Introduction to DevOps from Coursera

Get started with your DevOps journey with this beginner-friendly course! DevOps skills are high in demand and expected to be one of the fastest-growing skills in the software industry. This course is designed to be a first step in obtaining those valuable skills.

This self-paced introductory course explores DevOps as a cultural movement. It describes the business case for DevOps, and covers its essentials. This course teaches new ways of thinking, working, organizing, and measuring to fully realize the benefits of DevOps. By applying DevOps practices, you will be able to build better products for your users.

You will learn how breaking down silos and organizing developers and operators into single cross-functional teams is necessary for truly adopting DevOps. Having everyone contributing and everyone being responsible for success is at the heart of DevOps. You will see how building a culture of shared responsibility and transparency is the foundation of every high-performing DevOps teams.

You’ll learn how you can use cloud native architecture to build resilience in your products and learn about helpful DevOps tools like horizontal scaling and independently deployable microservices. You will explore how Agile Methodologies like Scrum are crucial to DevOps as well as learn about Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD), which enables frequent deployments and working as a team to create high-quality code.

This course concludes with case studies about DevOps-based scenarios, which you will analyze and relate to DevOps concepts learnt throughout this course.

This course is designed for those new to DevOps as well as those looking to increase their current knowledge of DevOps.

What's inside

Syllabus

Overview of DevOps

In this module, you will learn how business models are disrupted by innovation and that technology is the enabler of innovation, rather than the driver of innovation. You will learn that DevOps is more than simply the Dev team and the Ops team working together. It is a cultural change. You will be introduced to the essential characteristics of DevOps. Through a brief history of DevOps, you will see how DevOps grew as a grassroots movement and that influential people helped others see that DevOps is a better way to work.

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores the importance of collaboration as a key aspect of DevOps, which aligns with industry standards

Taught by John Rofrano, an experienced professional in the field

Emphasizes the concept of shared responsibility, which is crucial in DevOps practices

Provides a thorough examination of cloud-native architecture and its impact on DevOps practices

Requires a basic understanding of DevOps concepts, making it suitable for beginners

Course duration and workload are not explicitly stated

Reviews summary

Foundational devops concepts and cultural shift

According to learners, this course provides a largely positive and comprehensive introduction to DevOps, focusing heavily on its cultural aspects and foundational principles. Many appreciate its beginner-friendly approach, which helps establish a solid understanding of why DevOps is critical. Students found the case studies particularly helpful for applying theoretical knowledge. While it offers an excellent conceptual framework, some reviews suggest it is more theoretical than hands-on, implying that learners may need to seek out additional practical training to gain proficiency with specific tools. Overall, it's considered a strong starting point for those new to the field, emphasizing new ways of thinking and working rather than deep technical skills.

Content backed by IBM's industry expertise.

"The fact that this course is from IBM adds a lot of credibility and confidence in the content's quality."

"You can tell it's a professionally produced course, well-structured and presented, probably due to IBM's involvement."

"I found the course material to be of high standard, reflecting the expertise I'd expect from an IBM offering."

Real-world scenarios solidify learning.

"The case studies at the end were very valuable; they helped me connect all the theoretical dots to practical situations."

"I really liked the case studies module, it forced me to think critically and apply what I learned to different scenarios."

"Applying the concepts to the case studies reinforced my understanding and showed me how DevOps principles apply in real businesses."

A great first step for those new to DevOps.

"As someone completely new to DevOps, this course was perfect to get my feet wet and understand the basics."

"I found the content easy to grasp, even without a strong technical background. It eased me into the subject."

"It's truly an 'introduction,' laying a solid groundwork without overwhelming me with complex technical jargon from the start."

Excellent for understanding DevOps mindset and principles.

"This course beautifully explains the cultural shift required for DevOps. I finally get the 'why' behind it all."

"I appreciate how much emphasis was placed on the cultural aspect and mindset, not just tools. This is key for real-world adoption."

"It provides a very clear and concise overview of DevOps principles, helping me understand the broader picture beyond just technical tools."

Strong conceptual foundation, but light on practical tools.

"While the concepts are well explained, I wished for more practical demonstrations or labs with actual DevOps tools."

"This course is excellent for theory, but don't expect to become proficient with Jenkins or Docker purely from this. You'll need more."

"It's a good high-level overview, but for practical application, I'll need to pursue other courses that focus on specific technologies."

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 Introduction to DevOps with these activities:

Read 'The DevOps Handbook'

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of DevOps practices and techniques. Reading it will help you gain a deeper understanding of the concepts covered in the course.

View The DevOps Handbook: How to Create World-Class... on Amazon

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Purchase or borrow the book
Read the book thoroughly
Take notes and highlight important passages
Discuss the book with others

Solve DevOps Practice Problems

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Solving practice problems will help you sharpen your DevOps skills and prepare you for real-world scenarios.

Browse courses on DevOps

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Find a collection of DevOps practice problems
Solve the practice problems
Review your solutions and identify areas for improvement

Participate in a DevOps Study Group

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Discussing DevOps concepts and sharing knowledge with peers can reinforce your understanding and help you identify areas for improvement.

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Find a DevOps study group or create your own
Set a regular meeting schedule
Discuss DevOps topics and share knowledge
Work on DevOps projects together

Three other activities

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Follow DevOps Best Practices

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Following DevOps best practices will help you improve the quality and efficiency of your software development process.

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Research DevOps best practices
Identify areas for improvement
Implement DevOps best practices
Monitor and evaluate the results

Build a DevOps Pipeline

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Building a DevOps pipeline will give you a hands-on experience of the DevOps lifecycle. This will reinforce the concepts you learn in the course and help you apply them practically.

