Building 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.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores container technologies, which are gaining popularity and integral to modern applications

Introduces Docker and Kubernetes, two prominent container technologies

Provides guidance on selecting the most suitable container technology for various use cases

In-depth coverage of AWS services for container orchestration, including Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS), Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS), Amazon Lightsail, and Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR)

Hands-on labs and interactive materials to enhance practical skills

Taught by AWS technical trainers, who are recognized for their expertise in the field

Reviews summary

Solid foundation in aws container technologies

This course is designed to teach learners the foundational concepts of container technologies and container orchestration on AWS. It provides hands-on experience through labs and features a combination of video lectures and demonstrations. The course covers a wide range of AWS services and offers a comprehensive understanding of deploying and managing containerized applications on AWS.

Suitable for beginners looking to learn about container technologies and AWS.

Provides hands-on experience through labs.

"It provides hands-on experience through labs and features a combination of video lectures and demonstrations."

Covers a wide range of AWS services and offers a comprehensive understanding of deploying and managing containerized applications on AWS.

"This course is designed to teach learners the foundational concepts of container technologies and container orchestration on AWS."

Students have reported a lack of responsiveness from instructors and support staff.

"By far, my worst experience on Coursera."

Labs may not always align with the content covered in the lectures.

"The major beef with the course is the labs often weren't correlated with the lectures."

"The labs also seemed unrelated to the topics just covered prior in the video"

Some labs may contain outdated commands or have missing steps.

"There were some outdated commands in some labs"

"some rights in the AWS account were missing thus not all commands were possible to execute"

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 Building Containerized Applications on AWS with these activities:

Review Kubernetes in Action

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Establish a foundational understanding of Kubernetes before you start the course to ease onboarding and accelerate progress.

View Kubernetes in Action, Second Edition on Amazon

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Read chapters 1-3 to understand Kubernetes concepts and architecture.
Set up a local Kubernetes environment using Minikube or Docker Desktop.
Deploy a simple application to your Kubernetes cluster and verify its functionality.

Docker CLI Drills

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Solidify your understanding of Docker command-line interface (CLI) and gain proficiency in managing containers.

Browse courses on Docker

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Practice creating, running, and stopping containers using docker commands.
Explore advanced Docker commands for image management, networking, and data volumes.

Container Orchestration Study Group

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Engage in collaborative learning by forming a study group with peers to discuss and practice container orchestration concepts.

Browse courses on Container Orchestration

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Find a group of classmates or online learners interested in forming a study group.
Establish regular meeting times and a communication platform.
Take turns presenting topics, solving problems, and sharing resources.

Four other activities

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Containerized Application Architecture Diagram

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Reinforce your understanding of containerized application architecture by creating a detailed diagram that illustrates its components and interactions.

Browse courses on Application Architecture

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Identify the key components of your containerized application, such as microservices, databases, and load balancers.
Map out the relationships and dependencies between these components.
Use a visual tool like Draw.io or Lucidchart to create a comprehensive diagram.

AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate Tutorial

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Supplement your understanding of AWS services beyond the scope of this course by exploring an AWS certification tutorial.

Browse courses on AWS Certification

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Enroll in an AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate tutorial platform like Coursera or Udemy.
Follow the video lectures and complete hands-on exercises to master AWS concepts.

Personal Containerized Website

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Put your skills into practice by building a personal containerized website from scratch, incorporating CI/CD for automated deployments.

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Design and develop your website using a static site generator like Hugo or Jekyll.
Containerize your website using a Dockerfile and build a custom image.
Set up a CI/CD pipeline using GitHub Actions or AWS CodePipeline to automate website deployments.

Contribute to an Open Source Containerization Project

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Expand your learning beyond the classroom by contributing to a real-world, open-source containerization project.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Identify an open-source containerization project that aligns with your interests.
Review the project's documentation and code to understand its goals and architecture.
Contribute bug fixes, feature enhancements, or documentation improvements as per the project's guidelines.

Career center

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

Cloud Architect

A Cloud Architect designs and implements cloud computing solutions for organizations. With expertise in building containerized applications on AWS, you'll be well-equipped for this role. This course covers container technologies, Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS), Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS), and Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR), giving you the foundation to design and implement containerized solutions on AWS.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Architect

DevOps Engineer

A DevOps Engineer is responsible for bridging the gap between development and operations teams. By understanding container technologies and AWS services for managing containers, as covered in this course, you'll be well-positioned to automate and streamline software delivery and infrastructure management in a DevOps environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains software systems. This course provides a solid understanding of container technologies, which are becoming increasingly popular in modern software development. Gaining proficiency in these technologies will enhance your skills as a Software Engineer.

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Systems Administrator

A Systems Administrator is responsible for managing and maintaining computer systems. This course will help you build a foundation in container technologies and AWS services for container orchestration, giving you the skills to manage and maintain containerized systems effectively.

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Cloud Engineer

A Cloud Engineer designs, builds, and manages cloud computing systems. By completing this course, you'll gain a deep understanding of container technologies and AWS services for container management, enabling you to build and manage robust and scalable cloud-based systems.

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Site Reliability Engineer

A Site Reliability Engineer is responsible for ensuring the reliability and performance of software systems. Understanding container technologies and AWS services for container orchestration, as covered in this course, will equip you to monitor, maintain, and improve the reliability of containerized systems.

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Security Engineer

A Security Engineer is responsible for protecting computer systems and networks from security threats. Gaining knowledge of container technologies and AWS services for container security, as covered in this course, will enhance your ability to secure containerized applications and systems.

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Data Engineer

A Data Engineer designs, builds, and maintains data systems. This course provides a foundation in container technologies and AWS services for container management, enabling you to build and manage data systems that are scalable, reliable, and efficient.

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IT Manager

An IT Manager plans, implements, and manages an organization's IT systems and infrastructure. Understanding container technologies and AWS services for container management, as covered in this course, will help you make informed decisions about adopting and managing containerized solutions in your organization.

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Technical Architect

A Technical Architect designs and implements technical solutions for an organization. By understanding container technologies and AWS services for container management, as covered in this course, you'll be able to design and implement robust and scalable technical solutions that leverage containerization.

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Network Engineer

A Network Engineer designs, implements, and maintains computer networks. Knowledge of container technologies and AWS services for container networking, as covered in this course, will enable you to design and manage networks that support containerized applications and systems.

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Database Administrator

A Database Administrator manages and maintains databases. By understanding container technologies and AWS services for containerized databases, as covered in this course, you'll be able to manage and maintain databases in a containerized environment effectively.

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Quality Assurance Engineer

A Quality Assurance Engineer tests and evaluates software products to ensure their quality. This course provides an understanding of container technologies and AWS services for container testing, enabling you to develop and implement effective testing strategies for containerized applications.

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Product Manager

A Product Manager manages the development and launch of software products. Knowledge of container technologies and AWS services for container management, as covered in this course, will help you make informed decisions about incorporating containerization into your product strategy.

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Business Analyst

A Business Analyst analyzes business processes and systems to identify areas for improvement. This course may be useful for Business Analysts who want to gain knowledge of container technologies and AWS services for container management to better understand the technical aspects of business systems.

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