Topic-based learning roadmap¶
| Order | Topic | Hands-on outcome | Readiness gate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GitOps fundamentals | Trace reconciliation and inspect cluster prerequisites | Explain pull vs push and all core controllers |
| 2 | Advanced Helm and OCI | Add a dependency, hook, test, package, and private OCI push | Install and test a versioned chart from Artifact Registry |
| 3 | Flux on GKE | Bootstrap GitHub, configure Workload Identity, and deploy an OCIRepository through a HelmRelease |
A Git commit changes GKE without helm upgrade |
| 4 | GitOps operations | Exercise drift, failure, suspend/resume, and recovery | Diagnose and recover live scenarios without hints |
| 5 | Helm deep dive | Debug templates, add schema, test atomic upgrades, and build a render matrix | Explain rendering scope, lifecycle, quality, and security trade-offs |
| 6 | Flux deep dive | Exercise dependencies, valuesFrom, drift rules, pruning, and constrained RBAC |
Design and troubleshoot a multi-layer reconciliation system |
| 7 | Interview preparation | Complete scenario drills and the capstone | Diagnose an unseen failure and defend the design under questioning |
Suggested cadence for each topic¶
- Concept session (60–90 min): concepts and notes
- Lab session A (2 hrs): first lab block
- Lab session B (2 hrs): second lab block
- Troubleshooting session (60–90 min): failure analysis and challenge
- Assessment session (45 min): closed-notes knowledge check and gate
Keep a lab journal with the command, expected result, actual result, diagnosis, and fix. Screenshots alone do not demonstrate understanding; capture the condition or event that proves your conclusion.
Scope boundary¶
This path intentionally excludes image automation, multi-tenant Flux, environment overlays, and progressive delivery. Finish the GitOps operations gate before adding those topics.
Progress tracker¶
- Environment and GKE context verified
- Gate 1: GitOps mental model
- Gate 2: advanced Helm and private OCI
- Gate 3: automatic Git-to-GKE reconciliation
- Gate 4: drift/failure diagnosis and synthesis
- Helm templating and release-lifecycle deep dive complete
- Flux dependencies, pruning, values, RBAC, and secrets deep dive complete
- Interview capstone and unseen scenario drill complete
- Optional resources cleaned up