A Roadmap to Becoming a DevOps Engineer

Hello everyone!
Today, I’m excited to share a step-by-step DevOps roadmap for anyone interested in starting a career in this high-demand field.
DevOps is a culture that brings together Software Development (Dev) and IT Operations (Ops) to deliver high-quality software faster and more reliably.

If you’re someone who’s ready to explore the world of DevOps, this roadmap will help guide your journey.

🚀 Step 1: Learn the Basics (Foundation Skills)
Before diving into DevOps, it’s important to build your core IT knowledge.

Start learning a programming language like Python or Go. These are beginner-friendly and widely used for DevOps automation.

Learn Linux fundamentals—Linux is the backbone of most DevOps systems. Practice basic commands like ls, cd, and mkdir.

🔄 Step 2: Understand Version Control (Git & GitHub)
Managing code effectively is essential.

Learn how to use Git for version control.

Create a GitHub account and practice commands like git clone, git commit, and git push.

Version control is key for collaborating with teams and tracking code changes.

🌐 Step 3: Learn Networking Basics
Basic networking knowledge is a must.

Understand concepts like IP addresses, DNS, Firewalls, etc.

A DevOps Engineer must know how servers communicate and how to configure network settings.

🤖 Step 4: Explore Automation Tools
Automation is the core of DevOps.

Learn tools like Ansible, Jenkins, and Terraform.

Use Ansible for automating server configuration.

Use Jenkins to build CI/CD pipelines for Continuous Integration and Deployment.

Use Terraform (Infrastructure as Code) to manage infrastructure declaratively.

📦 Step 5: Get Hands-On with Docker
Docker allows applications to run consistently across environments.

Learn how to build and run containers using commands like docker build and docker run.

Docker helps package applications and deploy them anywhere.

☸️ Step 6: Master Orchestration with Kubernetes
Managing multiple containers? You need Kubernetes!

Learn how to use Kubernetes (K8s) to orchestrate and manage containers at scale.

Understand basic commands like kubectl get pods and explore how K8s automates deployment and scaling.

☁️ Step 7: Learn Cloud Platforms
DevOps and cloud go hand-in-hand.

Get familiar with platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

Use AWS Free Tier or Google Cloud’s $300 credit to try services like EC2.

Understanding how to deploy and manage services in the cloud is essential.

📊 Step 8: Learn Monitoring & Logging
Monitoring ensures systems are healthy in production.

Learn tools like Prometheus and Grafana.

Analyze logs to troubleshoot issues and optimize performance.

Monitoring helps maintain uptime and reliability.

🛠 Step 9: Do Hands-On Projects
Theory is not enough—practice is key!

Start a small project. For example:

Build a simple web app,

Dockerize it,

Deploy it on AWS.

Gain hands-on experience with CI/CD, cloud, and monitoring tools.

🎓 Step 10: Certifications & Job Preparation
Certifications validate your skills.

Consider earning:

AWS Certified DevOps Engineer

Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)

Update your LinkedIn and GitHub profiles with projects and certifications.

Certifications can boost your visibility and help land job interviews.

💡 Final Thoughts
The DevOps journey is long but rewarding.
By 2025, demand for skilled DevOps Engineers will only grow.

✅ Follow this roadmap, build your projects, get certified, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a DevOps Pro.

Keep learning, stay curious, and automate everything!

— Harsha Kumarasingha