Many platform engineering initiatives start by copying popular examples, following reference models, or adopting patterns from blogs and conference talks. Decisions are often justified with “this is how others do it”. These approaches can be useful, but they are often treated as rules instead of starting points.

This is an interactive session and it is not about being right. We discuss a number of platform engineering decisions and the audience is asked to choose what they think is the best option each time. Participants can also bring their own questions or statements, which we will discuss during the session. After the majority vote, Geert explains what that choice assumes and what is often overlooked, based on experience from real projects. He then explains when the other option can make more sense. The focus is on trade offs, team context, and outcomes. Platform engineering is not about copying patterns, but about making conscious decisions.