Linux for DevOps - The Complete Hands-On Beginner-to-Advanced Guide (Week 1 Series)

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a leading cloud computing platform that provides various services, allowing users to run applications and store data without the need for physical servers. Cloud computing enables users to access remote servers over the internet, which has revolutionized the tech industry by facilitating faster and more cost-effective application launches. AWS offers over 200 services globally, making it a top choice for businesses looking to optimize their operations.

This article explores the performance differences between Quarkus Native Image and Quarkus JVM, focusing on build times, Docker image sizes, startup times, and memory usage. It provides actual measurements from a production-ready application to help developers make informed decisions about which deployment option best suits their needs. Quarkus offers two primary deployment options: Native Image, compiled ahead-of-time with GraalVM, and Traditional JVM, which runs on the Java Virtual Machine. Each option has its strengths depending on specific requirements.

Windows Server 2022 is Microsoft's latest server operating system, designed for enterprise workloads, enhanced security, and hybrid cloud integration. Deploying it on Azure offers a fast, scalable, and cost-effective method for running server-based applications without the need for physical infrastructure. This lab teaches users how to create a Windows Server 2022 Datacenter VM in Azure, configure remote access via RDP, and install IIS to host a simple web page. This hands-on exercise is ideal for IT professionals and developers interested in exploring server roles and Azure's capabilities.

In recent years, DevOps process automation has evolved beyond traditional scripts, pipelines, and IaC tools. With advancements in generative models and the integration of intelligent agents with development tools, we are entering a new era: DevOps powered by Autonomous Agents. Central to this transformation is the MCP — Model Context Protocol, along with platforms like Amazon Q Developer and Amazon Q Apps, which can create agents that connect directly to tool ecosystems, understand context, and execute actions. This article demonstrates how to combine MCP and Amazon Q to create a specialized DevOps Agent capable of automating repetitive tasks, generating IaC, updating pipelines, analyzing infrastructure issues, and orchestrating deployments.

Uriel Alonso presented at AWS Community Day Hong Kong 2025, discussing the Philippines' vulnerability to disasters, which has ranked as one of the most disaster-prone countries for 16 years. The nation faces an average of 20 tropical storms annually, along with floods, earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic events, overwhelming first responders. The presentation emphasized the need for reliable communication during disasters, utilizing tools like real-time situational maps and drone feeds to enhance response efforts.

Managing AWS costs can be challenging, particularly for startups and development teams. Continuous resource operation, oversized instances, and insufficient monitoring often result in unexpected bills. This article presents a practical approach to addressing seven common AWS cost issues through automation and best practices. For instance, to tackle runaway costs from non-production resources running 24/7, it suggests automatically stopping these resources outside business hours and implementing lifecycle policies for S3 data, which can lead to a cost reduction of 30-50%. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of automating cost management using Lambda functions and AWS Budget alerts to minimize manual tracking errors and save time. Overall, the article highlights that it is possible to optimize AWS costs while maintaining infrastructure reliability.

Uriel Alonso spoke at AWS Community Day Hong Kong 2025 about disaster response in the Philippines, a country that has been ranked as one of the most disaster-prone for 16 years. The Philippines faces an average of 20 tropical storms annually, alongside floods, earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic events, which challenge first responders. The solution proposed includes reliable communication methods during disasters, such as real-time situational maps and drone feeds to locate victims and assess damage.

The article discusses the complexities of building CI/CD pipelines, emphasizing that they are not merely defined by tools like Jenkins, Git, and Docker. Real-world pipelines involve multiple repositories, branches, environments, and various management strategies, including secrets management and compliance checks. A typical pipeline consists of 20 to 35 steps, contrary to the simplified view of just a few stages. Additionally, it highlights that 90% of the time spent on CI/CD is dedicated to fixing issues rather than writing the pipelines themselves. Common problems include agent downtime, expired tokens, and build failures. The article also stresses the importance of incorporating security measures such as SAST, SCA, and container scans into every pipeline.