Developer Experience Metrics Beyond DORA (Platform Engineering 2026 Look Forward Series - Part 3/5)

DORA metrics revolutionized how we measure DevOps performance, but they have a critical blind spot: they tell you how your delivery pipeline is performing, but not how your people are doing. This episode explores the SPACE framework, DX Core 4, cognitive load measurement, and the HEART framework for platform teams. Part of the Platform Engineering 2026 Look Forward Series.

In this episode:
- DORA tells you the what but not the how or the at what cost - teams can hit every DORA metric while engineers burn out
- SPACE framework: Satisfaction, Performance, Activity, Communication, and Efficiency - five dimensions of developer productivity
- DX Core 4: Speed (diffs per engineer), Effectiveness (DXI survey), Quality (change failure rate), Impact (% time on new features)
- Five-metric starter pack for 2026: Deployment Frequency, Lead Time, DXI Score, Time to First Deployment, % Time on New Features

Perfect for platform engineers, engineering leaders, and DevOps practitioners looking to level up their platform engineering skills.

Episode URL: Developer Experience Metrics Beyond DORA

Duration: 14 minutes

Host: Jordan and Alex

Category: Technology
Subcategory: Software How-To

Keywords: developer experience, DORA, metrics, SPACE framework, DX Core 4, cognitive load, platform engineering