Hey everyone! I'm a rising college freshman interning at a small tech/startup focused on infrastructure and DevOps tasks. The guidance I received was to help 'document the infrastructure' and 'make it better,' but I'm really struggling to know where to start.
Today, I attempted to document the S3 structure, but I discovered there's already documentation for it. I'm concerned about repeating what's already there without adding value. I have basic knowledge in Python and a bit about AWS and Linux. However, I'm unfamiliar with a lot of the technologies in use, and honestly, I don't fully grasp what good documentation looks like.
It feels like there's already existing documentation, so I want to contribute in a meaningful way instead of just waiting for someone to tell me what to do. I have admin access to various systems like AWS, EC2, S3, and IAM, so I'm trying to be proactive but I keep hitting a wall. I'd love to hear from anyone who's been in a similar position, especially internships that weren't as structured. What did you do to find your footing?
5 Answers
You can write scripts to improve manual processes. Look for any repetitive tasks that could be automated. This doesn’t just help you gain skills but also makes you a valuable asset to the team.
It's likely that not everything is fully documented. Try doing a deeper scan of the systems and tools in use to find gaps in documentation. If you find that there's actually nothing missing, ask your coworkers about common tasks they do that lack documentation. For improvements, look out for manual workflows that you could automate with scripts or pipelines.
Don't underestimate the power of small improvements. Think of simpler tasks like updating a README or cleaning up unused resources. This shows initiative and will help you understand the infrastructure better. Plus, as you tackle these small wins, you'll begin to gain momentum!
Just be upfront and ask questions! Your team will appreciate your curiosity and desire to improve. Start by asking where they feel documentation and existing systems could use some enhancements. They'll likely have some thoughts on what’s lacking.
I suggest reaching out to your supervisor and asking for clarification on what they meant by 'documenting the infrastructure.' Share what you've found so far in terms of existing documentation and see if they can share specific areas that need more clarity or where problems have come up in the past.
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