Internal Developer Platforms: To Build or Buy?

Jan Lepsky

When tech leaders consider implementing an Internal Developer Platform (IDP), the core decision often revolves around whether to build it in-house or to procure a solution from a vendor. This decision impacts your team's efficiency, budget, and long-term scalability. Let's zero in on the practicalities of both approaches, focusing on when and why you might choose one over the other.

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What is an Internal Developer Platform?

Before we dive into the decision of building vs. buying, let’s do a quick recap about what an IDP actually is. The Internal Developer Platform is a set of tools that abstract, orchestrate and automate workflows in cloud infrastructures for developers. It is designed to foster self-service in development teams for improved productivity and developer experience, and to maintain standards across the organization. If you’re new to the topic check out our dedicated article series as an introduction to internal developer platforms. Now let’s discuss the factors you must consider when it comes to the build vs buy decision of an IDP.

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Decision Factors

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1. Investment Horizon

Consider your return on investment (ROI) over a five-year period. Building an IDP requires upfront investment in development, which may not pay off if your planning horizon is short. However, if you're looking at a longer-term perspective and have the necessary resources, building can offer tailored solutions that adapt seamlessly to your evolving needs.

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2. Dedicated Platform Team

Do you have or can you form a dedicated platform team consisting of product managers, developers, and platform engineers? Building an IDP in-house is a viable option only if you can dedicate a team to its development and maintenance. Without this, the complexity and ongoing demands of an IDP can overwhelm your existing teams.

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3. Developer Headcount

The IDP is an internal product for developers so you must consider the size of the target group. This is rather a proxy metric than a strict rule, but if your organization supports more than 200 developers, the case for building grows stronger. A larger developer base can justify the costs associated with developing a custom solution that meets specific needs and scales appropriately.

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4. Expertise in Key Technologies

Do you have the necessary expertise, especially in critical technologies like Kubernetes? Building your own IDP demands deep technical knowledge and the ability to manage complex infrastructure. If this expertise isn't available internally, the learning curve and resource commitment might be prohibitive.

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Building an IDP

Building a custom IDP can be a strategic asset if it aligns with your organizational needs and capabilities.

Pros:

Customization: Tailor features and workflows exactly to your needs.
Integration: Seamlessly integrate with your existing tools and systems.
Control: Maintain full control over the development lifecycle and updates.

Cons:

Resource Intensive: Significant initial investment in terms of time and personnel.
Maintenance: Ongoing requirement to update and manage the platform.
Risk: Higher upfront risk if the project does not meet expectations.
Technical Complexity: Requires deep expertise in technologies like Kubernetes, which can be a steep learning curve if not already mastered.
High Initial Costs: Substantial financial investment required for development, which may not provide immediate returns.

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‍Buying an IDP

Buying an IDP is often the go-to choice for organizations looking to implement standard features quickly without the overhead of maintenance and development.

Pros:

Speed: Rapid deployment compared to building from scratch.
Less Resource Intensive: No need to divert your existing teams from their core functions.
Support and Updates: Often included, reducing the burden on your internal teams.
Simplified Technical Processes: Automates routine tasks and workflows and reduces complexity.
Team Enhancement and Developer Autonomy: Developer self-service features reduce dependency on DevOps, enabling developers to manage their workflows independently, thus boosting productivity and job satisfaction.

Cons:

Cost Over Time: Subscription fees or licensing costs can add up.
Less Customization: May not fit all your needs or integrate perfectly with your environment.
Dependence: Reliance on external vendors for critical updates and support.

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Conclusion

The decision to build or buy an IDP should be guided by your specific circumstances — your team’s capacity, the size of your developer base, and your long-term strategic goals. For organizations looking to closely tailor their development environment to their workflows and can commit the necessary resources, building may be the right choice. Conversely, buying is advisable for those seeking quicker deployment and less management overhead, especially when internal capabilities are limited. When choosing to buy, select a vendor that offers solutions without vendor lock-in, is cloud-agnostic, and supports various infrastructures, whether it be public or private cloud, on-premises, or local. This flexibility ensures that the IDP will integrate smoothly with your existing environment and support your future growth.

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