The Pathway to DevOps 2024

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” – Lao Tzu

Are you thinking about getting into DevOps, but feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of tools and technologies out there? You’re not alone! Many aspiring engineers, including myself, have been in the same boat. Many of you know that i am on a mission to level up my tech skills in Cloud and DevOps so many of my friends and colleagues have asked me to share my insights on how to break into this field, so here I am! - No prior experience needed.

Who This Article is for : Anybody who wants to Learn DevOps.

These are my recommendations and advice to help you get started and do well in this fast-paced industry.

Now Let's get started !!.

What is DevOps ?

In technical terms, DevOps is a combination of practices, tools, and cultural philosophies that automate and integrate the processes between software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops). Its primary goal is to shorten the software development life cycle, deliver high-quality software continuously, and ensure the alignment between development and operations teams.|

What does this mean in simple language ?

Think of DevOps as a restaurant kitchen where developers (the chefs) and IT operations (the waitstaff) work together seamlessly to deliver delicious food (software) to customers (users) quickly and consistently. The goal is to keep customers happy by delivering tasty meals (software updates) without delay and maintaining high quality.

In traditional setups, the chefs and waitstaff might not communicate well, leading to delays and errors. In DevOps, everyone works together closely, using tools and practices to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Enough explanation, Ready to cook up some success? Follow this roadmap and serve your projects with a side of efficiency and flair!

Note - This is my own view for roadmap highlights what a DevOps Engineer can accomplish. There are many ways to approach such a roadmap, but this is how I see it.

You’ll find links to relevant courses at the end of this article.

Understanding of Linux :

Learn about the operating systems, especially Linux, which is the backbone of most cloud environments. You can think of Linux as the operating system engine that powers most DevOps tools and environments.

How to get started with Linux: A beginner’s guide.

• Basic of Linux.
• Server management in Linux.
• Commands and File systems.

A lot of the DevOps tools that you will come across like Docker and Kubernetes, require you to have a grounding in Linux.

Bash Scripting :

Ever wondered how to automate those repetitive tasks on your Linux system? Bash scripting is the answer!

Bash scripting allows you to write scripts that automate tasks, manage system operations, and save time. From simple tasks like backups to complex automation, Bash is incredibly versatile.

How to Get started with bash Scripting :

• Bash Scripting
• Basics of scripting
• Variables, Conditions, Loops etc.
• Automating day to day admin tasks.

Cloud Computing :

When diving into cloud technology, focus on mastering one cloud provider to build a strong foundation. Start with Microsoft Azure or Amazon Web Services (AWS) as per your choice.

Mastery Over Multitasking: It’s more effective to learn one provider deeply rather than juggling multiple.

Foundational Knowledge: Cloud platforms are always evolving, so a solid grasp of fundamentals will serve you well.

How to Get started with Cloud Computing :

• Cloud Computing Intro

• IAM

• Ec2 Instances, EBS Volumes, ELB

• S3

• Cloudwatch

• RDS

• Autoscaling
• Route53
• VPC in depth

• Log management and custom metrics.

Mastering Version Control and CI/CD :

Take your DevOps skills to the next level with Version Control and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD).

• Streamline Development: Keep your codebase organized and collaborative.
• Automate Deployment: Ensure faster, reliable deployments with automated pipelines.

How to Get started with Cl /CD :

• Version control system = Git & GitHub

• Build Tools | Build & Test Java Code = Maven

• Continuous Integration Intro

• Jenkins
• Jenkins as a Build Server

• Jenkins Jobs | Build , Test, Deploy, Notify

• Jenkins Master/Slave, Nexus, Sonarqube

• Jenkins CI Pipeline

• Jenkins Administration

Python scripting :

DevOps journey is all about Python scripting.

• Basics of Python: Learn syntax, variables, data types, and more.
• Automate Tasks: Use Python to streamline and automate system administration tasks.

How to Get started with Python Scripting :

• Python Scripting

• Basics of python programming

• vars, datatypes, conditions, loops, function, modules etc

• Pythons for automating OS tasks

Ansible :

Ansible—a powerful tool for configuration management and automation.

