Stevey's Google Platforms Rant

Steve Yegge's famous accidentally-public rant comparing Amazon and Google's platform strategies. Key points: Amazon's Bezos mandated all teams expose functionality through service interfaces, all interfaces 'must be designed from the ground up to be externalizable.' Google was a 'Product Company' focused on perfect products while Amazon recognized need for platforms enabling third-party developers. Platform principles: 'The Golden Rule of Platforms' is 'Eat Your Own Dogfood,' platforms need accessibility and extensibility, start platform-first not bolt on later. His Google+ critique: viewed as 'knee-jerk reaction' lacking robust APIs and third-party development. Competitive landscape: Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Facebook understood platform strategies better than Google. Core message: companies must prioritize creating extensible, accessible platforms empowering external developers rather than trying to control every aspect of user experience. The rant became legendary for articulating why platform thinking beats product thinking in the long run.