As a DevOps Engineer, I'm wondering how crucial it is to have knowledge of databases. Currently, I'm not doing much database work or even much networking, to be honest. While I have a basic understanding of databases like Postgres and MSSQL, I'm curious if I should delve deeper into database knowledge to enhance my skills in my current role. How important is it to really know databases for someone already working in DevOps?
5 Answers
Knowing the essentials is definitely a plus. You should be familiar with automated backups, executing simple migrations, and managing secrets for connections. But don’t worry, there’s no need to master advanced topics like performance tuning or handling massive data sets!
You should aim to know enough to be dangerous but don't stress about being an expert. If you have a DBA team, make sure to build a good relationship with them. Follow their guidelines when it comes to issues and give them a heads-up when possible.
Honestly, if you're involved with both development and operations, being comfortable with databases is pretty essential. If you can’t even handle basic tasks like backups or setups, that's a red flag for your role.
Proceeds to describe something, which is exactly within ops competence.
If you're at a large company, you might not need a ton of database expertise. But if you're in a smaller company, you might find yourself wearing many hats, including being the de facto DBA. It's good to be prepared for that!
*sobs violently wishing that I knew this earlier*
I second this. Ask us how we know.
It never hurts to know a bit about databases—especially in roles where you might have to navigate different areas. If your current job doesn’t offer much experience, think about starting some side projects to get your hands dirty and build skills!
So if he knows how to write wildly inefficient queries and create tables with no indexes, he's good.