DevOps is a term that brings together software development and operations into a single channel, which allows a single team to handle every stage of a software development process. This promotes faster application delivery, smooth process, and lower cost of expenditure. Considering these advantages and features in mind businesses are rapidly adopting this technology for gaining more profit.
According to the recent report by Industry ARC, the DevOps market is expected to grow at an annual CAGR of 25.2% which is the highest among all other fields. This shows the increasing demand for skilled and experienced DevOps professionals.
Today, In this DevOps learning guide we will help you to learn the basics of DevOps and give you a solid understanding of various DevOps tools which will help you to become a proficient DevOps professional in a reputed MNC.
What Is DevOps?
DevOps is a term that is formed with the combination of two key fields: “software development” and “IT operations”. It brings together a single team to manage the entire application development process, from creating the software to testing, deploying, and maintaining it. DevOps helps in reducing the gap between software engineers, quality assurance teams, and system administrators leading to faster and smoother application delivery.
By using DevOps, organizations can speed up the development and delivery of applications. This helps them to serve customers in a better way and stay competitive in the market. In simple terms, we can say that, DevOps is a way of improving communication and collaboration between development and operations teams.
Why DevOps?
Before moving further with the article, let us understand why businesses choose DevOps over other methods. In the past, companies had separate teams for development and operations, and these teams used to work in isolation. Once the design was completed, testing and deployment were done respectively, but this process took a lot more time than the actual building of the product.
Without DevOps, team members spent too much time in designing, testing, and deploying instead of focusing on building the project. Manual code deployment often leads to human errors in production. Additionally, the coding and operations teams worked on different schedules and were not synchronized which caused even more delays in the product delivery.
This is where DevOps came into action to solve all these problems by just automating several tasks and integrating the Development and operations team.
Who Uses DevOps?
DevOps is not just for software developers and IT operators; many other professionals are also part of this process. Product managers, test engineers, and system administrators also sometimes get involved in DevOps. Even executives might play a role or support DevOps because it leads to better and faster results.
Core Components Of DevOps Learning
The core components of DevOps Learning are the key principles and practices that help organizations to improve how they develop and manage software. These fundamental components focus on making software delivery faster, more reliable, and encouraging better teamwork between development and operations teams. Learning the basics of these components is must if you are looking to start your career in this evolving field.
- Culture and Collaboration: DevOps is about creating a culture where development, operations, and other teams work closely together. It promotes open communication and shared responsibility, which are crucial for success.
- Automation: Automation plays an important role in DevOps. It reduces the need for manual work, boosts efficiency and reduces the chance of human error. This includes automating tasks like building code, setting up continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines, and managing overall infrastructure.
- Continuous Integration (CI): CI is the process of automatically merging code changes into a shared repository several times a day. Automated tests are then run to catch and fix issues early in the development process.
- Continuous Delivery (CD): Continuous Delivery builds on Continuous Integration by automating the deployment of code to production or staging environments. It ensures that software is always ready to be deployed.
- Microservices and Containerization: DevOps often uses microservices and containerization to break down applications into smaller, more manageable parts, this makes it easier to scale and maintain the overall project.
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Infrastructure as Code involves managing the infrastructure using code, This feature promotes automated supply and consistent environments throughout the infrastructure. Tools like Terraform and Ansible are commonly used for this purpose.
- Monitoring And Feedback: Continuous monitoring of applications and infrastructure is important for spotting issues and gathering feedback. Tools like Prometheus and Grafana help in tracking the system’s health and performance.
- Security: In DevSecOps, security is built into every step of the DevOps process, with automated security testing and vulnerability checks at each stage.
- Version Control: Version control systems like Git keep a record of code and configuration changes. This allows teams to work together, review code, and undo changes if needed.
- Agile methodologies: DevOps often uses Agile methods, which focus on developing software in small, manageable parts. This approach allows teams to quickly adjust to new requirements.
DevOps Tools
DevOps learning for beginners might feel confusing and difficult, so here is a list of common and most popular tools that are widely used by DevOps engineers to streamline the overall process. Let us look below and understand the working of each DevOps tool clearly:
1. Jenkins
Jenkins is an open-source automation server that helps in automating the building, testing, and deployment of software. It works by continuously integrating code changes into a shared repository, triggering automatic builds, and running tests. Jenkins supports a wide range of plugins which allows it to integrate with other DevOps tools and streamline the development pipeline.
Important Features Of Jenkins
- Jenkins promotes the automation of the CI/CD pipeline.
- It is easy to set up and configure with the help of a web interface.
- It has the capability of distributing tasks across multiple machines.
