Master production-grade DevOps practices through hands-on labs. Build, containerize, deploy, monitor, and scale applications using industry-standard tools.
- Fork this repository
- Clone your fork locally
- Start with Lab 1 and progress sequentially
- Submit PRs for each lab (details below)
| Week | Lab | Topic | Key Technologies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Web Application Development | Python/Go, Best Practices |
| 2 | 2 | Containerization | Docker, Multi-stage Builds |
| 3 | 3 | Continuous Integration | GitHub Actions, Snyk |
| 4 | 4 | Infrastructure as Code | Terraform, Cloud Providers |
| 5 | 5 | Configuration Management | Ansible Basics |
| 6 | 6 | Continuous Deployment | Ansible Advanced |
| 7 | 7 | Logging | Promtail, Loki, Grafana |
| 8 | 8 | Monitoring | Prometheus, Grafana |
| 9 | 9 | Kubernetes Basics | Minikube, Deployments, Services |
| 10 | 10 | Helm Charts | Templating, Hooks |
| 11 | 11 | Secrets Management | K8s Secrets, HashiCorp Vault |
| 12 | 12 | Configuration & Storage | ConfigMaps, PVCs |
| 13 | 13 | GitOps | ArgoCD |
| 14 | 14 | Progressive Delivery | Argo Rollouts |
| 15 | 15 | StatefulSets | Persistent Storage, Headless Services |
| 16 | 16 | Cluster Monitoring | Kube-Prometheus, Init Containers |
| — | Exam Alternative Labs | ||
| 17 | 17 | Edge Deployment | Fly.io, Global Distribution |
| 18 | 18 | Decentralized Storage | 4EVERLAND, IPFS, Web3 |
| Component | Weight | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Labs (16 required) | 80% | 160 pts |
| Final Exam | 20% | 40 pts |
| Bonus Tasks | Extra | +40 pts max |
| Total | 100% | 200 pts |
Don't want to take the exam? Complete both bonus labs:
| Lab | Topic | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Lab 17 | Fly.io Edge Deployment | 20 pts |
| Lab 18 | 4EVERLAND & IPFS | 20 pts |
Requirements:
- Complete both labs (17 + 18 = 40 pts, replaces exam)
- Minimum 16/20 on each lab
- Deadline: 1 week before exam date
- Can still take exam if you need more points for desired grade
📊 Grade Scale
| Grade | Points | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| A | 180-200+ | 90-100% |
| B | 150-179 | 75-89% |
| C | 120-149 | 60-74% |
| D | 0-119 | 0-59% |
Minimum to Pass: 120 points (60%)
📈 Grade Examples
Scenario 1: Labs + Exam
Labs: 16 × 9 = 144 pts
Bonus: 5 labs × 2.5 = 12.5 pts
Exam: 35/40 pts
Total: 191.5 pts = 96% (A)
Scenario 2: Labs + Exam Alternative
Labs: 16 × 9 = 144 pts
Bonus: 8 labs × 2.5 = 20 pts
Lab 17: 18 pts
Lab 18: 17 pts
Total: 199 pts = 99.5% (A)
Each lab is worth 10 points (main tasks) + 2.5 points (bonus).
- Minimum passing score: 6/10 per lab
- Late submissions: Max 6/10 (within 1 week)
- Very late (>1 week): Not accepted
📋 Lab Categories
Foundation (Labs 1-2)
- Web app development
- Docker containerization
CI/CD & Infrastructure (Labs 3-4)
- GitHub Actions
- Terraform
Configuration Management (Labs 5-6)
- Ansible playbooks and roles
Observability (Labs 7-8)
- Loki logging stack
- Prometheus monitoring
Kubernetes Core (Labs 9-12)
- K8s basics, Helm
- Secrets, ConfigMaps
Advanced Kubernetes (Labs 13-16)
- ArgoCD, Argo Rollouts
- StatefulSets, Monitoring
Exam Alternative (Labs 17-18)
- Fly.io, 4EVERLAND/IPFS
# 1. Create branch
git checkout -b lab1
# 2. Complete lab tasks
# 3. Commit and push
git add .
git commit -m "Complete lab1"
git push -u origin lab1
# 4. Create TWO Pull Requests:
# PR #1: your-fork:lab1 → course-repo:master
# PR #2: your-fork:lab1 → your-fork:master📝 Submission Checklist
- All main tasks completed
- Documentation files created
- Screenshots where required
- Code tested and working
- Markdown validated (linter)
- Both PRs created
🛠️ Required Tools
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Git | Version control |
| Docker | Containerization |
| kubectl | Kubernetes CLI |
| Helm | K8s package manager |
| Minikube | Local K8s cluster |
| Terraform | Infrastructure as Code |
| Ansible | Configuration management |
📚 Documentation Links
Core:
CI/CD:
Observability:
Advanced:
💡 Tips for Success
- Start early - Don't wait until deadline
- Read instructions fully before starting
- Test everything before submitting
- Document as you go - Don't leave it for the end
- Ask questions early - Don't wait until last minute
- Use proper Git workflow - Branches, commits, PRs
🔧 Common Issues
Docker:
- Daemon not running → Start Docker Desktop
- Permission denied → Add user to docker group
Minikube:
- Won't start → Try
--driver=docker - Resource issues → Allocate more memory/CPU
Kubernetes:
- ImagePullBackOff → Check image name/registry
- CrashLoopBackOff → Check logs:
kubectl logs <pod>
After completing all 16 core labs (+ optional Labs 17-18), you'll have:
✅ Full-stack DevOps expertise ✅ Production-ready portfolio with 16-18 projects ✅ Container and Kubernetes mastery ✅ CI/CD pipeline experience ✅ Infrastructure as Code skills ✅ Monitoring and observability knowledge ✅ GitOps workflow experience
Ready to begin? Start with Lab 1!
Questions? Check the course Moodle page or ask during office hours.