devops learning path

A DevOps learning path typically involves a structured approach to understanding the principles, tools, and practices involved in DevOps. Here’s a comprehensive roadmap:

1. Foundations of DevOps

• Understanding DevOps: Learn what DevOps is and why it is important. It’s a set of practices that combine software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops) to shorten the development lifecycle and provide continuous delivery with high software quality.
• Key Principles:
  • Collaboration: Encouraging communication between development and operations teams.
  • Automation: Automating repetitive tasks for efficiency.
  • Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD): Integrating code frequently and delivering it automatically.
• Agile Methodology: Learn Agile practices as they are closely tied to DevOps.

2. Version Control Systems

• Git: Master Git and GitHub, or GitLab, as they are essential for managing code versions.
  • Git basics (branches, commits, merges)
  • Working with repositories (cloning, pushing, pulling, resolving conflicts)

3. Automation Tools & Scripting

• Scripting Languages: Learn scripting languages such as Bash, Python, or PowerShell for automation.
• Automation Tools: Get hands-on with automation tools such as:
  • Ansible: For configuration management.
  • Chef/Puppet: For automation in managing infrastructure.

4. CI/CD & DevOps Tools

• Jenkins: Learn Jenkins for setting up Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery pipelines.
• Travis CI/CircleCI: Explore other CI/CD tools to expand your knowledge.
• GitLab CI: Learn about GitLab CI for an integrated solution for version control and CI/CD.

5. Containers & Orchestration

• Docker: Understand containerization using Docker. Learn how to create, manage, and deploy Docker containers.
• Kubernetes: Learn container orchestration with Kubernetes, which automates the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications.
• Helm: Get familiar with Helm for managing Kubernetes applications.

6. Cloud Platforms

• AWS (Amazon Web Services): Understand core AWS services like EC2, S3, Lambda, RDS, etc.
• Azure: Explore Microsoft Azure services and tools.
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP): Familiarize yourself with GCP services.
• Cloud Providers Comparison: Get an understanding of the differences between AWS, Azure, and GCP to choose the best platform for your needs.

7. Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

• Terraform: Learn how to define and provision infrastructure using code.
• AWS CloudFormation: Understand AWS-specific tools like CloudFormation for IaC.
• Pulumi: Explore alternatives to Terraform for IaC.
• Best practices for IaC: Learn about versioning infrastructure, testing, and modularity.

8. Monitoring & Logging

• Prometheus & Grafana: Learn how to monitor systems and applications.
• ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana): Understand the logging and analytics stack for searching, analyzing, and visualizing log data in real time.
• Datadog/New Relic: Get hands-on with cloud-native monitoring solutions.

9. Security in DevOps (DevSecOps)

• Security Best Practices: Learn to incorporate security from the start, including secure coding practices, threat modeling, and vulnerability scanning.
• Tools: Learn tools like OWASP ZAP, Aqua Security, and Snyk for automated security testing in CI/CD pipelines.
• Compliance: Understand regulatory frameworks and best practices related to compliance (GDPR, HIPAA, etc.).

10. Collaboration & Communication Tools

• Slack: Familiarize yourself with using Slack for team communication.
• Jira: Learn to track projects and issues with Jira for Agile project management.
• Confluence: Understand documentation best practices.

11. Advanced Topics

• Serverless Architecture: Explore serverless computing and how to implement it with AWS Lambda or Azure Functions.
• Microservices: Learn about microservices architecture and how to deploy them using DevOps tools.
• Advanced Kubernetes: Explore complex Kubernetes concepts like Helm charts, managing multi-cluster setups, and network policies.

12. Certifications (Optional but Beneficial)

• AWS Certified DevOps Engineer
• Azure DevOps Solutions Expert
• Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
• HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate

Suggested Learning Resources:

• Books:
  • “The Phoenix Project” (by Gene Kim)
  • “The DevOps Handbook” (by Gene Kim)
• Courses:
  • Udemy (DevOps, AWS, Docker, Kubernetes)
  • Pluralsight (Advanced DevOps concepts)
• Blogs and Communities:
  • DevOps.com
  • Stack Overflow (for troubleshooting)
  • Reddit (r/devops)

Practice:

• Set up your own DevOps pipeline with Jenkins, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, etc., using personal projects or open-source contributions.
• Participate in DevOps-related hackathons or meetups to network with others in the field.

The DevOps journey is all about continuous learning and applying best practices to build reliable and efficient software delivery systems.