Containerized Applications on AWS from Coursera

This course introduces you to container technologies and how they can be used to modernize your applications, as well as exploring how different AWS services can be used to manage and orchestrate those containers.

Container technologies have existed for years, and are still gaining popularity. Two of the most prevalent options are Docker and Kubernetes - each with its own distinct set of features. Regardless of which technology you choose, one of the biggest challenges with containers is their orchestration. Unlike traditional, monolithic applications where you can only scale at a macro level - an executable, for example - containerized applications scale at the container level. When coupled with a microservices approach, each container can contain the code necessary to execute a single task or function. While this provides a number of benefits, a single application can consist of hundreds of containerized microservices. How do you handle starting, stopping, scaling out and scaling in all of these containers?

AWS offers a number of services that help with container orchestration, including Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS), Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS), Amazon Lightsail, and Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR). Throughout this course, expert instructors will dive deep into these services as well as general container technologies and capabilities.

This course uses a combination of video-based lectures, delivered by AWS technical trainers, demonstrations, and hands-on lab exercises to enable you to deploy and manage a containerized application.

What's inside

Syllabus

Week 1

In week 1 of this course, you will learn about what containers are, their use cases, and how to build a container. Then, you will explore how to host a container on AWS by using the services Amazon Elastic Container Registry (Amazon ECR) and AWS App Runner.

Week 2

In week 2 of the course, you will learn about multi-container deployments. Then, you will learn about Amazon Elastic Container Service (Amazon ECS) and AWS Fargate.

Week 3

In week 3 of this course, you will explore the basic concepts behind Kubernetes and Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (Amazon EKS). You will also see a demonstration that uses Amazon EKS to deploy a multi-container application.

Week 4

In week 4 of this course, you will explore other container-related services, such as Amazon CloudWatch Container Insights and AWS Lambda.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines container technologies, which is standard in modern software development

Builds a foundation in container orchestration on AWS cloud services

Taught by Morgan Willis and Russell Sayers, who are recognized for their expertise in AWS

Multi-modal and includes a mix of media and hands-on lab activities

May require prerequisites and additional expenses

Provides foundational knowledge and practical skills for working with containers on AWS

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Containerized Applications on AWS with these activities:

Review Linux Commands

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Strengthen your foundation by reviewing Linux commands, which are essential for working with containers.

Browse courses on Linux CLI

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Review common Linux commands and their functionality
Practice using commands in a Linux terminal

Join a Study Group or Online Forum

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Connect with peers to discuss course concepts, share knowledge, and work through challenges together.

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Join an existing study group or forum
Participate in discussions and ask questions
Collaborate on projects or assignments

Review Course Notes and Assignments

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Stay organized and reinforce your understanding by compiling and reviewing course materials.

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Gather and organize notes, assignments, and quizzes
Review materials regularly

Five other activities

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Attend Container Industry Conferences or Meetups

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Expand your knowledge and network with industry experts by attending relevant events.

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Research and identify upcoming container industry events
Attend conferences or meetups and participate in sessions and discussions
Connect with speakers and attendees

Build Containers with Docker

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Hands-on practice with Docker will familiarize you with the tool and solidify your understanding of containerization.

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Review Docker documentation
Set up Docker on your local machine
Create a basic Dockerfile and build an image
Run your container and explore its features

Explore AWS Container Services with Tutorials

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Engage with interactive tutorials to gain practical experience with AWS container services like ECS, EKS, and ACR.

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Identify relevant tutorials from AWS or other sources
Follow tutorials step-by-step to deploy and manage containers
Experiment with different options and configurations

Build a Kubernetes Cluster and Deploy an Application

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Solidify your understanding by creating and managing a Kubernetes cluster and deploying a containerized application.

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Set up a Kubernetes cluster on your local machine or a cloud platform
Create a Kubernetes manifest for your application
Deploy your application to the cluster
Monitor and manage your application's pods and services

Contribute to Open Source Container Projects

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Deepen your understanding by contributing to open source container projects and collaborating with others in the community.

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Identify open source container projects to contribute to
Review project documentation and code
Submit issue reports, feature requests, or code contributions

Career center

Learners who complete Containerized Applications on AWS will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Senior Software Engineer

Senior Software Engineers plan, design, build, test, deploy, and maintain software applications. They may also lead teams of junior engineers. To excel in this role, it is essential to have a deep understanding of container technologies, as this course teaches. With this understanding, you can develop and deploy scalable and reliable software applications that meet the demands of modern businesses. As Senior Software Engineers are responsible for ensuring that software applications are efficient and performant, completing this course could help you stand out in the job market.

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DevOps Engineer

DevOps Engineers bridge the gap between development and operations teams, ensuring that software applications are deployed and maintained efficiently and reliably. This course teaches the fundamentals of container technologies and how to use AWS services to manage and orchestrate containers. This knowledge is invaluable for DevOps Engineers, as it enables them to automate and streamline the software development and deployment process. Completing this course can help you build a strong foundation in container technologies and AWS services, making you a more competitive candidate for DevOps Engineer roles.

