How Can I Build a Docker/K8s Setup That Mimics a Real SaaS Environment?

Check out the microservices-demo on GitHub by Google Cloud Platform. It's a fantastic resource that mimics a live application—it’s perfect for training. I’ve used it for onboarding team members and testing technologies, and it’s a solid reflection of real-world applications.

Most Kubernetes setups in the industry are managed services, so I recommend you start with a cloud provider like AWS. Try to establish your environment using their managed Kubernetes service. You can explore the Quarkus Super Heroes project on GitHub; it's a great 'real' project to deploy. Combine that with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Terraform or Pulumi. Once you’re comfortable, dive into GitOps with tools like Flux or Argo. Eventually, try managing your own Kubernetes infrastructure with something like Talos.

If you're looking to set up something that resembles a real environment, I suggest learning how to manage secrets in your Terraform deployments. Start by deploying a simple Docker-based Python ETL process in a corporate-style Kubernetes environment. An open-source solution like OpenBao for managing secrets would be helpful. You could try to set up Kubernetes with Terraform, integrate it with something like HashiCorp Vault, and then deploy a sample Docker image, like WordPress, ensuring that no usernames or passwords are hardcoded in your Dockerfile.