Beginner DevOps

DevOps is overwhelming because the internet won’t shut up.

As a beginner DevOps engineer, you’ll feel like you’re behind.

Because every week there’s:

  • a new tool
  • a new “platform”
  • a new best practice
  • and a new influencer telling you you’re doing it wrong

Here’s the reality:

You don’t need to know everything. You need a foundation that survives tool churn.

Below is the foundation in the order I’d learn it.

1) Version control (Git) - non-negotiable

If you can’t work comfortably with Git, you’re playing on hard mode.

Learn to:

  • branch and rebase without fear
  • open PRs that are readable
  • resolve conflicts without panicking
  • write commits that explain intent

If it isn’t in version control, it doesn’t exist.

2) Scripting + automation — make the computer do the boring parts

DevOps is automation. Not meetings.

Pick one scripting language and get dangerous:

  • bash for glue
  • Python for real automation
  • PowerShell if you live in Windows land

Start automating:

  • environment setup
  • deploy steps
  • log collection
  • repeated “runbook” commands

If you do something twice, automate it the third time.

3) CI/CD — pipelines are your factory line

Don’t worship a specific tool.

Understand the primitives:

  • build
  • test
  • package
  • deploy
  • promote
  • rollback

Then learn one CI system end-to-end (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins — whatever your world uses).

Pipelines don’t guarantee quality. They guarantee consistency.

4) Cloud fundamentals — learn one cloud deeply

Pick AWS/Azure/GCP and stop bouncing.

Learn:

  • networking basics (VPC/VNet, subnets, routes)
  • IAM (least privilege, roles, policies)
  • compute + storage fundamentals
  • monitoring/logging basics

Cloud is just someone else’s computer.

But the blast radius is bigger.

5) Infrastructure as Code — treat infra like software

Terraform/CloudFormation/etc. are just ways to make changes repeatable.

Practice:

  • plan/apply discipline
  • modularization
  • state management
  • safe rollouts

ClickOps scales until the first audit or outage.

6) Collaboration + communication — your superpower is clarity

The best DevOps engineers don’t just “fix it.”

They:

  • write clear incident updates
  • make runbooks usable
  • teach others how the system works
  • reduce future pages

Use tools like Jira/Slack, sure — but the real skill is:

Explain what’s happening, what you’re doing, and what good looks like.

Final rule

Don’t chase the “tool of the week.”

Chase fundamentals:

  • versioning
  • automation
  • safe deployments
  • observability
  • recovery

Everything else is implementation detail.

FAQ

Q: How long does it take to become a junior DevOps engineer?

A: With focused study, 6-12 months is realistic for someone with an IT background (sysadmin, support, or networking). Complete beginners should expect 12-18 months. The key is hands-on practice: build projects, break things, and document what you learn. Certifications help, but practical experience matters more.

Q: Do I need a computer science degree to get started in DevOps?

A: No. While a CS degree helps, many successful DevOps engineers come from non-traditional backgrounds: system administration, technical support, network operations, or even career changers. What matters is understanding systems, troubleshooting skills, and the ability to automate. A strong GitHub portfolio demonstrating real projects often outweighs formal credentials.

Q: Which cloud provider should I learn first as a beginner?

A: AWS has the largest market share and most job opportunities, making it a safe default choice. However, if your local market or target companies use Azure or GCP, start there. The concepts transfer between clouds: focus on understanding VPCs, IAM, compute, and storage deeply in one provider before spreading yourself thin.