Stage 2: Hard to leave · Developer platforms

Your network, data, purchases, and habits make leaving costly or awkward, even as the bargain shifts.

GitLab
2 Hard to leave

Open-core DevOps platform: self-host option preserves some exit, SaaS still pushes seat-based upsell.

Developer platforms Platform Since 2011
Vercel
2 Hard to leave

Frontend cloud with stellar DX: usage-based billing and framework coupling can still surprise teams at scale.

Developer platforms Platform Since 2015