures. The “three Ss” of stability, security, and scalability represent non-negotiable requirements. Unlike real estate, where you might optimize for two out of three (e.g., location, price, and size), platforms must deliver all three without compromise.
Stability means consistent, reliable operation at all times. However, achieving stability through stagnation creates security vulnerabilities from unpatched systems. Patching introduces changes that can impact stability while enabling security. Scalability requires building for 10x growth: Successful platforms attract users like an unstoppable force, and many fail because they cannot scale with customer demand.
Balancing these three requirements demands continuous attention and investment. While cost can fluctuate based on business needs and priorities, these three fundamentals establish an inviolable foundation. Sometimes scaling takes precedence, requiring temporary adjustments to patching cycles. The key lies in maintaining minimum acceptable levels across all three dimensions while optimizing based on immediate needs.
Platform building remains a job for unsung heroes. No one calls to celebrate when platforms work perfectly; they only call when things break. The highest compliment is silence. Success means remaining transparent, unknown, and unsung. When users start calling you directly, something has gone wrong.
The principles presented in the complete version of this article provide a framework for building platforms that others can depend upon. These platforms hide complexity while delivering value; they are platforms built to last. Whether building infrastructure, creating internal tools, or developing any software others will consume, these principles guide the path toward truly resilient platforms at scale.
The journey requires patience, discipline, and commitment to excellence, but the result enables others to build amazing things they could never have created alone.
This content is an excerpt from a recent InfoQ article by Matthew Liste, "Building Resilient Platforms: Insights from over Twenty Years in Mission-Critical Infrastructure".
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