February 22, 2026
A developer needs a PostgreSQL database. They file a ticket. It sits in a backlog for two days. A DBA provisions it, sends credentials via Slack DM. Elapsed time: 3 days. Actual need: 5 minutes of configuration. Multiply across every database, cache, queue, and namespace, and manual provisioning becomes the single largest drag on velocity. Self-service lets developers provision pre-approved resources directly, within guardrails the platform team defines.
February 22, 2026
Not every runbook should be automated, and automation does not happen in a single jump. The progression builds confidence at each stage.
Level 0 – Tribal Knowledge: The procedure exists only in someone’s head. Invisible risk.
Level 1 – Documented Runbook: Step-by-step instructions a human follows, including commands, expected outputs, and decision points. Every runbook starts here.
Level 2 – Scripted Runbook: Manual steps encoded in a script that a human triggers and monitors. The script handles tedious parts; the human handles judgment calls.
February 22, 2026
An Internal Developer Platform (IDP) is the set of tools, workflows, and self-service capabilities that a platform team builds and maintains so application developers can ship code without filing tickets or waiting on other teams. It is not a single product. It is a curated layer on top of your existing infrastructure that abstracts complexity while preserving the ability to go deeper when needed.
February 22, 2026
The most common failure mode in agent-driven work is not a wrong answer – it is a correct action taken without permission. An agent that deletes a file to “clean up,” force-pushes a branch to “fix history,” or restarts a service to “apply changes” can cause more damage in one unauthorized action than a dozen wrong answers.
Human-in-the-loop design is not about limiting agent capability. It is about matching autonomy to risk. Safe, reversible actions should proceed without interruption. Dangerous, irreversible actions should require explicit approval. The challenge is building this classification into the workflow without turning every action into a confirmation dialog.