Open source update: School of SRE

Akbar KM
4 min readbeginner
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Overview

The article discusses the launch of the School of SRE, an open-source initiative aimed at training aspiring Site Reliability Engineers (SREs). It highlights the importance of SREs in maintaining site security and reliability, and outlines the curriculum designed to equip new SREs with essential skills.

What You'll Learn

1

How to understand the role and importance of Site Reliability Engineering in modern software development

2

Why a curated curriculum can enhance the onboarding experience for new SREs

3

How to navigate the available resources for learning SRE skills effectively

4

When to contribute to open-source projects like the School of SRE

Key Questions Answered

What is the purpose of the School of SRE?
The School of SRE aims to provide a structured curriculum for aspiring Site Reliability Engineers, addressing the lack of awareness and clarity around the SRE role and necessary skills. It offers resources that help individuals transition into SRE roles effectively.
What topics are covered in the School of SRE curriculum?
The curriculum includes modules on Linux Basics, Git, Linux Networking, Python and Web, Data (Relational Databases, NoSQL, Big Data), Systems Design, and Security. This comprehensive approach is designed to equip new SREs with foundational knowledge.
How has the School of SRE been received externally?
Since its launch, the School of SRE has gained significant interest, landing on the front page of HackerNews and receiving 4.2K stars on GitHub. This indicates a strong external validation of the curriculum's value.
What are the future plans for the School of SRE?
Future plans include expanding the curriculum to cover additional topics, such as metrics and monitoring. The initiative also encourages community contributions to enhance the knowledge base further.

Key Statistics & Figures

GitHub stars for School of SRE
4.2K
This number reflects the strong interest and validation from the developer community since the curriculum was made open source.

Key Actionable Insights

1
Leverage the School of SRE curriculum to enhance your team's onboarding process for new SREs.
Implementing a structured training program can significantly reduce ramp-up time and improve the understanding of SRE fundamentals among new hires.
2
Encourage contributions to the School of SRE from your engineering team.
Involving team members in open-source contributions can foster a culture of collaboration and continuous learning, benefiting both the individual and the organization.
3
Utilize the resources provided by the School of SRE to fill knowledge gaps in your current SRE practices.
By identifying and addressing these gaps, you can improve the overall effectiveness of your site reliability efforts and enhance service availability.

Common Pitfalls

1
Underestimating the importance of structured training for new SREs can lead to longer ramp-up times and misunderstandings of core concepts.
Without a clear training path, new hires may struggle to grasp essential SRE principles, which can hinder their effectiveness and integration into the team.

Related Concepts

Site Reliability Engineering
Open Source Contributions
Onboarding Best Practices