DevOps Course Syllabus: A Comprehensive Guide
The field of DevOps, a combination of development and operations, has introduced processes and infrastructure to automate many of the tasks required in Agile software development. Together, an Agile methodology and DevOps automation have increased the speed, robustness, and scalability with which software is developed today and have reduced the uncertainty of outcomes inherent in complex software development. This article provides a detailed overview of a DevOps course syllabus, covering essential concepts, tools, and practices necessary to excel in this rapidly evolving domain.
Introduction to DevOps
DevOps is a set of practices that merges software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops) to streamline the software delivery process. It’s a collaborative approach in which the software developers and IT operations professionals work closely together throughout the entire software lifecycle. The main idea behind DevOps is to create and update software faster and more reliably. It focuses on using automation and making small, frequent changes to the software.
The Goals of DevOps
The goals of DevOps are:
- Faster and continuous software releases.
- Reduces manual errors through automation.
- Built-in Monitoring, detect failures or issues during delivery or in production.
- Automate testing throughout the software delivery process.
The Evolution of DevOps
Before DevOps, software delivery was slow and manual. Separate teams handled coding, server setup, testing, and deployment, leading to delays and frequent errors due to lack of automation. With DevOps, the process is fast, automated, and collaborative.
Course Structure and Communication
This course is fully online. Students will attend lecture and tutoring via Zoom and participate in discussions between classes using an online chat messaging platform. Links to the Zoom call for class lecture will be distributed via Brightspace. The course will use a team messaging app as its main communication channel for announcements and discussion. This is a good place to ask questions that anyone - other students, graders, tutors, or the professor - can answer. Tutors for this course are waiting to answer your questions, either on our message board or during dedicated tutoring hours.
Read also: Your Guide to DevOps Internships
Tools Used
In this class, we will be using GitHub, Discord, and Figma - standard tools in industry. The use of this software is for educational purposes only. This is third-party software, which means that it is not an NYU-supported service that has data privacy, FERPA, and security protections in place. Assessments in this course (graded work, including any exercises, quizzes, exams, etc) are structured so that no highly sensitive personal information is needed to use these tools, and we encourage students to not disclose sensitive information to any of these tools. To raise your awareness of this issue, we ask that you complete a consent form, which contains an overview of this issue and links to the privacy policies for you to review. Quizzes are completed outside of class using Google Forms. You must be logged into Google with your NYU Net ID account in Google in order to view the Quizzes.
Course Assessments and Academic Integrity
Assessments in this course (graded work, including any exercises, quizzes, exams, etc) are structured so that no highly sensitive personal information is needed to use these tools, and we encourage students to not disclose sensitive information to any of these tools. To raise your awareness of this issue, we ask that you complete a consent form, which contains an overview of this issue and links to the privacy policies for you to review. Quizzes are completed outside of class using Google Forms. You must be logged into Google with your NYU Net ID account in Google in order to view the Quizzes.
Team Projects
The main project is to design and build a mobile web application using an industry-standard Javascript-based technology stack. Team projects are broken up into 5 “sprints” - iterations of work - each of which is approximately 2 weeks long. Working with others and leveraging all resources available to you is a prerequisite for success.
Academic Integrity
All submitted work must be your own. There are very reliable systems we use to detect plagiarism in computer code, such as moss and compare50. Students must adhere to the academic integrity policies outlined above regardless of whether they use generative AI tools or not. Students are welcome to use generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, GitHub Copilot, etc to assist with researching and understanding the material covered in this course.
Essential DevOps Concepts and Tools
A comprehensive DevOps course typically covers the following key areas:
Read also: Launching a Tech Career in DevOps
1. DevOps Fundamentals
This section covers the basic DevOps fundamentals and terminologies that are essential for a DevOps engineer.
- DevOps Introduction
- DevOps Prerequisites
- Lifecycle of DevOps
2. Linux Fundamentals
Linux is one of the most widely used operating systems for servers and cloud environment. This section introduces the core Linux concepts, commands, and networking essentials every DevOps engineer should know.
- What is Linux Operating System?
- Linux Commands for DevOps
- Network configuration and troubleshooting commands in Linux
- SSH Server (sshd) Configuration and Security Options With Examples
3. Source Code Management
Source Code Management is one of the key aspects of DevOps. Git is considered to be one of the best tools for version control of source codes. In this section, we’ll explore the fundamentals of version control using tools like Git, GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket.
- Introduction and Installation of Git
- How Git Version Control Works?
- Useful Git Commands and Basic Concepts
- Introduction to GitHub
- List of useful GitHub Commands
- Difference Between GitLab and GitHub
- How to setup GitLab Repo in Windows 10
- Bitbucket vs GitHub Vs GitLab
All your resources (files) will be held in a GIT repository. Git is a free tool used for source code management.
4. Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)
CI/CD stands for Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment/Delivery. It is a core DevOps practice that automates the process of building, testing, and deploying code changes to production faster and more reliably.
Read also: Best Practices: DevOps and ML
- What is CI/CD?
- What is Jenkins?
- Understanding Jenkins CI/CD Pipeline And Its Stages
- How to Make a CI-CD Pipeline in Jenkins?
CI/CD introduces continuous automation and continuous monitoring throughout the lifecycle of apps, from integration and testing phases to delivery and deployment.
