Title: Reflections on June 2022: Platform Evolution, Cost Pressure, and the Struggle of Legacy

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June 2022 found me at a crossroads in my professional journey, with a mix of excitement and frustration. The tech world was buzzing about AI/LLM infrastructure following the ChatGPT explosion, platform engineering becoming more mainstream, and WebAssembly making waves on the server side. FinOps and cloud cost pressures were high, and DORA metrics were being widely adopted.

I had just finished working through a particularly gnarly debugging session with our service that was consistently maxing out CPU under load. It turned out to be an issue with an improperly optimized query in one of our microservices, which caused the database to thrash. I spent hours profiling and refactoring, but ultimately, the problem was rooted in a lack of proper database optimization practices. A bit embarrassing, really.

On the flip side, there were some great tools emerging to help manage complexity. The Kubernetes ecosystem continued to mature, with CNCF landscape maps becoming increasingly overwhelming as more and more projects tried to stake their claim on the Kubernetes logo. We were exploring how to better leverage Operator SDKs for managing our custom resources and ensuring consistent deployment practices.

Developer experience was a big focus in our team meetings this month. We were experimenting with various CI/CD tools, trying to find that sweet spot where automation meets human ingenuity. The idea of platform engineering resonated deeply—I saw it as an opportunity to shift my role from being the fireman who puts out fires all day to someone who builds and maintains resilient systems.

One day, I found myself in a heated discussion with one of our senior developers about FinOps. We were trying to figure out how to better allocate costs across teams within our organization. The traditional approach was to just track usage by service, but we wanted something more granular that could attribute costs based on actual user activity. It was a challenge, given the complexity and siloed nature of our infrastructure.

Another day, I found myself grappling with WebAssembly (Wasm). While it seemed promising for server-side applications, there were still plenty of rough edges. We had to deal with performance issues and figuring out how to integrate Wasm modules effectively into our existing tech stack. It was a reminder that while new technologies can solve problems, they also introduce new ones.

Amidst all this, I couldn’t help but reflect on the state of open-source software. The Hertzbleed attack made headlines, highlighting the potential vulnerabilities in hardware and the importance of staying vigilant. And then there were moments like shutting down a popular service that left a lingering sense of loss—like losing an old friend.

But even with all the chaos and change, there was also a lot to be excited about. The release of a simulation game after years of development (Show HN: A friend and I spent 6 years making a simulation game, finally released) reminded me that sometimes the best results come from staying true to your passion.

In June 2022, as I looked back on my work, it was clear that while the tech landscape is ever-changing, the core principles of building robust, efficient systems remain constant. Whether it’s dealing with legacy code or embracing new technologies, the journey continues. And that’s okay. After all, even a long road has its scenic views.

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This reflection captures the essence of the era, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities faced by platform engineers like myself.