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A few years back, I was stuck in a dead-end Linux support role, working night shifts, with no growth. After 9 years of experience, I was making peanuts for salary, and my health was deteriorating, and had no social life. I watched my college mates climb the success ladder while I remained trapped in my comfort zone.
But everything changed when I decided to make the switch to DevOps. Within 4–5 months of focused learning, I landed a role with a 3X salary increase. The transformation wasn’t just professional, it was personal. I got my life back, my confidence returned, and I finally found work that challenged and excited me.
Today, I want to share the exact roadmap that made this transformation possible. This isn’t just another generic “learn these tools” post — it’s a realistic, battle-tested path that helped me break into DevOps without any prior experience in the field.
What is DevOps?
DevOps in simple words, is a methodology that organizations follow to combine their development and operations teams into one unified team. This way both teams work together to develop and deploy applications efficiently.
DevOps is an umbrella term that includes a variety of tools used to automate the processes of developing and deploying applications. One of the main benefits of DevOps is that by automating these processes, it becomes less time-consuming and less prone to errors compared to manual methods. This automation leads to a shorter Time to Market (TTM), making it ideal for fast-growing companies.
What Difficulties Will You Face (And How to Overcome Them)?
Let me be honest about the challenges you’ll encounter:
Too Many Resources The biggest problem isn’t finding tutorials — it’s choosing which ones to follow! There are thousands of courses, blogs, and videos. You’ll waste weeks just deciding what to learn, getting more confused instead of making progress.
Bad Roadmaps Everywhere Most learning paths online are either too simple (“just learn Docker!”) or way too complex (listing 50+ tools). You need a realistic roadmap that fits your beginner level and busy schedule.
Trying to Learn Everything at Once You’ll want to learn Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, and Terraform all at the same time. This jumping around leads to shallow knowledge and burnout. Focus on one thing at a time.
Tool Overload and LinkedIn Noise You’ll see people on LinkedIn talking about the “latest and greatest” tools every week. Don’t fall for this trap. Focus on core fundamentals and master the essential tools first. Ignore the noise and keep things simple — you don’t need 20 tools to be successful.
Feeling Overwhelmed DevOps has tons of tools and confusing terms. You’ll feel lost sometimes. Don’t worry — even experienced engineers feel this way. It’s normal and gets better with time.
The Complete 6-Month DevOps Roadmap
This roadmap is designed to take you from complete beginner to job-ready DevOps engineer. Each month builds on the previous one, creating a solid foundation before adding complexity.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
Month 1: Foundation Skills — Linux, Networking, Shell Scripting, and Git
Week 1–2: Linux Fundamentals Linux forms the backbone of most DevOps infrastructure. Start by learning essential command-line skills that you’ll use daily as a DevOps engineer.
Key Skills to Master:
- File and directory management (ls, cd, mkdir, rm, cp, mv)
- File permissions and ownership (chmod, chown, umask)
- Process management (ps, top, htop, kill, jobs)
- System monitoring (df, du, free, uptime, iostat)
- Text processing tools (grep, awk, sed, cut, sort, uniq)
- Package management (apt, yum, rpm)
Week 3: Networking Fundamentals Understanding networking is crucial for troubleshooting and designing scalable systems.
Essential Networking Concepts:
- IP addressing and subnetting (IPv4, IPv6)
- OSI model and TCP/IP stack
- DNS resolution and configuration
- Network diagnostic tools (ping, traceroute, netstat, ss)
- Firewalls and security groups
- Load balancing concepts
Week 4: Shell Scripting and Git Automation through scripting and version control are fundamental DevOps skills.
Shell Scripting Skills:
- Variables and environment variables
- Control structures (if/else, loops, case statements)
- Functions and script organization
- Error handling and exit codes
- Cron jobs and task scheduling
Git Version Control:
- Repository initialization and cloning
- Basic commands (add, commit, push, pull, status)
- Branching strategies and merging
- Conflict resolution
- GitHub workflows and collaboration
Month 2: Cloud Platforms and Containerization
Week 1–2: AWS Cloud Fundamentals Focus on one major cloud platform to build deep expertise. AWS leads the market, making it the best choice for beginners.
Core AWS Services:
- EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) for virtual servers
- VPC (Virtual Private Cloud) for networking
- S3 (Simple Storage Service) for object storage
- IAM (Identity and Access Management) for security
- RDS (Relational Database Service) for managed databases
- Load Balancers (ALB, NLB) for traffic distribution
- Auto Scaling Groups for elasticity
- CloudWatch for monitoring and logging
Week 3–4: Docker Containerization Containers revolutionized application deployment by providing consistent environments across different stages.
Docker Fundamentals:
- Container vs virtual machine concepts
- Docker architecture and components
- Image creation and management
- Dockerfile best practices and optimization
- Container networking and volumes
- Registry management (Docker Hub, ECR)
Resource: Everything You Need To Know About Docker
Docker Compose:
- Multi-container application orchestration
- Service definitions and networking
- Environment variables and secrets management
- Volume mounting and data persistence
Resource: Run Multi-Container Applications With Docker Compose
Month 3: Infrastructure as Code and CI/CD Automation
Week 1–2: Terraform for Infrastructure as Code Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is what separates junior DevOps engineers from senior professionals.
Terraform Essentials:
- Terraform (HCL) syntax
- Providers and resource management
- State management and remote backends
- Variables, outputs, and data sources
- Modules for reusable infrastructure
Week 3: GitHub Actions for CI/CD Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment automate the software delivery pipeline.
