AWS
The beginner roadmap. Start from zero and learn DevOps on AWS, from your first account to automated, monitored infrastructure.
Roadmap
Work through these in order. Each step builds on the last.
1Foundations
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Linux basics
Most servers run Linux. Learn to move around the terminal, edit files, manage permissions and read logs.
Linux Journey The Linux Command Line (book) Go deeper: Linux path →
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Networking basics
IP addresses, ports, DNS and HTTP. Enough to understand how a request reaches your server.
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Git basics
Commits, branches and pushing to a remote repo. Every project from here lives in Git.
2Your cloud
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Set up AWS safely
Create your account, turn on MFA, make an admin user and set a budget alert, so there are no surprise bills.
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Core AWS services
IAM, S3, EC2 and VPC. Just enough to know what each one is for and how they fit together.
3Build
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Your first cloud project
Put your resume online on AWS, add a visitor counter, and deploy it with code. It's a gentle first taste of Terraform and CI/CD before you go deeper.
Project 01: The Cloud Resume Challenge on AWS The Cloud Resume Challenge Hosting a static website on S3
4Automate
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Infrastructure as code with Terraform
Create AWS resources from code instead of clicking through the console, so you can rebuild everything in minutes.
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Configure servers with Ansible
Launch EC2 instances with Terraform, then install and configure software on them with Ansible playbooks.
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Containers with Docker
Package an app into a container so it runs the same on your laptop and on AWS.
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CI/CD pipelines
Build, test and deploy automatically on every push, so changes go live without manual steps.
5Operate
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Observability with CloudWatch
Metrics, logs, dashboards and alarms, so you know when something needs attention.
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Optional: get certified
Cloud Practitioner is a gentle first AWS exam. Solutions Architect Associate is the one employers ask for most.
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
Projects
Resources
Free
- Linux Journey
Short, friendly lessons on the Linux command line, made for beginners.
- The Linux Command Line (book)
A free, complete book on the terminal. Dip into chapters as you need them.
- Learn Git Branching
Interactive, visual Git practice in the browser. The best way to understand branches.
- Pro Git (book)
The free official Git book. Read chapters 2 and 3 first.
- AWS Free Tier
What you can use for free, and for how long. Check it before you create anything.
- AWS Budgets guide
How to set a budget and get an email before you spend more than you planned.
- AWS Skill Builder
AWS's own training site. Many beginner courses are free.
- The Cloud Resume Challenge
The original challenge by Forrest Brazeal. Project 01 is a beginner walkthrough of it on AWS.
- Hosting a static website on S3
The official guide for part 1 of Project 01.
- Terraform: Get started with AWS
Official hands-on tutorial. Build, change and destroy AWS resources with code.
- Ansible: Getting started
The official introduction: inventories, playbooks and your first automation.
- GitLab CI/CD quick start
Official guide to your first pipeline.
- What is Amazon CloudWatch?
AWS's built-in monitoring: metrics, logs, dashboards and alarms.
- Docker: Get started
Official introduction to images and containers.
Paid
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
The beginner AWS exam. Good for proving you know the basics.
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
The AWS certification employers ask for most. Take it after a few projects.