Hi everyone! I'm a web developer from Brazil considering a transition toward DevOps. I already have software development experience, but I'm still figuring out what to learn first. I'd appreciate recommendations for key topics, books, video courses, and practical projects that would help someone with a web development background build solid DevOps skills and stay competitive in the job market.
4 Answers
I’d prioritize Linux and networking before jumping into specialized tools. Understand processes, permissions, filesystems, DNS, HTTP, TCP/IP, firewalls, and basic system administration. Once those fundamentals make sense, Docker, cloud services, deployment pipelines, and Kubernetes will be much easier to understand.
Kubernetes is valuable, but starting there can be overwhelming. Learn how applications run on Linux, how networking works, and how containers are built and deployed first. Then use Kubernetes to solve a concrete problem in a small project instead of trying to memorize every feature.
A solid progression is Linux and system administration first, then networking, containers, cloud platforms, and CI/CD. After that, explore Kubernetes and infrastructure as code with tools such as Terraform, Pulumi, or Crossplane. Build and deploy a real project so you can practice IAM, networking, security responsibilities, and automation in a realistic environment. It’s also useful to learn one scripting or programming language such as Python, TypeScript, or Go. Don’t overlook observability either—DevOps is about helping teams deliver quickly while keeping systems stable.
It may help to clarify why you want to move toward DevOps. You don’t necessarily need to leave software development—many engineering roles now expect familiarity with Docker, Kubernetes, and deployment workflows. Learning infrastructure, automation, cloud, and CI/CD can broaden your skills and make you a stronger developer overall.
I’d like to increase my earning potential, but that isn’t the only reason. I also want to broaden my skills and understand infrastructure, automation, CI/CD, cloud platforms, and how systems work as a whole. I enjoy solving technical problems, and I think those areas would make me a better engineer.