Add(platform): intro and resources for platform engineering

docs/growth/platform/README.md

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 This section will cover advanced Platform Engineering topics.
 
 **Work in progress.**
+
+
+## What is Platform Engineering?
+
+Platform Engineering is the practice of designing and managing internal platforms that make it easier for developers and operations teams to build, test, and deploy software. These platforms provide self-service tools that simplify workflows, reduce repetitive tasks, and enable faster delivery.
+
+At its core, Platform Engineering treats developers as customers and the platform as a product. This means prioritizing usability, reliability, and solving real-world developer challenges. By abstracting away the complexities of infrastructure, Platform Engineering empowers developers to focus on delivering business value through software.
+
+---
+
+## How is Platform Engineering Different from DevOps?
+
+While closely related, Platform Engineering and DevOps are distinct disciplines:
+
+- **DevOps**: Focuses on culture and practices to improve collaboration between development and operations teams. It emphasizes breaking down silos, automating workflows, and delivering software quickly and reliably.
+- **Platform Engineering**: Focuses on building the tools and systems that enable DevOps practices. It provides developers with easy-to-use, standardized workflows and resources that streamline software delivery.
+
+**In short**: DevOps is about culture and collaboration, while Platform Engineering builds the platforms and tools that support these practices.
+
+---
+
+## Key Responsibilities of a Platform Engineer
+
+Platform Engineers design and maintain internal platforms that simplify development and operations. Their key responsibilities include:
+
+- **Automation**: Eliminating repetitive tasks to improve efficiency and reduce errors.
+- **Self-Service Enablement**: Providing developers with access to tools like CI/CD pipelines, monitoring systems, and cloud resources without relying on other teams.
+- **Collaboration**: Working closely with developers and operations teams to understand their needs and pain points.
+- **Standardization**: Creating consistent and predictable experiences across teams for software development and deployment.
+- **Support and Training**: Assisting teams in using the platform effectively and maximizing its value.
+
+---
+
+## Key Concepts in Platform Engineering
+
+### What is an Internal Developer Platform (IDP)?
+
+An **Internal Developer Platform (IDP)** is a self-service layer built by platform teams to simplify software delivery. It integrates tools, automates workflows, and provides "golden paths"—standardized best-practice processes—to reduce complexity for developers.
+
+The IDP is treated as a product, continually refined based on developer feedback to align with their evolving needs. This approach fosters collaboration, enhances productivity, and accelerates delivery.
+
+**Example**: [Backstage](https://backstage.io/) by Spotify is a popular IDP that empowers developers with a unified platform for managing services and workflows.
+
+**In nutshell**: An IDP gives developers a cohesive, user-friendly experience by combining the tools and processes they need into a single, streamlined platform.
+
+---
+
+### What are Golden Paths?
+
+**Golden paths** are pre-defined, best-practice workflows for building, testing, and deploying software. They act as shortcuts that reduce complexity, save time, and ensure consistency across teams, while still allowing flexibility when necessary.
+
+#### Why Golden Paths Matter:
+- **Simplify Work**: Clear steps reduce confusion, so developers don’t have to figure everything out on their own.
+- **Save Time**: Optimized workflows let developers focus on coding instead of setup or troubleshooting.
+- **Ensure Consistency**: Standardized processes create predictable and reliable outcomes across teams.
+- **Provide Flexibility**: Developers can follow the path or step off if unique needs arise.
+
+**Example**: A golden path for deploying applications might include ready-to-use templates for CI/CD pipelines, automated monitoring setup, and infrastructure provisioning.
+
+**In nutshell**: Golden paths are like shortcuts that help developers work faster and more effectively while staying aligned with best practices.
+
+---
+
+### What is Governance in Platform Engineering?
+
+Governance in Platform Engineering refers to the rules and guidelines that ensure the platform is secure, reliable, cost-efficient, and easy for developers to use. It creates a balance between developer freedom and organizational control.
+
+#### Key Elements of Governance:
+- **Security**: Protecting the platform with access controls and safeguards against vulnerabilities.
+- **Compliance**: Ensuring alignment with legal and regulatory requirements like data privacy standards.
+- **Cost and Budget Management**: Tracking resource usage, optimizing efficiency, and enforcing spending limits to avoid waste and stay within budget.
+- **Control and Access**: Defining roles and permissions to prevent misuse or accidental changes.
+
+**In nutshell**: Governance in Platform Engineering sets guardrails, not roadblocks, allowing developers to work quickly and safely while staying aligned with company standards and budgets.
+
+
+---
+
+Resources:
+
+ - [Platform Engineering book by by Camille Fournier, Ian Nowland](https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/platform-engineering/9781098153632/)
+ - [Platform Engineering Blog](https://humanitec.com/blog)
+ - [Platform Engineering Slack](https://platformengin-b0m7058.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-2gsxsc5hj-GbmJJNyyB2dqxhhGM6vjZw#/shared-invite/email)