Software Engineering Daily

Complex Workload Deployment with Will Stewart

47 snips
Aug 21, 2025
Will Stewart, Co-founder and CEO of Northflank, delves into the complexities of cloud workload deployment. He discusses the transition from traditional game server management to modern cloud infrastructure, emphasizing the need for efficient developer tools. Stewart highlights Northflank's innovative platform designed for streamlined application management. He contrasts the financial stakes of game servers versus enterprise applications and explores the evolving role of DevOps in maintaining software reliability and optimizing workflows. Tune in for insights on simplifying the deployment process!
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ANECDOTE

From Game Servers To A Platform

  • Will Stewart started building game-server hosting in university and used that to learn container deployment and orchestration.
  • That side project led him to found Northflank to solve real infrastructure pain points he observed in placements.
INSIGHT

Focus On Workloads Not Infrastructure

  • Will argues teams obsess over infrastructure instead of workloads, causing slow provisioning and wasted effort.
  • He suggests focusing on workload primitives like service, cron job, and database as the right abstraction.
INSIGHT

Custom Infra Is Non‑Differentiating

  • Many teams rebuild similar internal platforms because they overvalue custom infra as differentiator.
  • Will says building custom infra is non-differentiating and distracts from product work.
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