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Software Architect

Software Architects design and develop the overall architecture of software applications, ensuring that they are scalable, reliable, and efficient. This course covers the basics of container technologies and how to use AWS services to manage and orchestrate containers, giving you a strong foundation in the technologies that are increasingly used in modern software development. Completing this course can help you build a career as a Software Architect and contribute to the design and development of complex and innovative software applications.

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Cloud Engineer

Cloud Engineers design, build, and manage cloud computing infrastructure and services. They may also work with development teams to deploy and manage software applications in the cloud. This course provides an introduction to container technologies and how to use AWS services to manage and orchestrate containers, giving you a solid foundation in the technologies that are increasingly used in cloud computing. Completing this course can help you build a career as a Cloud Engineer and contribute to the design and management of cloud infrastructure and services.

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Systems Engineer

Systems Engineers design, build, and maintain computer systems and networks. They may also work with developers to deploy and manage software applications. This course provides an introduction to container technologies and how to use AWS services to manage and orchestrate containers, giving you a strong foundation in the technologies that are increasingly used in modern systems engineering. Completing this course can help you build a career as a Systems Engineer and contribute to the design, development, and management of complex and innovative computer systems and networks.

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Network Engineer

Network Engineers design, build, and maintain computer networks. They may also work with systems engineers and developers to deploy and manage software applications. This course provides an introduction to container technologies and how to use AWS services to manage and orchestrate containers, giving you a strong foundation in the technologies that are increasingly used in modern network engineering. Completing this course can help you build a career as a Network Engineer and contribute to the design, development, and management of complex and innovative computer networks.

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Database Administrator

Database Administrators design, build, and maintain databases. They may also work with developers to deploy and manage software applications. This course provides an introduction to container technologies and how to use AWS services to manage and orchestrate containers, giving you a strong foundation in the technologies that are increasingly used in modern database administration. Completing this course can help you build a career as a Database Administrator and contribute to the design, development, and management of complex and innovative databases.

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Security Engineer

Security Engineers design, build, and maintain computer security systems and networks. They may also work with systems engineers and developers to deploy and manage software applications. This course provides an introduction to container technologies and how to use AWS services to manage and orchestrate containers, giving you a strong foundation in the technologies that are increasingly used in modern security engineering. Completing this course can help you build a career as a Security Engineer and contribute to the design, development, and management of complex and innovative computer security systems and networks.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to build models that can predict future events or outcomes. They may also work with developers to deploy and manage software applications. This course provides an introduction to container technologies and how to use AWS services to manage and orchestrate containers, giving you a strong foundation in the technologies that are increasingly used in modern data science. Completing this course can help you build a career as a Data Scientist and contribute to the design, development, and management of complex and innovative data science models.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts work with businesses to identify and solve problems. They may also work with developers to deploy and manage software applications. This course provides an introduction to container technologies and how to use AWS services to manage and orchestrate containers, giving you a strong foundation in the technologies that are increasingly used in modern business analysis. Completing this course can help you build a career as a Business Analyst and contribute to the design, development, and management of complex and innovative solutions that meet the needs of businesses.

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Product Manager

Product Managers work with businesses to develop and launch new products. They may also work with developers to deploy and manage software applications. This course provides an introduction to container technologies and how to use AWS services to manage and orchestrate containers, giving you a strong foundation in the technologies that are increasingly used in modern product management. Completing this course can help you build a career as a Product Manager and contribute to the design, development, and management of complex and innovative products that meet the needs of customers.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan, execute, and close projects. They may also work with developers to deploy and manage software applications. This course provides an introduction to container technologies and how to use AWS services to manage and orchestrate containers, giving you a strong foundation in the technologies that are increasingly used in modern project management. Completing this course can help you build a career as a Project Manager and contribute to the design, development, and management of complex and innovative projects that meet the needs of businesses.

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Technical Writer

Technical Writers create documentation for software applications and other technical products. They may also work with developers to ensure that documentation is accurate and up-to-date. This course provides an introduction to container technologies and how to use AWS services to manage and orchestrate containers, giving you a strong foundation in the technologies that are increasingly used in modern technical writing. Completing this course can help you build a career as a Technical Writer and contribute to the design, development, and management of complex and innovative documentation that meets the needs of users.

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Customer Support Engineer

Customer Support Engineers provide technical support to customers. They may also work with developers to resolve issues with software applications. This course provides an introduction to container technologies and how to use AWS services to manage and orchestrate containers, giving you a strong foundation in the technologies that are increasingly used in modern customer support engineering. Completing this course can help you build a career as a Customer Support Engineer and contribute to the design, development, and management of complex and innovative customer support solutions that meet the needs of customers.

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