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Austin
Austin

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My First Step on the Journey to Becoming a Cloud Developer

Today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in my career: my journey to becoming a Cloud Developer. It’s a path I’ve been contemplating for years, but life’s twists and turns often kept me from diving in. Now, with determination and a solid plan in hand, I’m ready to make the leap. Here’s how it all starts.

Choosing AWS as My Cloud Platform

When deciding where to focus my efforts, AWS emerged as the clear choice. It’s a dominant player in the cloud industry, offering a rich ecosystem of tools and services that align perfectly with my goal to build impactful and scalable applications. With AWS, I can explore everything from hosting static websites to deploying complex serverless architectures.

A Passion for Tech and Building Things

Technology has always been more than just a career for me; it’s a passion. Over the years, I’ve developed software on and off, tinkering with various projects whenever inspiration struck. I love the process of creating—transforming an idea into something tangible and functional. This passion for building is what fuels my excitement for this journey.

Overcoming Life’s Hurdles

For a long time, pursuing a career in cloud development felt like a dream deferred. Whether it was personal responsibilities, financial constraints, or other life circumstances, something always seemed to stand in the way. But I’ve learned that the best time to start is now. I’ve finally carved out the space in my life to commit to this journey fully.

Researching the Path Ahead

Before diving into my first project, I took time to research what it takes to transition into cloud development. I watched videos from individuals who have successfully made the leap and soaked up advice from industry experts. This preparation not only gave me insights into the technical skills required but also offered a roadmap for building a portfolio that stands out.

Crafting a Gameplan with ChatGPT

One of the tools I used to structure my learning journey was ChatGPT. It’s been invaluable for brainstorming project ideas and organizing a gameplan. Together, we mapped out a series of portfolio projects that will showcase my growing expertise in AWS and cloud development. These projects are designed to demonstrate a clear progression in skills, starting from the basics and gradually tackling more complex scenarios.

Kicking Off with a Static Website

My first project is a static website hosted on AWS using S3, CloudFront, and Route53. This project will give me hands-on experience with:

S3: For storing the website’s files.

CloudFront: To deliver content quickly and securely to users around the globe.

Route53: For managing DNS and making the site accessible through a custom domain.

This project is more than just a learning exercise; it’s a symbol of my commitment to this journey. By the time it’s live, I’ll have gained foundational knowledge of core AWS services and taken my first tangible step toward my goal.

Looking Ahead

This is just the beginning. As I progress, I’ll tackle increasingly complex projects, document my learnings, and share my experiences. My aim is not only to grow as a Cloud Developer but also to inspire others who might be considering a similar path. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my years in IT support, it’s that persistence and curiosity are the keys to success in tech.

Here’s to building, learning, and growing—one project at a time!

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