very poor course in terms of content. It has nothing to do with Python but it is one of the specialization courses. Too poor and too basic labs

I am not sure there even was one python code snippet. It is really an overview and the material is not really repeated, programmed along or anything else. So it will not stick to memory. The labs refer to a bunch of UNIX functions that were mentioned in Course 4 on somewhere between the 100 functions tha where briefly mentioned not practice. If you are looking for a high level overview on automation in using cloud technology without sufficient practice this give a very nice and structured over view. I give it 2 stars because there was too little practice and too little repetition.

Course was too slow, too few labs and examples....

The instructor was pretty good, but I honestly expected a few more exercises and practical examples...

This course a great course for beginners to learn about cloud computing concepts, Infrastructure as code and configuration management systems. I loved taking this course till the end.

Nice knowledgeable content, although more practical knowledge could be given by contacting students like me and giving them Job at google and teaching them the office day to day work.

The instructor is an export of the field other than the regular trainer. He explains the concept very clearly and make good sense. Love this course.

Pretty good! Will probably come back one day and reference material in this course. I can totally see myself using gcloud

Hello, my name is Agung Pambudi. My hope for taking this course is to gain new experience and knowledge. My goal is to adapt to the current era's changes. where cloud computing has become a business necessity. My hobby is traveling to places I've never been. I come from Indonesia.

Great course! Lots of information and useful knowledge! It has helped me hone in my skills, and see what I need more work with. Excited for this new career opportunity! Teacher was pretty good too!

the instructor is really great and the labs were for the most part easy to follow and practice your skills. Alot of concepts were covered were well explained for someone who is a beginner

Very interesting module! There is a lot of material, and a lot of further reading and practice. I'll have to come back to those for sure.

there were some difficult parts, some easy parts, and a lot that was interesting to learn.

It would have been better to see a bit more depth to the subjects

It was kinda exciting for me, but it wasn't as exciting as I think it should be. But because of how funny the instructor was in the videos; I'd give it 4 stars. If you take this course, take tons of attention! Also, there were tons more readings than the previous courses. And there are tons of room for improvement. I could see that module 3 used to be its own course, according to the last video in that module.

Labs are buggy. not able to complete. no one can help or support?

Labs are not working

Course Review: "Configuration Management and the Cloud" Course Overview: The course "Configuration Management and the Cloud" offers an in-depth exploration of essential practices in managing and automating software configurations, focusing particularly on cloud-based environments. It is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to efficiently manage infrastructure in the modern landscape of cloud computing. Content and Structure: The course is well-structured, divided into several modules that progressively build on each other: Introduction to Configuration Management: Basics of configuration management. Importance of configuration management in software development. Key tools and techniques. Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Principles and benefits of IaC. Hands-on practice with tools like Terraform and AWS CloudFormation. Real-world examples and case studies. Version Control Systems: Deep dive into Git and other version control systems. Best practices for versioning infrastructure. Automation Tools: Introduction to automation tools like Ansible, Puppet, and Chef. Practical labs and projects to implement automation scripts. Cloud Platforms: Overview of major cloud platforms: AWS, Azure, Google Cloud. Specific configuration management practices for each platform. Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD): Role of CI/CD in configuration management. Implementing CI/CD pipelines using tools like Jenkins and GitLab CI. Security and Compliance: Best practices for securing infrastructure. Compliance requirements and how to meet them. Monitoring and Maintenance: Tools and techniques for monitoring cloud infrastructure. Strategies for ongoing maintenance and updates. Strengths: Comprehensive Coverage: The course covers a wide range of topics essential for anyone looking to master configuration management in the cloud. From the basics to advanced practices, it ensures a thorough understanding. Hands-on Approach: Emphasis on practical labs and real-world projects helps in solidifying theoretical concepts. The practical exposure to tools like Terraform, Ansible, and various cloud platforms is invaluable. Industry-Relevant Content: The inclusion of contemporary tools and practices ensures that the knowledge gained is applicable in current industry scenarios. The focus on IaC and CI/CD reflects the current trends in DevOps and cloud computing. Expert Instructors: The instructors bring in a wealth of experience from the industry, providing insights that go beyond textbook knowledge. Their guidance in navigating complex topics is particularly beneficial. Areas for Improvement: Pacing for Beginners: For students new to configuration management or cloud computing, the course might feel fast-paced. A preliminary module or additional resources for beginners could help in bridging the knowledge gap. More Case Studies: While the course includes some case studies, additional examples from a variety of industries could further illustrate the application of configuration management practices. Assessment Variety: The assessments are primarily project-based. Introducing a mix of quizzes, peer reviews, and interactive discussions could diversify the evaluation methods and enhance learning. Conclusion: "Configuration Management and the Cloud" is a highly valuable course for engineering students, particularly those interested in DevOps and cloud computing. Its comprehensive content, practical approach, and industry relevance make it an excellent investment of time and effort. With minor adjustments to pacing and assessment methods, it could cater even more effectively to a diverse student body. Overall, this course is a strong step towards mastering modern infrastructure management techniques.

Great course, very knowledgeable instructor who was able to convey his knowledge in a very clear and concise way.

However, the course could have been much more interactive (please see my input in "Learners Journey" for a suggestion). While I could see that it was not easy in "Troubleshooting" to come up with true interactivity because you need to replicate errors in a meaningful way to make it work, here it is really super easy:

Build the while course around each participant setting up VMs on GC, implement Apache, set up a simple, website. After the end of the course you could even give a user the option to keep the GC account and to maybe work some more on their website.

This course is a VERY clear overview/conceptual level grounding in Configuration management and the cloud. It is not a great preparation for a specific job doing cloud configuration management or automation, but that is by design - there are simply too many possible combinations of roles and platforms to cover easily - that would be worthy of a full Certification in its own right. But it's a great starter, and I feel much more confident about why and when to apply automation and the cloud than I did before, even with 20+ years in IT.

This was by far the best designed course by Google. And I took like eight different google courses.

It teaches practical aspects as much as the conceptual parts. The extra reading section had very useful and relevant links.

Overall, very useful and well designed course. The other google courses can use this course as a template by chancing the variables.

Thank you all. Just the beginning of the long journey to the IT world.

Great course. Enjoyed learning about possible ways to manage multiple devices in regular networks and in the cloud. The course caught me off guard a little because it seemed to me like an understanding of configuration files and overall environment was needed. However, it made me look up many things on my own. I did not become an expert but it was a great introduction to the concepts. Thank you!

The discussions on both configuration management and the cloud are great as it explained the basics of these topics and its applications. Personally, I still do not have a use or a plan to use the cloud since I am still not part of a development team or such, but I already get its usability. Meanwhile, configuration management can provide me with advantages in migrating between devices easily.

I struggled to understand the new concepts at first, but as the course advanced in the topics, I was surprised that, after all, I was able to learn the best practices on how to use these tools and apply them to deal with automation at scale. I'm so grateful with Google and Coursera for giving me this opportunity, it will certainly be an essential skill in my IT toolkit!

I have found the most interesting scenarios and essential information for me with this useful course. It is a debuffing problem on the Cloud. I will use these techniques for my daily IT working life. Thank Phelan for clear instructions and tips on how to catch up with some complicated definitions and aspects for debugging problems in the Cloud easily.

This course was great, it gave me ideas on how to use Infrastructure as Code and how to monitor and automate configuration of systems. I also enjoyed the modules on Load Balancing and the tips and suggestions for continued availability. Of course all of these things are just an overview, but enough to help you see the possibilities.