Becoming a DevOps engineer typically involves the following steps:
- Learn the basics of software development and programming: Understanding the principles of software development is essential for a DevOps engineer, as they need to be able to work closely with developers and understand the code they are deploying. This includes learning how to use Git, which is a version control system that is commonly used in software development. Additionally, learning a popular programming language like Python or Java, will give you a good foundation for understanding how code works and how to troubleshoot issues.
- Gain experience with Linux and Unix operating systems: Many DevOps tools and processes are built on Linux and Unix operating systems, so it’s important to be familiar with them. This includes understanding how to navigate the command line, manage files and directories, and troubleshoot common issues.
- Learn about containerization and virtualization technologies: Containerization and virtualization are key technologies for DevOps engineers, as they allow for more efficient deployment and management of applications. Docker is the most widely used containerization platform, and Kubernetes is the most popular container orchestration system. Understanding how to use these technologies will be essential for deploying and managing applications in a DevOps environment.
- Learn about cloud computing platforms: Cloud computing platforms like AWS, Azure, and GCP are widely used for deploying and managing applications, so it’s important for DevOps engineers to be familiar with at least one of them. This includes understanding how to set up and manage virtual machines, storage, and networking.
- Learn about continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD): CI/CD is a key aspect of DevOps, and it involves automating the process of building, testing, and deploying code. Tools like Jenkins, Travis CI, and CircleCI are commonly used for this purpose. Understanding how to set up and use these tools will be important for a DevOps engineer.
- Learn about infrastructure as code and configuration management tools: Infrastructure as code (IAC) is a way to manage and provision infrastructure using code, rather than manual processes. Tools like Ansible, Terraform, and Puppet are commonly used for this purpose. Understanding how to use these tools will be important for a DevOps engineer, as they will be responsible for automating the deployment and management of infrastructure.
- Learn about monitoring and logging tools: Monitoring and logging are important for ensuring the availability and performance of applications. Tools like Prometheus, Grafana, and the ELK stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, and Kibana) are commonly used for this purpose. Understanding how to set up and use these tools will be important for a DevOps engineer, as they will be responsible for monitoring and troubleshooting issues with applications.
- Get hands-on experience: The best way to learn about DevOps is by doing it. This means working on real projects, and contributing to open-source projects. You can find many open-source projects on platforms like GitHub and GitLab, and contributing to them will give you valuable experience and help you build a portfolio of work that you can show to potential employers.
- Learn about security and compliance concepts and tools: Security and compliance are essential for any organization, and DevOps engineers need to be familiar with concepts and tools related to encryption, authentication, and authorization.
- Network with other professionals in the field and stay up-to-date with the latest developments: As with any field, staying current with the latest developments is important. This means networking with other professionals in the field and attending relevant conferences and meetups. Additionally, subscribing to relevant newsletters and following industry leaders on social media is also a great way to stay informed about the latest developments in DevOps.