• Introduction to Ansible: Understand its architecture and core concepts.
• Ad Hoc Commands and Modules: Execute tasks on the fly and manage configurations with Ansible’s powerful modules.
• YAML and Playbooks: Learn to write YAML-based playbooks to automate and orchestrate tasks. Discover how to use variables, conditions, loops, and handlers to create flexible, reusable scripts.

How to Get started with Ansible :

• Ansible Intro

• Ad Hoc commands

• Modules

• YAML into

• Playbooks

• Variables deep dive

• Roles

• Ansible for AWS

Docker & Kubernetes :

It's the gateway to containerization and orchestration! Learn how to leverage Docker and Kubernetes to streamline your application deployments and manage complex systems efficiently.

• Docker Basics: Understand containerization, build and manage Docker images, and work with volumes and networks.
• Docker Compose: Set up and run multi-container applications effortlessly.
• Kubernetes Fundamentals: Get introduced to Kubernetes and learn to set up clusters, manage pods, services, and deployments.
• Advanced Kubernetes: Dive into replication, autoscaling, and managing configurations with secrets and config maps.

How to Get started with Docker & Kubernetes:

• Docker Intro

• Understanding and Implementing Containers

• Building Images for Vprofile project

• Docker compose to run vprofile multi containers

• Kubernetes Intro

• Kubernetes setup for production Env

• Kubernetes objects
• Pods, Services, Controllers, Deployment

• Replication, Autoscaling, Resource quotas, secret, configmap, namespace.

Terraform :

It's is all about Infrastructure as Code (IaC) with Terraform—a powerful tool for automating your infrastructure management.

• Terraform Basics: Understand Terraform’s architecture and how it manages infrastructure.
• Writing Infrastructure Code: Learn to define and provision infrastructure resources using HCL (HashiCorp Configuration Language).
• Managing Resources: Automate the creation, updating, and management of cloud resources.
• State Management: Understand Terraform’s state files and how to manage infrastructure changes effectively.

How to Get started with Terraform:

• Terraform for AWS Cloud automation.

Now you have read all these, what’s next?

Links to resources:

Note: Most of the paid courses I’ve suggested above are from Udemy. I’ve used it for a lot of my self-learning.

Step 1: Basics of Linux & Server Management

• Linux Mastery: Master the Linux Command Line
• Linux Administration Bootcamp: Go from Beginner to Advanced
• Server Management with Linux

Step 2: Bash Scripting

• Bash Scripting and Shell Programming
• Mastering Bash Shell Scripting

Step 3: Cloud Computing Intro

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate
• AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner.
• Microsoft Azure - Beginner's Guide

Step 4: Version Control & CI/CD

• Git & GitHub Masterclass: From Zero to Hero
• Jenkins Mastery: DevOps with Jenkins

Step 5: Python Scripting

• Python for Beginners
• Automate the Boring Stuff with Python

Step 6: Ansible Intro

• Ansible for the Absolute Beginner
• Mastering Ansible

Step 7: Docker & Kubernetes

• Docker Mastery: with Kubernetes + Swarm from a Docker Captain
• Kubernetes for the Absolute Beginners

Step 8: Infrastructure Automation with Terraform

• Terraform on Azure - Beginner to Advance.
• HashiCorp Terraform - Getting Started

To wrap things up, remember that the tech world is always evolving with new and exciting technologies emerging every year. Embrace this ever-changing landscape with curiosity and enthusiasm. Stay up-to-date, be open to exploring new tools, and keep learning—because your journey in tech is an adventure filled with endless possibilities and growth. Keep pushing forward, and you'll continue to thrive and shine in this dynamic field!

These insights are from my own learning journey—others might have different paths and methods. Remember, everyone’s journey is unique, so focus on your own path and strive for excellence in everything you do.

I hope you find this article helpful and inspiring!

If you’ve made it this far, a big congratulations to you! Thank you for reading, and best of luck on your learning adventure!

Feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn if you have any questions or just want to connect.