The demand for Cloud Computing and DevOps engineers is growing faster than ever. Companies want professionals who can design systems, automate deployments, manage infrastructure and ensure scalability without breaking production.
The good news? You do not need expensive courses or paid bootcamps to get started. With the right roadmap, discipline, and hands-on practice, you can learn Cloud & DevOps completely for free.
Why Most Beginners Fail at Learning Cloud & DevOps
Before we dive into tools, let’s address a hard truth.
Many beginners:
- Jump straight into Kubernetes
- Memorize cloud services without understanding basics
- Watch tutorials but never build projects
Cloud & DevOps is not about tools. it’s about systems thinking, automation, and problem-solving. That’s why this roadmap starts with fundamentals and gradually moves toward advanced topics.
Core Foundations You Must Understand
Before touching AWS, Docker, or Kubernetes, you should be familiar with:
- Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
- Agile & DevOps methodologies
- How applications move from code → build → test → deploy
- Basic Linux system administration (processes, files, permissions)
Skipping fundamentals creates confusion later. Strong basics save months of struggle.Step 1: Programming Essentials for DevOps
DevOps engineers automate everything. That means coding is mandatory — but you don’t need to be a full-stack developer.
What to Learn
- Python basics (variables, loops, functions)
- Bash scripting
- Working with APIs and JSON
Free Resources
- freecodecamp.org → Excellent DevOps-oriented learning paths
- codecademy.com → Interactive Python & Go (free tiers)
Goal: Write scripts to automate tasks instead of doing them manually.Step 2: Networking Fundamentals
Cloud is built on networking. If networking is weak, everything feels complicated.
Key Concepts
- TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP & HTTPS
- Subnets and CIDR blocks
- NAT, firewalls, and load balancers
Free Resources
- netacad.com/networking → Structured networking foundation
- practicalnetworking.net → Real-world explanations with visuals
Pro Tip: Most production issues are networking-related. Master this early.Step 3: Version Control & CI/CD Pipelines
CI/CD is the backbone of DevOps automation.
What to Learn
- Git fundamentals (commit, branch, merge)
- Continuous Integration vs Continuous Deployment
- Writing pipeline YAML files
Free Resources
- githowto.com → Learn Git the right way
- docs.gitlab.com/ee/ci → GitLab CI deep dive
- docs.github.com/actions → GitHub Actions workflows
Practice by creating pipelines that:
- Build applications
- Run tests
- Deploy automatically
Step 4: Containerization – Master Docker First
Containers revolutionized application delivery. But Docker must come before Kubernetes.
What to Learn
- Dockerfiles and image creation
- Container lifecycle
- Volumes and container networking
Free Resources
- docker.com/101-tutorial → Official beginner tutorial
- containerd.io/docs → Learn how containers actually work
- play-with-docker.com → Free playground to experiment
If Docker feels confusing, Kubernetes will feel impossible. Don’t rush.Step 5: Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
Modern infrastructure is not clicked manually — it’s written as code.
Tools to Learn
- Terraform
- Pulumi (optional but powerful)
Free Resources
- terraform.io/tutorials → Official Terraform tutorials
- pulumi.com/tutorials → Modern IaC using real programming languages
- hashicorp.com/terraform → Free workshops
Build infrastructure that can be recreated in minutes.
Step 6: Kubernetes (Learn It at the Right Time )
Kubernetes is powerful — but only after you understand containers and networking.
Core Concepts
- Pods, Deployments, and Services
- ConfigMaps & Secrets
- Scaling and self-healing
Free Resources
- kubernetes.io/docs → Official documentation
- labs.play-with-k8s.com → Free Kubernetes sandbox
- kodekloud.com/free-labs → Real-world Kubernetes labs
Many beginners fail because they start here. Be patient — it pays off.Step 7: Hands-On Practice with GitHub Repositories
Projects turn theory into skill.
Add github.com/ before the repo names:
- bregman-arie/devops-exercises → Must-do DevOps practice questions
- ramangali/Interview_Guide → Step-by-step interview preparation
- NotHarshhaa/DevOps-Projects → Real-world DevOps projects
- tomhuang12/awesome-k8s-resources → Curated Kubernetes resources
Clone, modify, break, and rebuild projects.
Step 8: Cloud Computing Foundations
Now you’re ready for the cloud.
What to Learn
- Compute, storage, and networking services
- Identity & Access Management (IAM)
- Monitoring and cost optimization
Free Resources
- aws.amazon.com/free → AWS Free Tier
- cloud.google.com/free → GCP Free Tier
- azure.microsoft.com/free → Azure Free Tier
- cloudskillsboost.google → Hands-on GCP labs
- aws.training → Free AWS courses
Always track costs. Free tiers are powerful but not unlimited.
What to Do After Learning the Stack
Once you know the tools, focus on career growth:
- Join Cloud & DevOps communities
- Follow industry blogs and podcasts
- Build real-world projects
- Break systems and fix them
- Use free tiers wisely
- Earn certifications only if they add value
Final Thoughts: How to Succeed in Cloud & DevOps
Cloud & DevOps is a marathon, not a sprint.
Consistency beats motivation. Hands-on practice beats tutorials. Fundamentals beat hype.
Follow this roadmap step by step, and you’ll build skills that actually matter in real jobs.
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Devops tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/embed/6pdCcXEh-kw?si=c-aaCzvTeD2mH3Gv
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