How to Start Learning DevOps: A Beginner's Guide to Success

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re interested in learning about DevOps and how it can help organizations improve their software development processes. Whether you’re a software developer, a system administrator, or just someone with an interest in technology, DevOps has a lot to offer.

In this guide, I’ll take you through the basics of DevOps, what it entails, why it’s important, and how you can start learning about it. I’ll also provide you with tips, resources, and recommendations for further study. So, let’s get started!

Oops, I almost slipped my mind! If you’re not willing to invest in yourself, it’s best not to spend time reading this post.

What is DevOps?

DevOps is a software development practice that aims to integrate development and operations teams, breaking down silos and enabling them to work together to deliver high-quality software quickly and reliably. The focus of DevOps is on collaboration, automation, and continuous delivery, allowing teams to quickly respond to changing business needs and customer demands.

DevOps is not just a technology or a toolset, it’s a culture and a way of thinking about software development. It’s about breaking down barriers between development and operations, improving communication and collaboration, and ensuring that everyone is working towards a common goal: delivering software that meets customer needs.

Why is DevOps important?

DevOps is becoming increasingly important in today’s fast-paced, digital world. Companies are under pressure to deliver high-quality software quickly, and DevOps provides a framework for doing just that. By integrating development and operations teams, organizations can improve their ability to deliver software quickly and reliably, reducing downtime and increasing customer satisfaction.

In addition, DevOps helps organizations to be more responsive to changing business needs and customer demands. By automating many of the manual, time-consuming tasks involved in software development, DevOps teams can focus on delivering high-quality software and responding quickly to changing requirements.

How to start learning DevOps

Now that you have a basic understanding of what DevOps is and why it’s important, it’s time to start learning! Here are some steps you can take to get started:

Familiarize yourself with the basics

Before diving into the specifics of DevOps, it’s important to understand the basics. Start by familiarizing yourself with the principles of DevOps, including collaboration, automation, and continuous delivery. You can also read about the history of DevOps, its roots in Agile software development, and its relationship to other practices such as continuous integration and continuous deployment.

Read books and articles

There are many great books and articles available on DevOps that can help you to deepen your understanding of the topic. Some of the best books on DevOps include

In addition to books, there are many great articles and blog posts available on DevOps, covering topics such as continuous integration, continuous deployment, infrastructure as code, and more. Some of the best places to find these resources include the DevOps Institute, the DevOps Slack Group, and the DevOps section of Medium.

Participate in online communities

Joining online communities can be a great way to connect with other DevOps professionals and learn from their experiences. There are many online forums and social networks dedicated to DevOps, including the DevOps section of Reddit, the DevOps LinkedIn group, and the DevOps community on Slack.

These communities can be a great source of information, as well as a place to ask questions and get feedback on your own projects. They can also help you to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments in the field of DevOps.

Attend conferences and events

Attending conferences and events can be a great way to learn about DevOps from experts in the field. These events provide an opportunity to hear from industry leaders, learn about new tools and technologies, and network with other DevOps professionals. Some of the top DevOps conferences include DevOps Enterprise Summit, Velocity, and PuppetConf.

Get hands-on experience

The best way to learn about DevOps is to get hands-on experience. Start by setting up a development environment, experimenting with continuous integration and continuous deployment tools, and exploring infrastructure as code and containerization technologies.

You can also consider working on a personal project or contributing to an open-source project to get experience with real-world DevOps challenges. Some popular open-source projects for DevOps include Jenkins, Chef, and Ansible.

Consider certification

Finally, if you’re looking to advance your career in DevOps, consider getting certified. There are several DevOps certifications available, including the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), AWS Certified DevOps Engineer, and Red Hat Certified Engineer in DevOps. These certifications can demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in DevOps and can help you to stand out from other candidates in the job market.

Getting certified in DevOps can be a great way to demonstrate your skills and knowledge to potential employers, as well as help you to stand out in a competitive job market.

Certifications are typically offered by technology companies, industry associations, or certification organizations. Some of the most popular DevOps certifications include:

Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA): This certification demonstrates your knowledge and expertise in managing and administering Kubernetes clusters. It covers topics such as installation, configuration, and management of Kubernetes clusters, as well as the use of Kubernetes API objects and security best practices.
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer: This certification focuses on the use of AWS services to automate and manage software delivery processes. It covers topics such as continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD), infrastructure as code (IaC), and monitoring and logging.
Red Hat Certified Engineer in DevOps: This certification focuses on the use of Red Hat tools and technologies for DevOps, including OpenShift, Ansible, and Kubernetes. It covers topics such as continuous delivery, infrastructure as code, and container orchestration.

Understanding of the concepts

Getting certified in DevOps requires a solid understanding of the concepts and tools used in the field, as well as practical experience with real-world projects. To prepare for a certification exam, you can take online courses, attend training workshops, or study with certification prep materials.

In addition to demonstrating your skills and knowledge, getting certified in DevOps can also help you to advance your career. Many organizations prefer to hire certified professionals, as it provides them with a level of assurance that you have the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the role.

While certifications are not a guarantee of employment or success in a DevOps role, they can be a valuable addition to your resume and a useful tool for advancing your career.

Resources for further study:

- CNCF Cloud Native Interactive Landscape (start of your journey)
- DevOps Learning Path (https://kodekloud.com/learning-path-devops-basics/)
- Certified Kubernetes Administrator or Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKA or CKAD) – (https://www.cncf.io/certification/cka/)
- AWS Certified DevOps Engineer (https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-devops-engineer-professional/)
- Red Hat DevOps (https://www.redhat.com/en/topics/devops)
- DevOps Institute (https://devopsinstitute.com/)
- DevOps section of Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/devops/)
- DevOps section of Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/kubernetes/)
- Jenkins (https://jenkins.io/)
- Chef (https://www.chef.io/)
- Ansible (https://www.ansible.com/)

Conclusion

In conclusion, learning DevOps is an ongoing process that requires a combination of knowledge, skills, and practical experience. Whether you’re a software developer, system administrator, or just someone with an interest in technology, DevOps has a lot to offer.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can start your journey to becoming a DevOps professional. Some of the key steps include learning about the principles and practices of DevOps, exploring the tools and technologies used in the field, and getting hands-on experience with real-world projects.

Consider certification as another way to demonstrate your skills and knowledge and advance your career. Whether you choose to become certified in DevOps or not, the most important thing is to stay curious, continue learning, and always be willing to try new things. Good luck!