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Infrastructure

Server setups, cloud architecture, DevOps practices, hosting solutions, and self-hosting guides for developers.

Infrastructure Without the Headache

Infrastructure has a branding problem. It sounds intimidating—like you need a beard, a title like "Principal Engineer," and a collection of war stories about database migrations at 3 AM.

Here's the truth: modern infrastructure tools have made this stuff accessible. You can deploy a globally distributed application without ever touching a physical server. The hard part isn't the technology—it's knowing which tradeoffs to make.

Infrastructure Topics I Cover

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Cloud Platforms

AWS, GCP, Azure, and the newer players like Railway and Render. I break down pricing, ease of use, and which platform makes sense for different project sizes.

Common topics:

  • • Cost comparison and optimization
  • • Service-by-service breakdowns
  • • Migration strategies
  • • Multi-cloud considerations
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Containers & Orchestration

Docker, Kubernetes, and everything in between. I explain when you actually need Kubernetes (spoiler: probably not yet) and when simpler solutions work better.

Common topics:

  • • Docker best practices
  • • Container orchestration basics
  • • When to use serverless instead
  • • Local development setups
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CI/CD & DevOps

GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, CircleCI—automating your deployments so you don't have to manually SSH into servers and pray nothing breaks.

Common topics:

  • • Pipeline configuration
  • • Testing automation
  • • Deployment strategies
  • • Rollback procedures
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Self-Hosting

Running your own services at home or on a VPS. From Nextcloud to Home Assistant, I cover what's worth self-hosting and what's not worth the hassle.

Common topics:

  • • VPS recommendations
  • • Home server builds
  • • Security considerations
  • • Maintenance tips

The Infrastructure Mindset

Good infrastructure isn't about using the fanciest tools. It's about making deliberate tradeoffs. Do you want to spend time managing servers, or do you want to pay more for managed services? Do you need global distribution, or will a single region work?

I've made every mistake: over-engineering simple projects, underestimating traffic, ignoring backups until it was too late. The goal of this section is to help you avoid my mistakes.

Start simple. Add complexity only when you have evidence that you need it. And for the love of everything holy, set up automated backups before you need them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which cloud provider should I choose?

For beginners: Vercel or Railway for web apps, they handle everything. For more control: AWS has the most services but steepest learning curve. GCP is developer-friendly. Azure is great if you're in the Microsoft ecosystem. For most side projects, start with the simplest option.

Do I need Kubernetes?

Probably not. Kubernetes is amazing at solving problems you don't have yet. Start with Docker Compose or a managed container service. Move to Kubernetes when you have specific needs it addresses: complex scaling, multi-region deployments, or sophisticated rollout strategies.

How do I estimate cloud costs?

Use the provider's pricing calculator, then double it. Seriously—unexpected costs are the norm. Factor in data transfer, storage, and any managed services. Start with free tiers, monitor usage closely, and set up billing alerts before you get a surprise invoice.

What's the best VPS for self-hosting?

Hetzner offers incredible value in Europe. DigitalOcean and Linode are beginner-friendly with great docs. Vultr has good global coverage. For budget options, check out OVH or Contabo. Pick based on your location and support needs.

How important is infrastructure as code?

Very. Terraform, Pulumi, or even simple shell scripts mean you can recreate your infrastructure from scratch. This matters when things break (they will) or when you need to spin up a staging environment. Start documenting your setup early.

Latest Infrastructure Articles

In-depth reviews, guides, and insights from real-world testing.