- It supports continuous integration and continuous delivery.
- It offers around 400 plugins to help in testing and delivering the project virtually.
- It has a low maintenance cost and a built-in GUI tool for easy updates.
2. Docker
Docker is a containerization platform that allows developers to package applications and their dependencies into lightweight containers. These containers can run consistently across different environments, making it easier to develop, ship, and deploy applications. Docker helps to ensure that the application runs the same, regardless of where it is deployed.
Important Features Of Docker Include:
- It is a comfortable and faster way to configure applications.
- It helps in increasing productivity.
- It provides support for multiple containers that are used to run the application in an isolated environment.
3. Kubernetes
Kubernetes is an open-source container orchestration platform that automates the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It works by grouping containers into logical units, called pods, which can be easily managed and scaled. Kubernetes ensures high availability and efficient resource utilization by distributing the container workload across a cluster of machines.
Important Features Of Kubernetes Include:
- It helps in automating the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications
- It supports load balancing and service discovery
- It has self-healing capabilities with automatic restarts and rescheduling of containers
- It has a feature of rolling updates and rollbacks for seamless updates
- It helps in managing containers across a cluster of machines
4. Git
Git is a version control system that tracks changes in source code and manages project history. It allows multiple developers to collaborate on the same codebase by branching, merging, and reviewing changes. Git helps teams to keep a record of every change, making it easy to roll back to previous versions if needed. It also supports distributed workflows which help developers to work independently on their local repositories.
Important Features Of Git Include:
- It has the feature of a distributed version control system for tracking changes in code
- It supports branching, merging, and collaboration among multiple developers
- It provides the feature of detailed history and versioning of the codebase
- Helps in code review and pull requests
5. Ansible
Ansible is an open-source automation tool used for configuration management, application deployment, and task automation. It works by defining tasks in simple YAML files called playbooks, which can be executed to configure systems, install software, and manage infrastructure. Ansible is agentless, Which means it does not require any additional software on the target machines, making it easy to use and highly efficient.
Important Features Of Ansible Include:
- It promotes agentless architecture.
- It helps in automating tasks like application deployment, system configuration, and updates
- It ensures that tasks only apply necessary changes to them
- Extensible through modules for various tasks
6. Terraform
Terraform is an open-source infrastructure as code (IaC) tool that enables developers to define and provision infrastructure resources using a high-level configuration language. It works by creating, updating, and managing infrastructure across various cloud platforms and on-premises environments. Terraform ensures that the infrastructure is consistent and scalable throughout the application.
Important Features Of Terraform Include:
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tool for defining and managing infrastructure
- Supports multiple cloud providers and on-premises environments
- Ability to preview changes before applying them
- Maintains state files to track infrastructure changes
7. Prometheus
Prometheus is an open-source monitoring and alerting toolkit designed for reliability and scalability. It works by collecting and storing metrics from various systems, providing real-time insights into system performance. Prometheus supports a powerful query language called PromQL, which allows users to analyze and visualize the collected data. It also integrates with alerting systems to notify teams of potential issues.
Important Features Of Prometheus Include:
- Monitoring and alerting toolkit designed for scalability
- Collects and stores metrics from various sources in real-time
- Powerful query language (PromQL) for analyzing metrics
- Supports multi-dimensional data collection with labels
- Integrates with alerting systems for proactive issue detection
8. Grafana
Grafana is an open-source data visualization and monitoring tool that integrates with various data sources, including Prometheus. It works by creating interactive and customizable dashboards that display metrics and performance data. Grafana helps teams in monitoring system health, track trends, and detect anomalies. It supports alerting, allowing users to set up notifications based on specific conditions.
Important Features Of Prometheus Include:
- Data visualization and monitoring tool with customizable dashboards
- Integrates with multiple data sources, including Prometheus
- Supports real-time graphing, metrics visualization, and analytics
- Alerts based on defined thresholds or conditions
- User-friendly interface for creating and sharing dashboards
9. Nagios
Nagios is an open-source monitoring tool that provides comprehensive monitoring of systems, networks, and infrastructure. It works by periodically checking the status of hosts and services, and generating alerts when problems are detected. Nagios allows users to monitor system availability, performance, and resource usage. It supports a wide range of plugins, enabling integration with other DevOps tools.
Important Features Of Prometheus Include:
- It promotes comprehensive monitoring of systems, networks, and infrastructure
- Inbuilt feature for periodic checks for system availability, performance, and resources
- Generates alerts for issues.