5. Scripting Languages
Scripting language is essential in DevOps as it helps automate repetitive tasks, reduces errors, and saves time. Languages like Bash, YAML, and Python are widely used.
- What is YAML?
- YAML Comments
- How to block comments in YAML
- Difference between YAML and JSON
- Python For DevOps: A Complete Guide For Beginners
- How to run python script
- Introduction to Linux Shell Scripting
- How to create a Shell Script
- Introduction to Bash and Bash Scripting
Python is a multi-paradigm language. Being an interpreted language, code is executed as soon as it is written, and the syntax allows for writing code in different ways.
6. Cloud Platforms
Cloud computing is essential as it powers most modern applications through platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.
7. Containerization with Docker
Docker is a popular containerization tool that is used to deliver software quickly by using the concept of containerized code which helps for easy management and maintenance of applications.
- Introduction to Docker
- Docker Architecture
- Docker Commands
- Dockerfile
- Docker Images
- Introduction to Docker Compose
- Docker Storage
- Docker Networking
- Docker Ports
- Docker Registry
Docker is by far the most popular container technology today. Docker Compose is important as pre-requisite for Kubernetes. It is a tool for defining and running multi-container Docker applications. With Compose, you use a YAML file to configure your application’s services.
8. Container Orchestration with Kubernetes
Kubernetes is used to orchestrate and manage Docker containers at scale.
- Introduction to Kubernetes
- Kubernetes Deployments
- Kubernetes Volumes
- Kubernetes Secrets
- Kubernetes Kubectl
- Kubernetes ConfigMap
Container orchestration can be used in any environment where you use containers. It can help you to deploy the same application across different environments without needing to redesign it.
9. Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
IaC enables automating and configuring the infrastructure resources using various tools such as Terraform, CloudFormation, ARM Templates, etc.
- Introduction to Terraform
- Terraform Syntax With Examples
- Introduction to AWS Cloudformation
- AWS CloudFormation Templates
- Automation using Chef
- Using Ansible to Manage Remote Machines
Sometimes referred to as IaC, it refers to the techniques and tools used to define infrastructure, typically in a markup language like YAML or JSON. Infrastructure as code allows Engineers to automate environment setup and teardown.
10. Monitoring and Observability
Monitoring entails overseeing the entire development process from planning, development, integration and testing, deployment, and operations.
- What Is Observability?
- Applying Basic vs.
11. Cloud Providers
Cloud providers provide a layer of APIs to abstract infrastructure and provision it based on security and billing boundaries. The cloud runs on servers in data centers, but the abstractions cleverly give the appearance of interacting with a single "platform" or large application.
12. Agile and Scrum
As a DevOps engineer, you will probably work in a team with other developers in an Agile world, such as Scrum.
- What is Scrum?
Agile software development has come to describe a specific approach and toolset that allow for the requirements of a software project to change as a project progresses without disrupting schedules, budgets, and responsibilities.
Additional Important Topics
Networking
- A network protocol is an established set of rules that determine how data is transmitted between different devices in the same network.
- What is a reverse proxy? What is a CDN edge server?? Reverse Proxy vs.
- What is load balancing? What is a Firewall?
Server Management
Server management includes all the infrastructure monitoring and maintenance required for servers to operate reliably and at optimal performance levels.
Operating Systems
An Operating system serves as a bridge between a computer's user and its hardware.
Recommended Reading
Several books can provide deeper insights into DevOps practices:
- The book introduces product development, quality assurance, IT operations, and information security.
- This book presents both the findings and the science behind measuring software delivery performance.
- It introduces automated architecture management and data migration.
- Many of the deployment pipeline concepts that have since become standard were established in this book.
- Config as Code, build and deployment automation, and efficient testing techniques are covered in some technical detail.
- The book talks about how to organize teams in a way that enables fast flow of value to customers.
- The book provides effective ways to improve team coordination.
- It is a classic novel about effectiveness and communications.
- IT work is like manufacturing plant work, and a system must be established to streamline the workflow.
- This book explains the whole life cycle of Google’s development, deployment, and monitoring, and how to manage the world’s biggest software systems (also known as SRE).
- This book provides a a comprehensive, hands-on guide to deploying and managing software in production, written for practitioners.
Scaler’s DevOps Course
Scaler Academy has established itself as a leader in tech education with its rigorous, outcome-oriented programs.
- Industry-Vetted Curriculum: The curriculum is meticulously crafted by industry experts as per the industry standards It shall help in the learning of the latest tools and several efficient DevOps practices.
- Expert Mentorship: Scaler provides personalized 1:1 mentorship from experienced DevOps professionals who have worked at top tech companies.
- Hands-On Learning: The course provides practical, hands-on learning through real world projects and case studies.
- Robust Placement Support: Scaler boasts a vast network of 900+ hiring partners, providing graduates with unparalleled access to job opportunities in leading tech companies.
- Flexible Learning Options: Scaler offers both live online classes and self-paced learning options to cater to different learning styles and schedules.
Scaler’s DevOps Course is a comprehensive and career-focused program that equips you with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in this field.
Career Opportunities in DevOps
Completing a DevOps course is just the beginning of your journey. The skills you’ve acquired open doors to a wide range of career paths and opportunities in the ever-evolving tech industry.
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