DevOps

Infrastructure as code and server management.

DevOps tools cover infrastructure as code, server configuration, and the automation around keeping production systems running reliably. For a solo builder, the bar is usually lower than a full ops team's setup: reproducible config and basic automation matter more than a fully bespoke pipeline. Pick tools that match the scale you're actually operating at, not the scale you might reach eventually.

Ansible

The go-to for configuration management and scripted server setup when you're not fully containerized. Still widely used for VPS provisioning.

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Docker

The default way to package an app and its dependencies into a container image that runs the same on your laptop, CI, and production.

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OpenTofu

The open-source, Linux Foundation-governed fork of Terraform for anyone who wants the same workflow without the IBM/HashiCorp license concerns. Mostly drop-in compatible.

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Pulumi

Infrastructure as code in a real language (TypeScript, Python, Go) instead of HCL, which makes testing and code review feel normal if you're already a software engineer.

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Terraform

The standard for infrastructure as code, now under IBM after the HashiCorp acquisition. Still the most widely documented option even with the licensing baggage.

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