Innovation requires more than just speed and creativity; it demands psychological safety and the right tools. In this talk, Michael Wood will discuss how platform teams and abstractions can foster these critical elements. The platform choices we make significantly impact the developers we optimize for, which, in turn, affects overall success.

Wood will examine different toolchain options, highlighting the trade-offs between optimizing for a perfect product (the unicorn) versus enabling developers to succeed in challenging environments (the mudder). By focusing on these elements, teams can make more informed decisions about the platforms they build and the outcomes they achieve.