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Minimal product

As explained in Effective Platform Engineering

A minimal viable product is the smallest version of a product that can be delivered to validate its value and assumptions with users.

A minimal product is the smallest valuable capability that can reach users, test initial assumptions, and provide evidence for the next increment. Treat its feature set as a hypothesis rather than a fixed specification. section 2.1.4

Apply the pattern by:

  • Starting with one basic configuration or capability instead of a long list of agreed features. section 2.1.4
  • Delivering incremental value at every stage, then observing early-adopter behavior and feedback. section 2.1.4
  • Replacing speculative completeness with short iterations that can change priorities when evidence contradicts assumptions. section 2.1.4 section 10.2.3

Platform deployment automation

A platform team can begin with an MVP that automates basic deployment tasks rather than spending months building a complete automation tool. Later increments can add automated testing and rollback mechanisms, guided by user feedback. section 10.2.3

Figure 2.5 The progression of an MVP delivery process. A fully functional product does not need to be delivered at the start, but all phases should deliver some incremental value to the customer.
A diagram of a truck

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Use the progression from skateboard to bicycle to motorcycle to car—or other staged delivery models—to assess whether each increment creates customer value. section 2.1.4

How Effective Platform Engineering covers it

How deep it goes
Explains staged value delivery, feedback loops, and feature evolution, but stops short of prescribing a universal feature-selection method.
Examples
Uses staged transport capabilities and deployment automation that expands from basic tasks to testing and rollback.
What you can do after
Build it from scratch by automating a basic platform workflow, collecting feedback, and extending capabilities through short iterations.
How it connects
Connects minimal products with early adopters, agile practices, iterative development, continuous feedback, and platform engineering.

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This explainer was generated by Manning's knowledge graph from the text of Effective Platform Engineering. The section links point to the parts of the book it draws on.