3 Maxims for Great Developer Platform Design

Russell Miles shares three principles for building successful developer platforms based on 25 years of experience. First, platforms require dedicated teams and long-term commitment—they're products, not projects. Second, platforms succeed through their impact and unexpected uses, not just their features. Third, platforms must be habitable and transparent, like a kitchen rather than a cathedral, where developers can see how things work and contribute. The key is listening to developers' needs and building something they can see themselves benefiting from, rather than imposing solutions.