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Choose a project and define the goals
Set up the necessary tools and infrastructure
Create a CI/CD pipeline
Automate testing and deployment
Monitor and improve the pipeline

Write a Blog Post on DevOps

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Writing a blog post will help you consolidate your understanding of DevOps and share your knowledge with others.

Browse courses on DevOps

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Choose a topic related to DevOps
Research the topic and gather information
Write the blog post
Publish the blog post
Promote the blog post

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to DevOps will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

DevOps Engineer

A DevOps Engineer is responsible for bridging the gap between development and operations teams. This course is highly relevant for those aspiring to become DevOps Engineers as it provides a comprehensive overview of DevOps concepts, tools, and best practices. By completing this course, individuals can gain a solid understanding of how to implement DevOps in their organizations, improve software delivery processes, and enhance collaboration between development and operations teams.

See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer

Software Developer

A Software Developer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. This course is highly relevant for individuals seeking to become Software Developers. It provides a foundation in DevOps practices and methodologies, which are essential for modern software development. By completing this course, individuals can gain practical knowledge in DevOps tools and techniques, improve their collaboration and communication skills, and contribute to the development of high-quality software products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Technical Lead

A Technical Lead is responsible for leading and mentoring technical teams. This course may be useful for those who wish to advance their careers in software development. It provides insights into how DevOps practices can improve team collaboration, enhance communication, and drive innovation. By understanding DevOps principles, Technical Leads can effectively guide their teams, foster a culture of continuous improvement, and deliver high-performing software products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Lead

Release Manager

A Release Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and managing software releases. This course may be useful for those who wish to pursue a career in release management. It provides an overview of DevOps practices, including continuous integration and continuous delivery, which are essential for modern release management. By understanding DevOps principles, Release Managers can improve their efficiency, reduce risks, and ensure the smooth delivery of software products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Release Manager

IT Manager

An IT Manager is responsible for planning, implementing, and managing IT systems and services within an organization. This course may be beneficial for individuals seeking to advance their careers in IT management. It provides insights into how DevOps can transform IT operations, improve efficiency, and align IT services with business objectives. By understanding DevOps principles, IT Managers can make informed decisions about adopting DevOps practices and drive innovation within their organizations.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Manager

DevSecOps Engineer

A DevSecOps Engineer is responsible for integrating security practices into the software development lifecycle. This course may be useful for those who wish to pursue a career in DevSecOps. It provides an overview of DevOps practices, including security testing and vulnerability management, which are essential for modern DevSecOps engineering. By understanding DevOps principles, DevSecOps Engineers can improve their efficiency, enhance the security of software products, and ensure compliance with security regulations.

See salaries and explore the career path for DevSecOps Engineer

Software Architect

A Software Architect is responsible for designing and developing software architectures. This course may be useful for those who wish to pursue a career in software architecture. It provides an understanding of how DevOps practices can influence software design and architecture. By leveraging DevOps principles, Software Architects can create robust, scalable, and maintainable software systems that meet the evolving needs of the business.

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Cloud Engineer

A Cloud Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and managing cloud computing solutions. This course may be useful for those who wish to pursue a career in cloud engineering. It provides an overview of DevOps practices, including cloud-native development and infrastructure automation, which are essential for modern cloud engineering. By understanding DevOps principles, Cloud Engineers can improve their efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver scalable and reliable cloud solutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Engineer

Automation Engineer

An Automation Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining automation solutions. This course may be useful for those who wish to pursue a career in automation engineering. It provides an overview of DevOps practices, including infrastructure automation and configuration management, which are essential for modern automation engineering. By understanding DevOps principles, Automation Engineers can improve their efficiency, reduce errors, and ensure the smooth operation of automated systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Automation Engineer

Project Manager

A Project Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and delivering projects within an organization. This course may be useful for those who wish to pursue project management in the field of software development. It provides an understanding of how DevOps practices can improve project delivery, reduce risks, and enhance collaboration among team members. By leveraging DevOps principles, Project Managers can effectively manage software development projects, ensure timely delivery, and achieve project goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

System Administrator

A System Administrator is responsible for managing and maintaining computer systems and networks. This course may be useful for those who wish to pursue a career in systems administration. It provides an overview of DevOps practices, including infrastructure automation and configuration management, which are essential for modern systems administration. By understanding DevOps principles, System Administrators can improve their efficiency, reduce downtime, and ensure the smooth operation of IT systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for System Administrator

Quality Assurance Analyst

A Quality Assurance Analyst is responsible for ensuring the quality of software products. This course may be helpful for individuals seeking to enter the field of software testing. It provides an overview of DevOps practices, including continuous integration and continuous delivery, which are essential for modern software testing. By understanding DevOps principles, Quality Assurance Analysts can improve their testing processes, identify and resolve defects early in the development cycle, and ensure the delivery of high-quality software products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Analyst

Data Analyst

A Data Analyst is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to uncover insights and inform decision-making. This course may be useful for those who wish to pursue a career in data analysis. It provides an overview of DevOps practices, including data pipelines and data visualization, which are essential for modern data analysis. By understanding DevOps principles, Data Analysts can improve their efficiency, access data more effectively, and deliver actionable insights to stakeholders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Network Engineer

A Network Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining computer networks. This course may be useful for those who wish to pursue a career in network engineering. It provides an overview of DevOps practices, including network automation and configuration management, which are essential for modern network engineering. By understanding DevOps principles, Network Engineers can improve their efficiency, reduce downtime, and ensure the smooth operation of networks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Engineer

Application Developer

An Application Developer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. This course may be useful for those who wish to pursue this career path as it provides a foundation in DevOps practices and methodologies, which are essential for modern software development. By understanding DevOps principles, Application Developers can improve their collaboration and communication skills, work more efficiently, and deliver high-quality software products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Application Developer

Introduction to DevOps

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Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Foundational devops concepts and cultural shift

Activities

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