Welcome to the wild world of DevOps! My goal is to give you a quick intro that can help you understand what it is, how it applies to your field, and whether or not this might be a good career path for you.
So what is DevOps? Lets take a look at a formal definition:
DevOps is a set of practices that combines software development (Dev) and information technology operations (Ops) to shorten the time it takes to develop and release new software features. The main goal of DevOps is to increase the speed, reliability, and efficiency of the software development process by bringing developers and IT operations professionals together. ~ChatGPT
Translation based on my personal experience: it’s your job to do pretty much everything except develop the app business logic. The above definition implies separation from ops but more often than not you end up operating many of the core systems as well as supporting developers. A good example is AWS. The operations team is the API and your will be responsible for automating the setup of all the infrastructure needed to deliver your teams app. If you like learning new things this makes DevOps very interesting. You will always be interacting with new systems with nothing but the documentation and Google.
Now lets go to the very essence of this subject…automation inspired by the pains of manual configuration. It can take thousands of steps to properly configure a server, test the app, deploy the app, and eventually monitor it. If you or your coworkers are doing any of this by hand more than once it’s wrong. It’s prone to error and consumes tons of expensive engineer time. DevOps provides all of the tools to make this happen without human intervention.
In the ideal world, developers want a system that lets them check in code and it gets automatically tested and pushed into production without any intervention/communication with Ops. This can be really important for quick fixes in the middle of the night. Worst case you can have multi-day deployment delays because Ops is manual human bottleneck.
Here is a really good comic from XKCD about the theory of automation vs the reality that I have always enjoyed. Most of the time things go as planned but it is possible that if your automation isn’t focused you can end up wasting a lot of development time…
Stepping back I really want to shine a spotlight on the automation mindset essential to this field. Every moment you save not doing something manual is a moment that could be spent doing something else. If a process needs to scale you need more people if it’s manual. It’s basically free if someone took the time to automate it. This mindset is so powerful that it can even create an entire company. I found this out first hand during my time at Softlayer (Now IBM Cloud). They wrote a system that automated server setup and basically created one of the first billion dollar cloud companies.
For the remainder of this article I am going to take my own advice and automate it. I recently started playing with ChatGPT and realized I may be able to automate some of my day to day tasks. I was very excited when I got a chance to write this article using this amazing new system. I asked it pointed questions about DevOps from every angle I could think of and ended up generating 9 pages of content that I could curate and comment on, helping me make my intro as comprehensive as possible.
Q&A with ChatGPT
How can I become a DevOps engineer?
To become a DevOps engineer, you should start by building a strong foundation in both software development and IT operations. This can involve completing a formal education program in a related field, such as computer science or information technology, or gaining practical experience through internships or other hands-on learning opportunities.
Here are some specific steps you can take to become a DevOps engineer:
1. Learn a programming language: Start by learning at least one programming language, such as Python, Java, or Ruby. This will help you understand how to write code and develop applications.
2. Learn about version control: Familiarize yourself with version control systems such as Git, which are essential tools for any DevOps engineer.
3. Learn about automation and configuration management: Explore tools such as Ansible, Chef, and Puppet, which are commonly used to automate the provisioning and management of infrastructure.
4. Learn about containerization: Get experience with containerization technologies such as Docker, which are widely used in DevOps environments.
5. Learn about cloud computing: Gain knowledge of cloud computing platforms such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, as many organizations use the cloud to deploy their applications.
6. Learn about monitoring and logging: Familiarize yourself with tools for monitoring and logging systems, such as Splunk and New Relic.
7. Learn about networking: Develop a good understanding of networking concepts and protocols, as DevOps engineers often work with networked systems.
In addition to these technical skills, it is important to develop strong communication and collaboration skills, as DevOps engineers work closely with both development and operations teams. You may also want to consider earning relevant certifications, such as the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer or the RedHat Certified Systam Adminstrator (RHCSA) certification.
There is no specific education background required to become a DevOps engineer. Many DevOps professionals come from a variety of educational backgrounds, including computer science, information technology, and related fields.
That being said, having a strong foundation in both software development and IT operations can be beneficial for a DevOps engineer. You may want to consider pursuing a formal education program in a related field, such as a degree in computer science or information technology.
In addition to a formal education, practical experience is also important for a DevOps engineer. You can gain this experience through internships, hackathons, and other hands-on learning opportunities.
Overall, while a specific education background is not required to become a DevOps engineer, having a strong foundation in both software development and IT operations, as well as practical experience, can be beneficial for this role.
What do I need to know about Linux as a DevOps engineer?
