Why Focus Beats Functionality in the Modern Cloud: In Chapter 13 of The Value Flywheel Effect, we introduce a pivotal mindset shift for modern cloud-native teams: Serverless First. But what does that actually mean? And how has that idea held up in an era dominated by AI, rapid cloud adoption, and overwhelming technological choice?
Spoiler: it’s not about functions. It’s not about containers, Kubernetes, or even serverless services.
It’s about focus.
Code is a Liability
One of the core ideas underpinning the Serverless First mindset is simple but powerful:
Code is a liability.
That may sound controversial—especially to engineers who love writing code—but it’s not an attack on the craft of software development. It’s a reminder that every line of code you write, you own. You have to build it, test it, maintain it, secure it, evolve it—and eventually retire it. If it doesn’t contribute directly to your unique value proposition, why are you writing it?
There’s a growing risk in building out bespoke platforms or systems when cloud providers already offer commoditised services for the same job. You’re creating unnecessary friction and future blockers. Just because you can build it doesn’t mean you should.
Frictionless Developer Experience = Competitive Advantage
The Serverless First principles are grounded in creating a frictionless path to production. We call out three tenets in this phase of the flywheel:
- Code is a liability
- A service-first mindset delivers value
- Frictionless developer experience enables speed
When teams aren’t bogged down in boilerplate infrastructure or reinventing common capabilities, they’re free to move faster. This is especially critical in today’s environment, where the ability to act quickly on new opportunities—your “next best action”—is a clear differentiator.
And speed doesn’t just mean shipping features faster. It means:
- Faster feedback loops
- Quicker time to value
- Lower operational drag
- Greater ability to respond to change
The Trap of Legacy Cloud
Just because you’ve migrated to the cloud doesn’t mean you’re modern.
We coined the term legacy cloud to describe this trap—when organisations lift and shift their old systems into the cloud but carry over their old mindsets, processes, and tech debt.
Modern cloud is different. It’s abstracted, scalable, loosely coupled, and built for agility. But it requires clarity of purpose, architectural discipline, and a mindset shift—from infrastructure management to value delivery.
Focus on What Makes You Different
Whether it’s serverless, managed services, or AI-assisted platforms, the strategy is the same:
- Understand your business
- Know what makes you different
- Double down on that
- Offload everything else
Ben Kehoe once wrote:
“Serverless is not about functions, or managed services, or cost. It’s about focus.”
We couldn’t agree more.
In a world of trillions of dollars’ worth of cloud innovation at your fingertips, why waste time reinventing what already exists?
Mindset Over Tools
The final point we emphasise in this chapter—and in this conversation—is mindset. Tools will come and go. But the Serverless First mindset is about always aligning your architecture, team practices, and technology choices with delivering the highest value possible for your customer.
Whether you’re just beginning your cloud journey or already experimenting with AI agents and LLMs, teams that adopt a Serverless First mindset are already ahead. They’re equipped to handle complexity. They understand the shared responsibility model. And they build systems designed for change, not control.
In Summary
The Serverless First approach isn’t about chasing trends or buzzwords.
It’s a strategic discipline built around clarity, focus, and value.
Ask yourself:
- Are we solving real business problems?
- Are we clear on what differentiates us?
- Are we minimising our liabilities and maximising our leverage?
If not, it might be time to think Serverless First.
Serverless Craic from The Serverless Edge
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