Introduction
Welcome to the world of Site Reliability Engineering! It has been about a month since I switched from being a Senior Technical Writer to a Site Reliability Engineer. I wanted to switch to a more technical role to learn more about how customers use our products and also to learn new skills and technologies (such as coding and Kubernetes). I am fortunate to work at a company that encourages individuals to try new roles and learn new skills as they grow their professional development.
Site Reliability Engineering is a discipline that combines software engineering and operations to ensure that applications are highly reliable, performant, and scalable. In this beginner’s guide, I’ll cover the essential aspects of SRE, the role of SRE in software development, and the tools and technologies used by SREs.
Essential skills every SRE should have
Site Reliability Engineering is a highly specialized field that requires a unique set of skills. These skills include strong problem-solving abilities, deep technical knowledge of programming languages, operating systems, and cloud computing platforms, experience with automation tools and processes, and excellent communication skills to work closely with cross-functional teams. Other important skills include a deep understanding of DevOps and Agile methodologies, experience with monitoring and alerting tools, and the ability to analyze and optimize system performance.
Top online courses to become a certified Site Reliability Engineer
You do not actually need to be a certified SRE. Many individuals come to the SRE role with backgrounds in development or operations. My background is in Linux system administration and devops so I fall into the operations background. However, it is good to at least learn more about the SRE role, what it entails, and understand the basics.
There are several online courses available for those who want to become a certified Site Reliability Engineer. These courses cover a wide range of topics, from basic software engineering principles to advanced topics such as cloud computing, automation, and performance optimization. Some of the top online courses include Google’s Site Reliability Engineering course, the SRE Foundation Certification course by DevOps Institute, and Udacity’s Site Reliability Engineering Nanodegree program.
As part of my onboarding, I had to read both of Google’s SRE books. Both books are freely available online to read: Site Reliability Engineering and The Site Reliability Workbook.
Understanding the role of a Site Reliability Engineer in modern software development
A Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) is responsible for ensuring that the software systems and applications they work on are highly reliable, scalable, and performant. The SRE role involves working closely with cross-functional teams such as development, operations, and security to design, build, and maintain robust, highly available systems. SREs are also responsible for monitoring and optimizing system performance, automating repetitive tasks, and identifying and addressing issues before they impact users.
Site Reliability Engineering tools and technologies to master for success
There are several tools and technologies that Site Reliability Engineers need to master for success, including automation tools such as Ansible and Chef, monitoring and alerting tools such as Prometheus and Grafana, cloud computing platforms such as AWS and Azure, and containerization tools such as Docker and Kubernetes. SREs also need to be proficient in programming languages such as Python, Java, and Go, and have a deep understanding of networking and security concepts.
I came to the SRE role with only a background in scripting with bash and PowerShell and a small bit of Python. The company I work at only requires that you be proficient in one programming language. We mainly use Go so that is the language I am currently learning. Trevor Sawler has an awesome Go course on Udemy that I just completed called: Learn Go for Beginners Crash Course (Golang). Check it out if you are interested in learning Go. Trevor does a great job of explaining concepts that are easily digestible.
I am also currently learning Kubernetes and hope to take the CKA exam next month.
A day in the life of a Site Reliability Engineer: What to expect
There is an on-call component to the SRE position. If you do not like being on-call, this is not the position for you! A good organization will limit the amount of time you are on-call and also compensate you for the hours you work on-call.
A typical day in the life of a Site Reliability Engineer involves working closely with cross-functional teams to design, build, and maintain highly available systems. SREs spend their time analyzing system performance, identifying bottlenecks and potential issues, and automating repetitive tasks. They also work closely with development teams to ensure that new features and releases are highly reliable and performant, and troubleshoot issues that arise.
There is a lot of teamwork involved in the SRE position, both within your team and with cross-functional teams. It is always good to know that there is support from others when you run into an issue that you may not be familiar with.
Site Reliability Engineering vs. DevOps
Understanding the differences and similarities Site Reliability Engineering and DevOps are two closely related disciplines that share many similarities. Both focus on the intersection of software engineering and operations, with the goal of improving system reliability, performance, and scalability. However, SREs typically have a more narrow focus on system reliability and performance.
Despite their differences, Site Reliability Engineering and DevOps share a common goal of improving the quality of software systems and applications. Both approaches prioritize collaboration and communication between teams, and emphasize the importance of automation, monitoring, and performance optimization. In many organizations, SREs work closely with DevOps teams to achieve these shared goals, with SREs providing a specialized focus on system reliability and performance, while DevOps provides a broader focus on the entire software development lifecycle.
It’s important for organizations to understand the differences and similarities between Site Reliability Engineering and DevOps, as both approaches can bring significant benefits to software development teams. By leveraging the strengths of both approaches, organizations can build highly reliable, scalable, and performant systems that meet the needs of their users and customers.
Is Site Reliability Engineering the right field for me?
If you’re considering a career in Site Reliability Engineering, there are a few key factors to consider to determine if this field is right for you.
- Interest in system architecture and design: As a Site Reliability Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, building, and maintaining highly reliable and scalable systems. If you enjoy solving complex problems and are interested in system architecture and design, SRE may be a good fit for you.
- Passion for automation: SREs use automation tools and techniques to manage systems and ensure reliability. If you have a passion for automating repetitive tasks and creating efficient processes, you may enjoy working as an SRE.
- Strong communication skills: Collaboration and communication are key to success as an SRE. You will need to work closely with cross-functional teams, including developers, operations teams, and business stakeholders, to ensure that systems meet the needs of users and customers. Strong communication skills are essential for success in this role.
- Ability to work under pressure: SREs are responsible for ensuring that systems are highly available and performant, even under high traffic or unexpected load. If you thrive in high-pressure situations and can remain calm and focused in the face of challenges, SRE may be a good fit for you.
- Technical skills: SREs typically have a background in software engineering or operations, and have strong technical skills in areas such as programming, database management, and system administration. If you enjoy working with technology and have a strong technical background, SRE may be a good fit for you.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Site Reliability Engineering is a crucial discipline that has become increasingly important in today’s technology-driven world. As we have explored in this beginner’s guide, SREs play a critical role in designing, building, and maintaining highly reliable and performant systems. By leveraging automation, monitoring, and performance optimization techniques, SREs can ensure that systems are always available and performant, even under high traffic or unexpected load. Whether you’re a software engineer, operations professional, or aspiring SRE, understanding the key concepts and principles of Site Reliability Engineering can help you build more reliable and scalable systems. With its focus on collaboration, communication, and continuous improvement, Site Reliability Engineering offers a rewarding and challenging career path for those interested in technology and systems architecture.