DevOps-Skills-Pathway

A development journal and performance accountability log

August 1st - January 1st

What to prioritize (from your libraries)

Linux + Git (weeks 1–3)

• ZTM DevOps Bootcamp: Learn Linux & Become a Linux Sysadmin (Linux sections)
• ZTM Bash Scripting: Learn Shell Scripting
• Learning Git (O’Reilly) quick-read to support daily Git flow

Python for automation (weeks 2–5)

• 100 Days of Code – Python → do Days 1–20 only (fundamentals, files, CLI).
• ZTM Python Automation Bootcamp (Work Smarter) for DevOps-style scripts.

Containers & CI/CD (weeks 4–7)

• Udemy Python REST APIs with Flask, Docker, MongoDB & AWS DevOps (use to create the app you’ll ship)
• ZTM DevOps Bootcamp: Terraform (do Docker intro module if present)
• Docker docs + Docker: Up & Running (3e) Ch. 1–6 for depth
• GitHub Actions basics (free docs) to build/test/push

Cloud + IaC (weeks 6–11)

• Stephane Maarek AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate (you’re 100%—use as reference)
• Stephane Maarek AWS Certified Developer Associate (skim the services you’ll use: IAM, S3, EC2/ECS, CloudWatch, Lambda)
• Terraform: Up & Running (3e) Ch. 1–4 → modules/state/workspaces
• Deploy via Terraform + GitHub OIDC

Kubernetes (weeks 10–13)

• Kubernetes: Up & Running (3e) Ch. 1–6
• Local kind/k3d cluster, manifests, then Helm

Config mgmt & hardening (weeks 12–15)

• Ansible: Up & Running (3e) basics (inventory, roles)
• Learning DevSecOps + add Trivy image & IaC scans to CI
• Web Application Security → read OWASP-related chapters

Interview polish (weeks 16–18)

• Revisit Stephane Maarek DOP-C02 DevOps Engineer Professional exam guide & practice tests only (don’t deep-dive the whole course now). Use it to shape interview answers and vocabulary.

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What to defer (for now)

• CompTIA Net+, Sec+ practice sets (good later, not required for entry DevOps).
• AWS ML/Bedrock/Machine Learning tracks.
• Network Programmability & Automation (Cisco-heavy; revisit post-hire).
• Full 100 Days of Python past Day 20.

Save some ideas for the rest of us—this restraint is elite. 💅

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Skill → Course mapping (quick lookup)

• Linux/Bash: ZTM Linux Bootcamp; ZTM Bash Scripting.
• Git/GitHub: Learning Git + daily commits/PRs.
• Python automation: 100 Days (1–20), ZTM Python Automation.
• Docker/Compose: Docker: Up & Running + Flask app course.
• CI/CD: GitHub Actions (lint/test/build/push; later Terraform plan/apply).
• AWS core: Maarek SAA & DVA lectures (service overviews + hands-on).
• IaC: Terraform: Up & Running + ZTM Terraform.
• Kubernetes: Kubernetes: Up & Running + kind/Helm labs.
• Config mgmt: Ansible: Up & Running (one host role).
• Security: Learning DevSecOps, Web App Security + Trivy, pre-commit, OIDC.

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Aug–Dec weekly path (18 weeks)

Wk 1–2 (Aug) – Linux/Git setup

• ZTM Linux modules + Bash scripting basics.
• Daily Git: branch → commit → PR → merge.
• Output: lab-notes repo + dotfiles.

Wk 3–4 – Python foundations → automation

• 100 Days (1–20).
• Automate: log rotation, CSV→JSON, simple CLI.
• Output: devops-utils repo.

Wk 5–6 – Dockerize an app & CI

• Build Flask (or FastAPI) health service.
• Dockerfile + docker-compose; push to Docker Hub.
• GitHub Actions: lint/test/build/push on tag.
• KubeCraft: container challenge.

Wk 7–9 (Sept) – Terraform + AWS deploy

• Terraform Up & Running Ch.1–4.
• Provision VPC, EC2, S3, DynamoDB (state lock).
• OIDC from GitHub Actions to AWS; plan on PR, apply on main.
• Deploy your container to ECS Fargate (simpler than EKS first).

Wk 10–12 (Oct) – Kubernetes fluency

• kind cluster; write Deployment/Service/Ingress + HPA.
• Helm (basic Chart) to package app.
• Output: k8s-app-with-hpa repo + Makefile.

Wk 13–14 – Ansible + host bootstrap

• Inventory, role to harden Ubuntu (users, ufw, Docker, fail2ban).
• Use Ansible to prep an EC2 box; compare with Terraform user_data.

Wk 15–16 (Nov) – DevSecOps

• Add Trivy (image + IaC scans) to CI, pre-commit hooks, secret scanning.
• Tighten IAM least-priv for OIDC; add CloudWatch logs/alarms.

Wk 17–18 (Dec) – Portfolio + interviews

• Polish 3 repos (Docker template, Terraform infra, K8s app).
• 2–3 short demo videos.
• Mock interview with Jeff; apply to 5–10 roles.

Cadence: Mon-Thu learn/build (90+90), Fri ship, Sat 2–3h project, Sun retro & plan.

Validation each month: 1 KubeCraft task + mentor review.

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Minimal project set (what you’ll show recruiters)

1. docker-fastapi-template — app, tests, Compose, CI build/push.
2. terraform-aws-foundations — VPC/EC2/ECS/S3, remote state, OIDC CI.
3. k8s-app-with-hpa — manifests/Helm, Ingress, HPA, Makefile.
4. ansible-linux-bootstrap — secure base role.

Each README: diagram, “how to run,” CI badges, security section, and costs note.

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