A framework for software development self-service | Computer Weekly

"Software development is associated with the idea of not reinventing the wheel, which means developers often select components or software libraries with pre-built functionality, rather than write code to achieve the same result. There are many benefits of this approach. For example, a software component that is widely deployed is likely to have undergone extensive testing and debugging. It is considered tried and trusted, mature technology, unlike brand-new code, which has not been thoroughly debugged and may inadvertently introduce unknown cyber security issues into the business."

"The Lego analogy is often used to describe how these components can be put together to build enterprise applications. Developers can draw on functionality made available through application programming interfaces (APIs), which provide programmatic access to software libraries and components. Increasingly, in the age of data-driven applications and greater use of artificial intelligence (AI), API access to data sources is another Lego brick that developers can use to create new software applications."

"A developer self-service platform provides a way for organisations to offer their developers almost pre-authorised assets, artefacts and tools that they can use to develop code Roy Illsley, Omdia Roy Illsley, chief analyst, IT operations, at Omdia, defines an internal developer platform (IDP) as a developer self-service portal to access the tools and environments that the IT strategy has defined the organisation should standardis"

Developers commonly reuse pre-built software components and libraries to avoid reinventing functionality, which speeds development and leverages mature, tested code. Widely deployed components tend to have undergone extensive testing and debugging, reducing the risk of introducing new cybersecurity issues compared with brand-new code. APIs enable programmatic access to functionality and data sources, serving as modular building blocks for applications, including AI-driven data use. Templates, pathways and developer self-service platforms provide near pre-authorised assets, artefacts and tools to help developers build compliant enterprise applications. An internal developer platform acts as a portal to access standardised tools and environments defined by IT strategy.

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