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Getting Started

Unit 1

Learning the AWS Cloud is not a simple task. It takes time, effort, and dedication. Learn the Cloud provides an overall structure, free resources, and easy-to-read articles and information that will make your journey as streamlined as possible, all for free. We assume no prior knowledge and, in cases where you need to know something as a prerequisite (such as git, Node.js, etc), we will either provide material in-house or direct you to the best free resources to help you learn what you need.

Table of contents

  1. Getting Started
    1. How to Use Learn the Cloud
  2. Prerequisites
  3. Next Steps

How to Use Learn the Cloud

A lot of free material for learning AWS is already available. Sometimes, we will tell you to leave our site, read some information and/or watch some videos, then come back to build something. We try to keep as much information on this site as possible, but that just isn’t always feasible when so much great info is already out there!

Important Note: This site is built to guide users with a Linux or Mac computer. While you can definitely use a Windows computer, the creators of this site work on MacOS and Ubuntu, so the commands and images might not be exactly right for you.

Learn the Cloud is organized into Units, Lessons, Quizzes and Projects. Also, at the end of every relevant Lesson is a Good to Know section.

Units

Lessons

Quizzes

Projects

Good to Know

  • Units - cover different topics and concepts we believe are the most important for a stream-lined study path.
  • Lessons - are individual concepts and tasks within Units you need to be able to understand and complete. Lessons that require you to build or create something will always be repeatable so that you can practice from scratch as much as you want.
  • Quizzes- are at the end of Units and, while not required, are a good way to measure your ability to move on to the next topic. If you are unable to answer the Quiz questions at the end of a Unit, you should consider repeating or reviewing the parts you don’t understand.
  • Projects- interspersed throughout the course we have Projects, which are interwoven into the Lessons and built upon from unit to unit. These Projects will become a part of your github repository and you will be able to show them as a sort of portfolio when applying for jobs.
  • Good to Know - because Learn the Cloud is built to guide you on the most stream-lined and lean path there is to getting a job as an AWS Cloud Engineer, we only cover topics we have found to be essential in getting your first few jobs and gigs. To insure you have all the information you need to make the decisions right for you, we have included orange-labelled Good to Know sections at the end of every Lesson, when relevant, that list key concepts, terms, and AWS resources that Learn the Cloud does not explicitly cover, but that you might want to learn on your own. We have found that the things in our Good to Know sections are either not necessary when applying for part-time work and contract jobs or are topics you can easily google and pick up once you have a solid foundation in AWS (which Learn the Cloud will provide). If you have time, feel free to take a break after completing a Lesson and research these concepts on your own. If you are on a tight deadline, or just want the quickest, leanest path, you can skip these concepts and learn them later on the job.

Prerequisites

While anyone can utilize Learn the Cloud, we do recommend you have a basic understanding of computers and how to use them. We assume knowledge of/ability in:

  • Basic typing skills
  • Internet usage
  • Navigation between windows (ie the internet browser and your code editor)
  • Download, install and run files and applications
  • Email proficiency
  • Follow directions to navigate to different sites on the internet, setting up free accounts when necessary

There are some tools we will guide you through setting up. While it would benefit you to already have experience in them, it is not a requirement as long as you account for the extra time you will need to dedicate to learning them. These are:

  • git - using GitHub
  • Node.js - basic skills–alternatively familiarity with any programming language would do
  • Linux/Mac terminal/commands - or Windows terminal/commands, but we will specify commands using Linux
  • Postman - experience with making API calls
  • Docker - containerizing applications and running / interacting with containers locally

All the above will be covered and/or you will be directed to outside, free, resources to learn them as they become necessary in the lessons. If you do not already have them installed on your computer, you will be directed to do so as they become relevant.

Next Steps

That’s it! You know as much as you need to get started, with Getting Started! In this guide, you’ll cover:

  • Downloading, installing, and using a code editor (if you already have one feel free to keep using it!)
  • How to use the terminal and run many basic commands
  • Creating and setting up an AWS account in preparation for working with Terraform
  • Downloading, installing, and running your first terraform project with AWS

Head to the first section, Code Editor, to get started with AWS!

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