Digest #145: SQLite on Rails, Nim vs. Python, Faster Cloud Provisioning, and Zero-Downtime AWS Deployments
Nginx logging tips, recovering AWS EKS roles, and optimizing Azure Functions. Plus, insights into Kubernetes security, lightweight dev environments, and the latest DevOps tools.
Welcome to this week’s edition of the DevOps Bulletin!
Curious why some developers are using Nim instead of Python for data processing. Or how to set up cloud infrastructure faster (but maybe not the right way)? We also break down Kubernetes in a way that’s easy to understand, especially for beginners. Plus, we’ll walk you through recovering from accidentally deleting AWS roles and how Azure’s tools can help find security issues in Kubernetes.
We’ve also got tutorials on customizing Nginx logs, using Python virtual environments in Docker, and how to achieve zero-downtime deployments on AWS.
On top of that, check out cool new DevOps projects like Tfreveal for better Terraform insights, TinyStatus for simple status monitoring, and more.
Newsworthy Stories
Understanding Kubernetes
This series is designed to make Kubernetes easier to grasp, especially for beginners, by sketching to explain new features visually.
Tutorials of the week
Nginx Logging - A Comprehensive Guide: Learn how to customize Nginx logs, structure them in JSON, and use Better Stack for centralized log management.
Using Python Virtual Environments in Docker: Virtual environments bring predictable structure, ease of use, and simplify import management, making Python apps easier to deploy and debug.
Git Bash: My Preferred Windows Shell: Tips on managing Git for Windows, configuring Mintty, and optimizing the shell for scripting and command-line tasks.
Oops, I Deleted the AWS Auth Roles: A detailed story of recovering from accidentally deleting AWS EKS roles, with lessons learned for cluster management.
Azure Native Tools to Hunt Kubernetes Security Issues: Explore how to use Azure’s tools, like Defender for Containers and XDR Portal, to detect Kubernetes security issues like container binary drift.
Tips to Optimize and Secure Azure Functions: Key strategies for choosing the right hosting plan, following Azure best practices, and securing functions with RBAC and HTTPS.
A Guide to Kubernetes Network Policies: An overview of Kubernetes network policies with a focus on Layer 4 and Layer 7 controls.
Building Lightweight Kubernetes Dev Ephemeral Environments: A tutorial on using Kardinal, an open-source framework for creating lightweight dev environments in Kubernetes.
Zero Downtime Deployment in AWS with Tofu: Learn how to achieve zero-downtime deployments in AWS using tools like OpenTofu, Terraform, Ansible, and AWS SAM.
Cron Jobs on Linux: A deep dive into scheduling tasks using cron jobs on Ubuntu and RockyOS.
Azure Bastion Host: How to deploy Azure Bastion using OpenTofu and Azure CLI, with a comparison to traditional jump servers and insights into security features like MFA and automatic patching.
Projects of the week
Highlighting cool DevOps projects to keep an eye on:
Tfreveal: An open-source tool that enhances Terraform plan visibility by showing all resource and output differences, including sensitive values.
SyncLite: A low-code platform for relational data consolidation, ideal for building data-intensive apps across edge, desktop, and mobile environments.
Flipt: A tool designed to help you separate releases from deployments, with a focus on high-performance engineering teams.
TinyStatus: A simple, customizable status page generator that monitors and displays the status of services on a responsive web page.