- Supports multiple plugins for additional monitoring capabilities
- Promotes detailed reporting and logging of system status
10. Jira Software
Jira Software is a popular project management tool widely used in software development and other industries. Originally designed for bug tracking, Jira has evolved into a powerful platform that supports various project management methodologies, including Agile, Scrum, and Kanban. It helps teams to plan, track, and manage projects by organizing tasks, assigning responsibilities, and monitoring progress.
Key Features of Jira Include:
- Tracks bugs, tasks, and issues with customizable workflows.
- Supports issue linking, comments, and attachments.
- Supports Scrum and Kanban boards for visual task management.
- Allows automation of repetitive tasks and transitions.
- Integrates with a wide range of tools like Confluence, Bitbucket, and GitHub.
DevOps Learning Path
Now, after understanding the basics of DevOps learning, you must be confused about- with plenty of things to learn, what is the right way to start learning. So, to help you in this process here is a DevOps learning path that will help you to become a DevOps engineer by just following the simple steps.
Step 1: Master Programming
Start by learning modern programming languages that are commonly used in DevOps, such as C++, Python, JavaScript, or PowerShell. Focus on writing clean, efficient code and gain a basic understanding of programming as well as OOP principles.
Proficiency in programming is crucial for scripting automation tasks, managing configurations, and integrating various DevOps tools. You can learn these important programming languages by enrolling yourself in our comprehensive programming courses.
Step 2: Gain Knowledge Of Operating Systems
Gain a strong understanding of operating systems, particularly Linux and Windows. Learn how to manage system configurations, handle user permissions, and perform troubleshooting.
Knowledge of operating systems is essential for managing servers and infrastructure. It helps you understand how applications run on different systems and how to configure and maintain those systems effectively.
Step 3: Attain a Bachelor’s Degree
Pursue a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Information Technology, or Software Engineering. Focus on topics related to software development, systems administration, and network management.
Having a degree provides foundational knowledge and theoretical understanding of computer systems, programming, and IT principles. It can also make you standout in the job market and open doors to various entry-level positions.
Step 4: Obtain Certifications
Obtain certifications related to DevOps and cloud technologies, such as AWS Certified DevOps Engineer, Google Professional Cloud Computing Certification, or Docker Certified Associate. You can also go for a PW skills DevOps and Cloud computing course that will help you to learn everything related to DevOps and cloud computing in a beginner-friendly manner.
Having certifications showcases your expertise in specific DevOps tools and practices. They help in enhancing your resume, provide proof of your skills to employers, and can increase your chances of getting shortlisted for a job.
Step 5: Gain Practical Experience
Seek internships, part-time jobs, or project opportunities related to DevOps. Work on real-world projects, contribute to open-source initiatives, or practice using DevOps tools and technologies.
Practical experience allows you to apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios, build an eye-catching portfolio, and develop problem-solving skills. It provides hands-on experience with DevOps tools and practices, making you more attractive to employers.
Step 6: Make an Interactive Resume and Social Media Account
Create an eye-catching interactive resume, highlighting your skills, experience, and certifications. Set up a professional LinkedIn profile and other relevant social media accounts to showcase your expertise and network with industry professionals.
A well-crafted resume and active social media presence will help you to stand out to potential employers and recruiters. They provide a platform to showcase your accomplishments, network with professionals, and stay updated on industry trends.
Step 7: Apply for DevOps Engineer Roles
Start applying for entry-level DevOps engineer positions. Tailor your resume and cover letter according to each job application, highlighting your relevant skills and experience. Prepare for interviews by learning common DevOps interview questions and practicing your responses.
Applying for roles will help you to enter the DevOps field and gain full-time employment. It allows you to use your skills and experience in a professional way. By following this DevOps Learning path, you will become a job-ready candidate, totally prepared to start and advance your career as a DevOps engineer.
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- Regular assignements.
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DevOps Learning FAQs
How do I start learning DevOps?
To start learning DevOps, you should begin by gaining foundational knowledge in programming, operating systems, and version control systems. Explore DevOps principles and practices through online courses, tutorials, and projects. After that, Familiarize yourself with key DevOps tools like Jenkins, Docker, and Kubernetes, and seek practical experience through internships or personal projects.
What skills are required for DevOps?
Essential skills for DevOps include proficiency in programming and scripting languages, understanding of operating systems and networking, experience with version control systems, knowledge of CI/CD pipelines, and familiarity with containerization and orchestration tools. Additionally, skills in automation, monitoring, and cloud services are also crucial.
What are some popular DevOps certifications?
Popular DevOps certifications include: AWS Certified DevOps Engineer, Google Professional DevOps Engineer, Docker Certified Associate, and Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA). These certifications validate your expertise in DevOps practices and tools, enhancing your credentials and job prospects.
