The development team is responsible for the production of products, from collecting raw materials to giving the final touches to the end product. They take care of all aspects of production. The operational team, on the other hand, has to handle the maintenance of the product. In any organization, both departments have to work together to ensure the smooth development and management of the product. That’s what DevOps is about.
The collaboration between the production and operation teams ensures quick and hassle-free delivery of the apps, software, and services to the end users.
According to Fortune Business Insights, the DevOps market is expected to grow at a rapid pace, reaching a market value of $14.9 billion by the end of 2026. If you are planning to build a career in this field, this article will help. Below we have mentioned the steps to becoming a successful DevOps engineer in 2022-2023. But before that, let’s see what a DevOps engineer does.
What is a DevOps Engineer?
A DevOps engineer understands the software development cycle and plays a key role in its management. They know why the organization has to switch from the older version to the latest, how that can be done, and what were the shortcomings of the previous model. They are also familiar with the automation tool to manage the CI/CD pipeline. There are several stages in the software development cycle. It starts with planning, where you write a detailed algorithm, which is later turned into a product.
Then, there’s a testing stage where the DevOps engineer is responsible for checking the product for bugs. The last is the deployment stage, where you launch your product to the end users. Lately, there has been a new stage introduced to the software development lifecycle — continuous monitoring of the product to ensure it offers a seamless experience to the user and updating it every now and then to improve its functionality.
A DevOps engineer handles the monitoring part more than other phases of production, as that one requires observation and updates. They are responsible for fixing any new bugs, updating the older version, adding features that result in excellent user experience, and so on. This helps in retaining your existing clients and building a new audience base for your product. They work with the production and operation team to launch and deploy a high-quality product as quickly as possible.
Steps to Becoming a DevOps Engineer
A successful DevOps engineer has at least tertiary education in a course relevant to software development and computer science. They also get certifications in this industry to increase their chances of landing a high-paying job. Here’s what you need.
Step 1: Complete your Bachelor’s degree in computer science and other similar industries that give you extensive knowledge of programming, application development, and software testing. Alternatively, you can sign up for short courses that give you practical knowledge of the subject with certification.
Step 2: Although it isn’t mandatory, a postgraduate study can help advance your career as a DevOps engineer. You should also consider industry certifications, like PMI Agile Certified Practitioner.
Step 3: Work as an intern under a professional DevOps engineer to learn more about the ins and outs of this job. You can get your first job after completing DevOps training.
An important part of becoming a DevOps engineer is acquiring the right skills. Here’s a brief on some basic skills required in this industry.
Programming Knowledge
A DevOps engineer knows programming languages. You can master any language from Python, Ruby, C++, Perl, etc. Not only will it help you during the production stage, but a knowledge of the scripting or programming language is required to debug a program or update the current model.
DevOps is all about automating tasks, which can be done through coding. For example, Ansible helps in the deployment of apps, but you need to learn Python to work with it. In addition, a DevOps engineer needs knowledge of Linux Commands Line, such as Linux Shell and Networking Commands.
Source Code
Source code or the version control system helps keep your projects organized. You can choose from Git, Github, CVS, and Mercurial. It’s best to start with Git, as it can help you monitor changes in your current source code, no matter how big the project is. For developers working remotely and based in various locations, the knowledge of version control systems is necessary to track the changes others have made in the program. That helps multiple developers work together.
Application Testing and Deployment
Your job isn’t over with application development. A DevOps engineer has to monitor the application through every stage to ensure it’s bug-free and running smoothly. Once the development part is over, you must hand the application to the QA teams for testing. You can also do the job on your own. The knowledge of configuration tools is also important to deploy the application successfully. If you are developing an app for public use, you must launch it in the beta version before the final release.
Cloud Providers
Cloud computing is a necessary skill regardless of the field you are in. Most businesses have shifted from physical storage to the cloud, as it’s a more reliable, safer, and scalable solution. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the best cloud provider and offers cloud solutions at a comparatively cheaper rate than other cloud services. The knowledge of cloud computing is essential for aspiring DevOps engineers.
Prerequisites and Qualifications
Companies require a DevOps engineer specializing in various programming languages, version control systems, and configuration management tools. It’s better if you have worked with cloud computing services. A certification in this field will prove your training and knowledge in DevOps. Although a bachelor’s degree in computer science isn’t mandatory, especially if you are switching your stream, it can give you a good start. In addition, a professional DevOps engineer stays up-to-date with the latest trends in DevOps.
