S6 | 469: Agility in the enterprise using a composable approach with Matt Biilmann, CEO of Netlify
About the Episode
Netlify recently announced the findings of their State of Web Development report, previously known as the Jamstack Community Survey, which is a guide to the trends and strategies shaping the future of web development.
Today we’re going to talk about some of the findings in this report, including building agility into the enterprise through a composable approach to an organization’s digital presence.
To help me discuss this topic, I’d like to welcome Matt Biilmann, CEO at Netlify.
About Matt Biilmann
Mathias (Matt) Biilmann is CEO of Netlify, a company he co-founded in 2014 and today is one of the fastest growing web development platforms. He has been building developer tools, content management systems and web infrastructure for more than 30 years and is recognized for coining the term “Jamstack.” An active participant in open source, Matt has contributed to well-known projects in more than a dozen languages at all layers of the stack. Matt grew up in Denmark, where he trained as a musician and music journalist.
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Synopsis
The episode delves into the concept of a composable approach in web development and its numerous benefits. The host highlights the transition of the JAMstack architecture from an early adopter phenomenon to the mainstream method of building for the modern web. The next frontier in web development now focuses on how large companies with existing web architectures can modernize and shift from a monolithic system to a composable approach.
The guest, a consultant and advisor to large organizations, explains that a composable approach enables brands to be more nimble and agile in their strategies. With digital experiences playing a crucial role in a company's success, a composable approach allows for easier adaptation and evolution of web experiences. The guest uses the example of choosing a bank, where in the past it may have been based on good service at a local branch, but now digital experiences are significant factors.
The guest also outlines the steps involved in adopting a composable approach. They emphasize the importance of making content, products, and data from existing systems available for a modern composable workflow. This requires integrating and connecting existing systems with the new composable approach. The next step involves gradually decoupling the frontend from the monolith and migrating it into its own layer. This is typically done by targeting specific apps or parts of the site rather than rewriting everything. The guest provides an example of starting with the corporate site and gradually moving key pages to the new composable approach.
The guest acknowledges that transitioning to composability is not a one-time process, especially for large organizations with multiple systems and legacy infrastructure. It requires a strategic approach and careful planning to ensure a smooth transition. The guest emphasizes that it is not as simple as replacing the old system with the new one, but rather involves integrating and modernizing different parts of the existing architecture over time.
Overall, the episode highlights the benefits of adopting a composable approach in web development, such as increased agility, adaptability, and the ability to deliver better digital experiences. It also emphasizes the importance of careful planning and a gradual migration process, especially for large organizations with complex existing systems.
The guest on the show, Matt Billman, the CEO of Netlify, provides valuable insights and advice on composable approaches. He explains that the core architecture of the web is shifting from building monolithic applications to treating the web UI as its own application with its own team. This shift allows for more agility and flexibility in web development. Matt recommends reaching out to Netlify for those interested in exploring a composable approach, as helping large companies embark on this journey is their expertise. He advises against undertaking a massive rewrite project with a long-term launch date, but instead suggests starting small and focusing on important components to get them live quickly.
The episode also discusses the State of Web Development report by Netlify and its findings on trends and strategies in web development. Formerly known as the JAMstack Community Survey, the report provides insights into the current state of web development and offers guidance on the future of the industry.
One of the key findings mentioned in the episode is the importance of building agility into the enterprise through a composable approach to an organization's digital presence. This approach involves breaking down monolithic web architectures into smaller, reusable components, allowing for greater flexibility and speed in development.
Matt Billman, CEO at Netlify, is invited to discuss this topic on the show. He explains that Netlify was founded with the goal of providing the right platform for building modern web UIs with a decoupled architecture. Since its launch in 2015, Netlify has onboarded over 4 million developers and serves over a billion unique visitors every month.
The episode also highlights the evolution of the JAMstack architecture from an early adopter phenomenon to becoming the mainstream way of building for the modern web. Now, the focus is on helping large companies with existing web architectures modernize and transition from monolithic structures to more agile and modular approaches.
Additionally, the episode mentions how a composable approach allows brands to be more nimble and agile in their strategies. By starting with key pages and gradually extending the use of Netlify, organizations can achieve faster iteration, build more modern experiences, and ultimately move faster in their development process.
Overall, the episode emphasizes the importance of staying up to date with the latest trends and strategies in web development, as highlighted by the State of Web Development report by Netlify.
Matt Biilmann, CEO, Netlify
