The DevOps Engineer Role: Learning Scope for Fresh Graduates, Beginners and Non-IT Professionals(Part 01)

Before diving into this content, make sure to check out the second edition of this series, which explains what DevOps is all about! ????

DevOps & Cloud with Nimesha - Second Edition

Two main things happen when delivering a software application to end users:

1. Coding on one side ????
2. Running the software on a server on the other side ???

So, coding is purely done by the software or development team in an IT firm. As a DevOps engineer, there are a few things you need to know:

1. Project Management Tools: Have a good idea of how the software team is managing their projects. Familiarize yourself with tools like JIRA, ClickUp, Asana, etc. ???
2. Software Functionality: Understand how the software works and how different components communicate and work together. ??
3. Collaboration in Coding: Know how the software team collaborates when it comes to coding, especially regarding version control. ??????
4. Version Control Tools: Be proficient with version control tools like GIT and central repositories like GitHub or Bitbucket. ???

Then, forget about all the things that happen in the middle after coding the software application and focus on the other main aspect: running the software on a server so that end users can access it.

In this part, the IT Operations team is primarily responsible for:

1. Creating, configuring, and maintaining the infrastructure: This includes the servers and all the other hardware that support running your software. ?????

Infrastructure refers to the servers and all the other bare metal that support running your software at the end of the day. ??

But as a DevOps engineer, you should be aware of how the infrastructure is created, whether it's on-premise or in the cloud.

1. On-Premise: This means that your IT firm, in its own building or a rented one, manages everything. This includes ordering computers, wires, switches, routers, and all the hardware. The firm configures, cools, maintains, and installs software and utilities, managing almost everything themselves. ???????
2. Cloud: The cloud takes away all this overhead, providing the possibility to access the same (or even greater) computing power over the internet. You don't need to worry about the physical infrastructure. This is what we call Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). ??????

Also, you should be aware of what a server is. A server is essentially a computer, similar to your home computer, but with much greater computing power, CPU power, RAM, and storage. These servers are exposed to the public internet, allowing anyone to access them. ???????

As a DevOps engineer, knowing about servers and their locations is just the beginning. What about their internal workings? You should have a solid understanding of the operating system (OS) running inside the bare metal server, which gives them life. It's essential to know about an OS like Linux or related distributions. ????

Knowledge of the Linux file system, user management, and command-line interface (CLI) is mandatory. Trust me, you'll be grateful for this knowledge when you go for your job interview. ??????

Additionally, it's important to understand how communication happens among servers and application components. This is where networking comes in. Knowing about the internet, the World Wide Web (WWW), and protocols like HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SSH, and the OSI model is invaluable. So, make sure to learn these. ??????

You don't need to be an expert in networking and configuring servers. There are dedicated expert roles, like network engineers and system admins, who handle these tasks full-time. However, as a DevOps engineer, you should always know what is happening inside and have this basic knowledge at any point. ??????

We've discussed the two main aspects of delivering software: coding and running the software on a server. Now, let's talk about the missing parts of this delivery process, which include testing your code, building and packaging the code, and finally deploying the application to the infrastructure or server. ????

STOP! We will not go into that part in this edition because it's already a lengthy newsletter. So, start your own plan today with the topics mentioned above and begin your journey with us. In two weeks, we'll cover the most important phase of the DevOps Engineer role in the software delivery lifecycle. So, wait for it and start today! ???

Now it is time what you exactly waited for... Let's talk about my latest tech involvements and CoDeKu!

Tech Talks First, I recently participated in my seventh talk in the past few weeks months at TechCareerX <V2.1>, organized by the IEEE Industry Applications Society of Uva Wellassa University ??.

I delivered an exciting tech talk on Software Engineering in 2024, highlighting the latest trends in DevOps and Cloud ????. The event drew around 300 participants from two-three faculties in the University of Uva Wellassa (UWU) ??. I was thrilled to be the inaugural speaker and kick off their program ??.

?? Hot Topic with CoDeKu

?? CoDeKu: Pioneering CloudOps, DevOps, and Kubernetes Education in Sri Lanka! ??

