Exploring Potential AI Use Cases in Internal Developer Portals: A Path to Enhanced Developer Experience

The increasing complexity of modern software development environments, particularly with the adoption of technologies like Kubernetes, presents significant challenges for developers, especially those with less experience. These challenges include the steep learning curve associated with new technologies, the need for standardization, and the effective management of infrastructure. Traditional internal developer portals (IDPs) often fall short in addressing these issues, especially in providing intuitive interfaces that cater to diverse stakeholders, from novice developers to engineering leaders. This research proposes the design of an internal developer portal with AI as companion using a Lean UX approach to specifically address these challenges. The study aims to support the developer experience by reducing cognitive load and improving usability through AI integration. A prototype was developed and evaluated, demonstrating that AI can supporting learnability with meeting the needs of a diverse user base, including CTOs and inexperienced developers.