As a DevOps engineer, it is important to have a good understanding of Linux, as it is a commonly used operating system in DevOps environments. Here are some specific things you should know about Linux as a DevOps engineer:
1. Command line: You should be comfortable working with the Linux command line, as it is a key tool for interacting with and managing systems.
2. Shell scripting: Familiarity with shell scripting, such as Bash, can be useful for automating tasks and working with large numbers of servers.
3. Package management: You should understand how to install, update, and manage packages on a Linux system using package management tools such as apt or yum.
4. System administration: You should have a good understanding of basic Linux system administration tasks, such as managing users and groups, configuring networking, and securing systems.
5. Monitoring and troubleshooting: Experience with monitoring tools and techniques, as well as troubleshooting common Linux issues, can be helpful for a DevOps engineer.
Overall, having a strong foundation in Linux is important for a DevOps engineer, as it will enable you to effectively manage and maintain systems in a DevOps environment.
What kind of career growth opportunities does DevOps have?
There are many career growth opportunities available for DevOps professionals. As organizations increasingly adopt DevOps practices to improve the speed, reliability, and efficiency of their software development process, the demand for skilled DevOps professionals is expected to continue to grow.
Here are some specific career growth opportunities that may be available to DevOps professionals:
1. Advancement within the DevOps team: As you gain experience and expertise as a DevOps engineer, you may be able to take on more responsibility within your team, such as leading projects or mentoring junior team members.
2. Specialization: You may choose to specialize in a specific area within DevOps, such as cloud computing, containerization, or security.
3. Leadership roles: With additional experience and expertise, you may be able to move into leadership roles such as DevOps manager or director.
4. Consultancy: You may choose to become a consultant, helping organizations implement DevOps practices and processes.
Overall, the field of DevOps is rapidly evolving, and there are many opportunities for career growth and advancement for skilled professionals.
Can you recommend some learning resources for DevOps?
There are many learning resources available for those interested in learning about DevOps. Here are a few options to consider:
1. Online courses: There are many online courses available on platforms such as Udemy, Coursera, and edX that cover a wide range of topics related to DevOps. These courses can be a good way to learn about DevOps concepts and practices at your own pace.
2. Books: There are many books available on DevOps, ranging from introductory guides to more advanced technical resources. Some popular books on DevOps include “The Phoenix Project: A Novel about IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win” by Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, and George Spafford, and “The DevOps Handbook: How to Create World-Class Agility, Reliability, and Security in Technology Organizations” by Gene Kim, Jez Humble, and Patrick Debois.
3. Conferences and meetups: Attending conferences and meetups can be a great way to learn about DevOps and connect with other professionals in the field. Some popular DevOps conferences include DevOps World and DevOps Days.
4. Websites and blogs: There are many websites and blogs that cover DevOps topics and offer resources such as tutorials, articles, and case studies. Some popular DevOps websites and blogs include DevOps.com and the DevOps Institute’s website.
How much can I expect to earn as a DevOps engineer?
The salary of a DevOps engineer can vary depending on a number of factors, including your level of experience, your education, your location, and the specific industry you work in.
According to data from Glassdoor, the median salary for a DevOps engineer in the United States is $111,911 per year. However, this number can vary widely, with some DevOps engineers earning significantly more or less depending on their experience and qualifications.
Here are some other factors that can impact the salary of a DevOps engineer:
1. Experience: As with most jobs, DevOps engineers with more experience tend to earn higher salaries.
2. Education: A higher degree of education, such as a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field, can also increase your earning potential as a DevOps engineer.
3. Location: The cost of living in different parts of the country can affect the salary of a DevOps engineer. For example, DevOps engineers in cities with a high cost of living, such as San Francisco or New York, may earn higher salaries compared to those in less expensive areas.
4. Industry: The specific industry you work in can also impact your salary as a DevOps engineer. For example, DevOps engineers working in the finance or technology industries may earn higher salaries compared to those working in other industries.
Overall, the salary of a DevOps engineer can vary widely depending on a number of factors, and it is important to consider these factors when evaluating job offers or negotiating salary.
Level.fyi DevOps Salaries for the Plano area
Closing
I was really surprised at the quality of the answers provided by ChatGPT. It is a bit dry but it gets to the point and leaves little out. Hopefully this gives you a good starting point for understanding the field and maybe is even enough to motivate you to join the field! In the future, I think we may all eventually become some form of DevOps engineer, connected the outputs of one AI to another and asking the right questions. In the meantime, try to think of all the ways you can automate your life and reduce your worries. Cheers!
Link: Intro to DevOps Part 2