CI/CD Pipeline Components:
- Workflow triggers and events
- Jobs, steps, and actions
- Matrix builds for multiple environments
- Secrets and environment variables management
- Deployment strategies (rolling, blue-green, canary)
Week 4: AWS ECS Container Orchestration Learn container orchestration without the complexity of Kubernetes initially.
ECS Fundamentals:
- Cluster management and capacity providers
- Task definitions and service configurations
- Service discovery and load balancing
- Auto-scaling policies and strategies
Let Me Teach You Running Containers On AWS ECS in 10 minutes
Month 4: Kubernetes Ecosystem and Advanced Orchestration
Week 1: Kubernetes Fundamentals Kubernetes is the industry standard for container orchestration at scale.
Stop Over-Complicating Kubernetes: This is How You Should Actually Learn It
Core Kubernetes Concepts:
- Cluster architecture (master nodes, worker nodes, etcd)
- Pods, Deployments, and ReplicaSets
- Services and Ingress controllers
- ConfigMaps and Secrets for configuration
- Persistent Volumes and Storage Classes
- Namespaces for resource isolation
- RBAC (Role-Based Access Control)
Week 2: Advanced Kubernetes Features
- StatefulSets for stateful applications
- DaemonSets for node-level services
- Jobs and CronJobs for batch processing
- Horizontal Pod Autoscaling (HPA)
- Network policies for traffic control
Week 3: Monitoring with Prometheus and Grafana Observability is crucial for maintaining reliable systems at scale.
Prometheus Monitoring:
- Metrics collection and storage
- Service discovery configuration
- Alert rules and notification routing
Grafana Visualization:
- Dashboard creation and templating
- Panel types and visualization options
- Alert management and notification channels
Week 4: GitOps with ArgoCD and Helm GitOps represents the future of deployment automation.
ArgoCD Implementation:
- GitOps principles and workflows
- Application definitions and sync policies
- Multi-cluster management
- Progressive delivery strategies
Helm Package Management:
- Chart structure and templating
- Values files and environment customization
- Chart repositories and distribution
Month 5: Python Automation and Event-Driven Architecture
Week 1–2: Python for DevOps Automation Python is the preferred language for DevOps automation due to its simplicity and extensive library ecosystem.
Python DevOps Essentials:
- Python fundamentals for automation
- Working with APIs and JSON data
- Error handling and logging best practices
- AWS SDK (boto3) for cloud automation
- Infrastructure automation scripts
Week 2: AWS Lambda and Serverless Architecture Serverless computing eliminates infrastructure management overhead.
- Stop Procrastinating And Learn Serverless With AWS Lambda Today
- Learn AWS Lambda by Solving a $1M Security Problem
Lambda Fundamentals:
- Function creation and deployment
- Event sources and triggers
- Environment variables and configuration
- Performance optimization and cold starts
Event-Driven Architecture:
- Amazon SQS for message queuing
- Amazon SNS for pub/sub messaging
- Amazon EventBridge for event routing
Week 3–4: Advanced Serverless Patterns
- Step Functions for workflow orchestration
- API Gateway integration
- Cost optimization strategies
Month 6: Real-World Projects and Job Preparation
This final month focuses on building a portfolio of projects that demonstrate your ability to solve real business problems.
The 5 Portfolio Projects That Will Get You Hired:
- Automated Infrastructure Monitoring and Alerting System
- Multi-Environment Infrastructure with GitOps Automation
- Containerized Microservices Platform
- Event-Driven Serverless Data Processing Pipeline
- DevSecOps Pipeline with Compliance Automation
Job Preparation Strategies:
- Resume optimization with quantified achievements
- GitHub portfolio development with clean, documented repositories
- Interview preparation focusing on scenario-based questions
- Networking and community engagement
Here are some of the best resources to start your Devops journey.
The Mental Framework for Success
Months 1–3: Master One Tool at a Time Don’t try to be clever by learning multiple tools simultaneously. Your brain needs time to create neural pathways for each new concept. Focus intensely on one tool until it feels natural, then move to the next.
Months 4–5: Start Mixing Tools for Projects Now that you have a solid foundation, start combining tools. Build projects that use Docker + AWS, or Terraform + Kubernetes. This is where the magic happens — you’ll understand how tools work together.
Month 6: Complex Projects and Interview Prep Build impressive projects that solve real business problems. Practice explaining your work to others. Prepare for technical interviews by understanding not just how to use tools, but why you chose them.
How to Trick Your Mind to Learn Without Getting Overwhelmed
- Some days you’ll feel like a genius, other days like you know nothing. Both feelings are normal and part of the process. The key is showing up consistently, even when motivation is low.
- Don’t get overwhelmed by the vast ecosystem of tools and technologies. Instead, focus on one thing at a time, build consistently, and trust the process.
- When learning feels impossible and your brain feels like it’s going to explode, take a break. Watch Netflix, go for a walk, sleep on it. Come back the next day or after a few days, and suddenly that “impossible” concept will click.
Remember, for the first 3 months, resist the urge to overthink or jump between tools. Master the fundamentals. In months 4–5, start mixing tools in real projects. Month 6 is about building impressive portfolio pieces and preparing for interviews.
Conclusion
Your current situation, whether it’s a dead-end job, low salary, or lack of career growth. It will remain the same unless you take action. The path I’ve shared isn’t easy, but it’s proven. I’ve walked it, and so have hundreds of others.
If you change nothing, nothing will change.
Connect with me:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akhilesh-mishra-0ab886124/
- Twitter: https://x.com/livingdevops