In this episode of The Landscape, we spoke with Arsh Sharma, a CNCF Ambassador, Certified Kubernetes Administrator, and Developer Relations Engineer at Okteto. Arsh has been driving impactful work in developer experience and platform engineering, and his journey from the LFX Mentorship Program to his current role highlights his impressive contributions to the cloud-native ecosystem.
What you will learn in this episode:
- Arsh’s Evolving Focus as a CNCF Ambassador: From contributing to Kubernetes SIG Docs to diving deep into platform engineering and developer experience.
- Backstage’s Potential in the CNCF Landscape: Why Arsh is excited about the future of Backstage and how it could become more accessible to the broader community.
- Developer Experience as a Growing Priority: Insights into the increasing focus on how tools and platforms improve workflows for developers beyond just solving technical problems.
- Tailoring Developer Experience: Why understanding the specific needs of your team is essential, rather than copying solutions from other companies or conferences.
- KubeCon India 2024: Arsh shares his excitement about the first full-scale KubeCon in India and its importance for the local cloud-native community.
This episode is sponsored by OVHcloud.
Bart Farrell: In this episode of The Landscape, I got a chance to speak with Arsh Sharma, a CNCF Ambassador who’s making incredible strides in developer experience and platform engineering at Okteto. I first met Arsh a few years ago when he completed the LFX Mentorship Program, and his growth in the cloud-native space has been truly stellar.
This episode is brought to you by OVHcloud, the global cloud provider delivering industry-leading performance and cost-effective solutions. From managed Kubernetes to private registries, OVHcloud has the cloud-native tools you need. OVHcloud: the world needs different.
Now, let’s check out the episode with Arsh.
Bart: What is your area of focus as a CNCF Ambassador?
Arsh Sharma: My focus has shifted over the course of my ambassadorship. Initially, I was deeply involved in the Kubernetes ecosystem, particularly with the SIG Docs project, where I worked as a contributor advocate. Over time, my focus has moved toward platform engineering and creating content around it.
Bart: What CNCF projects are you most excited about?
Arsh: I’d say I’m particularly excited to see where the Backstage project goes. It’s been fascinating to hear such varied opinions about it. I’m looking forward to seeing it become more accessible, not just for those who are willing to invest significant time setting it up, but for everyone in the community. I want to see how it evolves to meet broader needs.
Bart: What trend are you watching most closely, and what should others be paying attention to?
Arsh: A trend I’ve noticed is that developer experience is becoming a key focus in every tool, project, or talk I come across. It’s not just about solving problems anymore, but about how those problems are solved. Are we making things easier for developers, or are we creating unnecessary hurdles? Seeing developer experience take center stage has been really encouraging.
Bart: You’re active in platform engineering and developer experience. What do you think people are getting wrong about these areas?
Arsh: One major thing people get wrong is assuming developer experience is one-size-fits-all. Many have strong opinions about what good developer experience looks like, but they don’t validate those assumptions with the actual developers in their organizations. Instead, they try to copy-paste solutions they’ve seen at conferences or other companies without addressing their own developers’ specific needs. Developer experience needs to be tailored—it’s all about understanding and solving problems specific to your team.
Bart: What’s next for you?
Arsh: I’m really looking forward to KubeCon India, happening in December. This will be the first time a full KubeCon is held in India, and I’m super excited to see it. I attended KubeDay India last year, which was a smaller event, and it was fantastic. I’m expecting great things from KubeCon India and can’t wait to meet everyone there.
Bart: What’s the best way for people to get in touch with you?
Arsh: You can reach out to me on LinkedIn or Twitter—I’m sure Bart will include the handles here. You can also email me at hey@arshsharma.com. I’m always happy to chat with people from the community!
Bart: Fantastic. Thank you very much, Arsh!
Arsh: Cheers!