CoDeKu CoDeKu! Yes, it is CoDeKu. As the name suggests, it is the first and only environment in Sri Lanka for learning:

• ??? Cloud Operations (CloudOps)
• ?? DevOps
• ?? Kubernetes

In Sri Lanka, it's still rare to find a place to learn these topics in a straightforward manner. Most resources are just textbook copy-pastings! But at CoDeKu, we're passionate about changing this for the better.

To make this vision a reality, we've launched our CoDeKu EdTech Startup, which is growing rapidly. We've organized a strong team led by our Founder, Nimesha Jinarajadasa. Our Head of Operations is Tharindu Kalhara, and Vikum, our talented video editor. Nuwan, with over 5 years of industry expertise, and Madhuka Dilshan, who handles our freelancing projects, complete our team.

Transparency and Growth

Currently, we are not generating any revenue as we are focused on elevating CloudOps, DevOps, and Kubernetes knowledge in Sri Lanka in Native Language. We're also working hard to launch our brand new website, www.codeku.tech .

Upcoming Courses(in Sinhala)

As part of our mission, we are excited to announce Sri Lanka's first DevOps 101 course in Sinhala, featuring our prestigious founder Nimesha's amazing explanation techniques. If you're curious about joining us, we have reserved seats for passionate individuals like you! By joining CoDeKu, you can help us grow while gaining real-world operational experience with industry experts.

Volunteer and Grow with Us

If you're interested in volunteering with us, please contact [email protected] . As a token of our appreciation, we offer a small payment even in a volunteer role. So, what are you waiting for? Join CoDeKu today and turn your dreams into reality!

Connect with Us

Visit Nimesha's personal website to learn more about myself and CoDeKu. There's an email newsletter at the bottom of the site that you can subscribe to ??.

This site is specifically tailored for Sri Lankans ????.

If you're not local, please follow KodeKloud instead ??.

Join us on this exciting journey and be a part of the change in Sri Lanka's tech education landscape! ??

?? What's Upcoming on YouTube Channel? ??

New Video and Playlist Coming Soon!

Thanks to the non-stop amazing feedback on my previous YouTube video on DevOps, which marked a turning point in our YouTube journey by drastically changing our viewership graphs! With the overwhelming number of requests, I'm excited to announce that my new video, DevOps Part 2, will be released in the next two to three days.

What's Next?

Not stopping there, you can also enhance your knowledge on Kubernetes with my upcoming video in the Kubernetes playlist. We are now committed to a continuous and unstoppable process of creating valuable YouTube content just for you.

Upcoming Releases

• ?? DevOps Part 02 - Available by Wednesday(26th - June)
• ?? 5th Lesson of the Kubernetes Series - Available by Sunday(30th June)

All of these videos are for those who want to learn DevOps in Sinhala. Until we release our brand new videos, you can refresh your knowledge by watching DevOps Part 01 ??.

Join Our Community

Become a member of my great community: LifeCapturedchathunimesh

Stay tuned and keep learning with CoDeKu! ??

?? Upwork Freelancing Joins Forces with CoDeKu! ??

We are excited to announce that Nimesha's Personal Upwork Freelancing Project Team has joined forces with CoDeKu to take on more projects for Sri Lankan software professionals. This collaboration aims to provide more opportunities and exposure for talented individuals in Sri Lanka.

What This Means for You

• Increased Project Opportunities: By partnering with Upwork, CoDeKu will now have access to a wider range of projects, enabling us to offer more opportunities to our community members.
• Real-World Experience: Gain hands-on experience by working on diverse projects and enhancing your skills in CloudOps, DevOps, and Kubernetes.
• Community Growth: Join a thriving community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about technology and innovation.

Join Our Community

Become a part of our dynamic and growing community. Together, let's take Sri Lankan software talent to new heights! ???

?? That's a Wrap for Today! ??

Thank you for joining us in this exciting update about CoDeKu and its incredible initiatives. We are dedicated to empowering Sri Lankan DevOps and Cloud enthusiasts, undergraduates, and industry professionals to achieve their next level.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to bring you valuable content, opportunities, and resources. Together, let's elevate the tech landscape in Sri Lanka! ??