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Docker & Kubernetes
63 topics across 6 chapters
Chapter 1
Prerequisites (Linux, networking, YAML)
1
Linux and networking basics for containers
2 subtopics
2
Hands-on: build a mental model of namespaces/cgroups/process trees
3
Hands-on: container networking basics (DNS, ports, routes, iptables concepts)
4
CLI and YAML fundamentals
2 subtopics
5
Hands-on: YAML pitfalls (indentation, lists/maps) + validation workflow
6
Hands-on: write a simple Kubernetes manifest and apply it safely
7
Local lab setup (Docker + local Kubernetes)
2 subtopics
8
Hands-on: install Docker Engine/Desktop and verify build/run works
9
Hands-on: create a local Kubernetes cluster (kind or minikube) and connect kubectl
Chapter 2
Docker Essentials (run, debug, compose)
10
Container fundamentals (what containers are and are not)
2 subtopics
11
Study: images vs containers vs layers; what is stored where
12
Hands-on: inspect isolation (mount/proc/net) from inside and outside a container
13
Docker CLI and core objects (images/containers/volumes/networks)
1 subtopics
14
Hands-on: docker run/exec/logs/inspect + volumes/networks + cleanup (prune)
15
Docker Compose for local multi-service development
1 subtopics
16
Hands-on: build a Compose stack (app + db) with volumes and a private network
Chapter 3
Image Build, Optimization, and Registries
17
Dockerfile authoring and best practices
1 subtopics
18
Hands-on: write a production-minded Dockerfile (non-root user, envs, healthcheck)
19
Image optimization and vulnerability scanning
2 subtopics
20
Hands-on: reduce image size using multi-stage builds + smaller base images
21
Hands-on: scan an image (e.g., Trivy/Grype), prioritize fixes, and rebuild
22
Registries, tagging, and image signing
2 subtopics
23
Hands-on: push to a registry + implement a tagging strategy (semver, latest, sha)
24
Hands-on: sign and verify images (e.g., cosign) and document trust expectations
Chapter 4
Kubernetes Core Concepts and Objects
↗ Container fundamentals (what containers are and are not) (see Chapter 2)
25
Kubernetes architecture and the API model
2 subtopics
26
Study: control plane components (API server, scheduler, controllers, etcd) and roles
27
Hands-on: explore the API (kubectl explain, api-resources, get/describe) on your cluster
28
kubectl and manifests (declarative workflows)
1 subtopics
29
Hands-on: declarative workflow (apply, diff, rollout status, port-forward, logs)
30
Core workloads (Pods, Deployments, Jobs) and scheduling basics
2 subtopics
31
Hands-on: do a rolling update and rollback on a Deployment; verify zero-downtime basics
32
Hands-on: run Jobs/CronJobs with resource requests/limits and observe scheduling behavior
Chapter 5
Deploying and Exposing Applications on Kubernetes
33
Configuration and storage (ConfigMaps, Secrets, PVCs)
2 subtopics
34
Hands-on: configure an app with ConfigMaps/Secrets via env vars and mounted files
35
Hands-on: add persistent storage (PVC/StorageClass) to a stateful component locally
36
Networking exposure (Services, Ingress, DNS, NetworkPolicy)
2 subtopics
37
Hands-on: expose an app with Service + Ingress and enable TLS end-to-end
38
Hands-on: restrict traffic using NetworkPolicy and prove it with connectivity tests
39
Autoscaling and rollout strategies
1 subtopics
40
Hands-on: set probes, HPA, and disruption budgets; practice a simple canary rollout
41
Packaging and environments (Helm/Kustomize)
2 subtopics
42
Hands-on: create a Helm chart and deploy with environment-specific values
43
Hands-on: create Kustomize overlays for dev/stage/prod and keep drift minimal
Chapter 6
Production Operations (observe, secure, ship, fix)
44
Observability (metrics, logs, traces)
3 subtopics
45
Hands-on: collect metrics and build a dashboard + basic alerting rules
46
Hands-on: aggregate logs and define a small set of high-signal alerts
47
Optional hands-on: add distributed tracing to one request path and visualize latency
48
Security and policy (RBAC, pod security, admission)
2 subtopics
49
Hands-on: create least-privilege RBAC for an app (Role/RoleBinding/ServiceAccount)
50
Hands-on: enforce pod security with Pod Security Standards and an admission policy
51
CI/CD and GitOps delivery
2 subtopics
52
Hands-on: CI pipeline to build, scan, and push images on every merge
53
Hands-on: GitOps workflow (PR-based config change triggers deploy + rollback plan)
54
Troubleshooting and cluster lifecycle basics
2 subtopics
55
Hands-on: debug a failing deployment using events, logs, exec, and ephemeral testing
56
Hands-on: practice basic lifecycle tasks (node drain/cordon, safe restart, backup plan)

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