Want to jump straight to the answer? The best programming languages for DevOps Engineers are Python & Golang
This blog emphasizes programming and scripting languages that are commonly used by DevOps engineers in DevOps environments for automation needs.
What are the Best Programming and scripting Languages for DevOps Engineers?
Without wasting any more time, let’s dig right in! (In no particular order)
1. GoLang
When it comes to DevOps, GoLang is my #1 choice.
GoLang is the new kid on the block – emerging from Google’s own open-source kitchen – and it’s been taking the DevOps world by storm since its inception in 2009. Its syntax draws inspiration from other popular languages such as Python and C++, making it relatively easier for new programmers to pick up on.
Also, Golang was developed for speed, the language emphasizes lean, network-efficient runtimes means great things for DevOps.
It may quite interest you to know that DevOps tools like Docker(containerization), Kubernetes (container orchestration), Juju (for orchestration), and Terraform (Infrastructure as Code) are written using Golang.
This is simply because it is easy to compile standalone, static binaries for all major operating systems. No libraries, no dependencies, nothing.
As there is wide adoption of GitOps practice with Kubernetes operators, GoLang is a sought-after skill for Kubernetes Operator development.
Golang Learning Resource: An Introduction to Programming in Go
2. Python
Python Must know scripting language for DevOps engineers
Python has emerged as the most popular programming language for DevOps. It is easy to learn for beginners and has a vast library of modules for performing various tasks in DevOps.
Popularly known as an all-purpose language, Python is crowned by GitHub as its second-most popular programming language and fastest-growing major programming language by Stack Overflow.
Python is a great language for automation because of its readability, comprehensibility, and concise syntax. It’s also an interpreted language, which makes it relatively fast to execute compared to compiled languages like Java.
Python scripts can be run directly on the server, making deployment easy. Additionally, Python has libraries for managing infrastructure (such as Puppet or Chef), automating testing (Selenium, WebDriver), and building web applications (Django, Flask).
Python is used by many organizations for its infrastructure development. It could be a platform development, automation script, or utilities for CI/CD.
Golang Learning Resource: Learn Python 3 from Scratch
3. Bash
Bash scripts (Linux Shell Scripting) are used for performing a variety of DevOps projects, including automated installations and configuration management. For example, devOps engineers use Bash to create deployment scripts that do the heavy lifting involved in new app releases.
Even though we have several open-source tools to perform configuration and deployments, many companies use bash scripts for their automation work.
Also, bash scripts are extensively used in building Docker base images and CI/CD pipelines.
Check out my guide on how to learn Linux shell scripting
4. Powershell
If you are a DevOps engineer working on Windows servers, Powershell is your go-to scripting language.
Powershell is a task automation, scripting, and configuration management framework from Microsoft, built on top of the .NET Framework. It provides a command-line shell and scripting environment for managing Windows systems.
Powershell scripts can be used for automating common tasks such as system administration, app deployment, and infrastructure management. It also offers powerful features for data manipulation and analysis.
When it comes to Windows server management, Powershell is the language of choice. It offers a robust scripting environment for automating common tasks, as well as powerful data manipulation and analysis features. Additionally, Powershell scripts can be run directly on the server, making deployment easy.
5. Groovy
Good choice for writing Jenkins Pipelines
Groovy is based on Java, making it easy to learn for developers with some programming knowledge. It’s typically used for automating software development tasks such as building files, compiling code, and running tests.
But when it comes to Devops, groovy is heavily used in Jenkins. With good knowledge of Groovy scripting, you can easily write Jenkins pipeline as code and Jenkins shared libraries.
6. JavaScript
It is a safe bet to say that the world of the internet runs on JavaScript as well as HTML. Many of the most popular frameworks and libraries are written in JavaScript, from Angular to React and Node.
Server-side implementations aren’t the only thing this language has to offer: the massive community of developers means that there’s always help available on GitHub or Stack Overflow.
JavaScript is a safe bet for developers. However, JavaScript is a bit more complicated when it comes to DevOps but it doesn’t mean that they don’t work together. IaaC tools like Pulumi support Javascript and Typescript for building infrastructure as code.
Also, NodeJS is a server-side implementation of Javascript, which allows node developers to create APIs for backend applications, as well as command-line scripts.
NodeJS has many modules available for performing various DevOps activities such as streamlining the processes involved in app deployments. It also provides libraries for working with continuous integration tools like Jenkins CI or TravisCI.
What is the Need for Programming in DevOps?
DevOps is a practice that requires programming and scripting skills for infrastructure automation, error-prone tasks associated with software development (such as deploying apps to various environments), infrastructure management (monitoring and scaling out servers, responsiveness under high load), and testing (managing virtualization infrastructure for performing regression tests).
Earlier, practicing continuous integration and continuous delivery was something that was next to impossible. But with advanced levels of automation, application delivery is made friction-free with continuous integration/continuous delivery workflows. Along with this, there is a tremendous increase in open-source tooling that you can extend to fit your CI/CD needs. Here programming plays a key role.
So if you want to succeed in adopting DevOps, you need to dive into a few basic yet essential programming languages that make the process of DevOps adoption easier than ever before. I have spoken about the importance of learning programming or scripting language in my becoming a devops engineer guide.
DevOps Programming FAQ's
Do you need to learn programming to become a DevOps engineer?
Not all DevOps engineer roles require programming knowledge. However, with more infrastructure adoption as code, programming is becoming a mandatory skill for DevOps engineers. Also, most DevOps engineer interviews have a coding round as a preliminary screening round.
Conclusion
The list doesn’t end here… You will come across numerous programming languages that work well with devOps, so choose wisely. Keep watching the space to know more!
In conclusion, DevOps requires programming and scripting skills. And as the DevOps trend continues to grow, so does the demand for DevOps engineers with programming and scripting knowledge. So if you have a programming or scripting background, it’s time to seriously consider a career in DevOps :)
If your favorite language isn’t on the list then it doesn’t mean it isn’t the bee’s knees. DevOps is a term used to define a methodological process for IT teams. This means it’s not an ironclad one-size-fits-all tech approach.
Also, if you are looking for a website to learn to program online, check out the comprehensive list of websites to learn coding.
If you are looking for DevOps certifications, check out my guide on the best devops certifications.