Has Anyone Ever Made Things So Efficient They Lost Their Job

# Has Anyone Ever Made Things So Efficient They Lost Their Job?

Welcome to our latest post where we discuss an interesting paradox in the world of DevOps and system administration: the fine line between efficiency and job security. This post is particularly relevant for experienced sysadmins, DevOps engineers, and DIY enthusiasts who are part of the self-hosted, homelab community.

Prerequisites

• Ubuntu Server 20.04 LTS (Focal Fossa) or equivalent
• Docker installed: apt install docker-ce=5.0.8
• Docker Compose: apt install docker-compose
• Familiarity with YAML configuration files and bash scripting

Solution

We’ll create a simple self-hosted web application using open-source technologies to demonstrate the power of efficient infrastructure automation.

1. Project Setup

Create a new project directory:

mkdir my-webapp && cd my-webapp

Initialize a new Docker Compose project and create docker-compose.yml file:

docker-compose init
touch docker-compose.yml

2. Application Configuration

Configure your web application in the docker-compose.yml file, using examples below as a starting point.

Web Application (e.g., NGINX)

web:
  image: nginx
  ports:
    - "80:80"
  volumes:
    - ./nginx/conf.d:/etc/nginx/conf.d

Application Backend (e.g., PHP)

backend:
  build: .
  environment:
    DB_USERNAME: yourdbuser
    DB_PASSWORD: yourdbpassword
  links:
    - db
  depends_on:
    - db

Database (e.g., MariaDB)

db:
  image: mariadb
  environment:
    MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD: mypassword
    MYSQL_DATABASE: mydatabase
    MYSQL_USER: yourdbuser
    MYSQL_PASSWORD: yourdbpassword

3. Customize Application Files

Create necessary application files and configure them as needed. For example, create an index.html file under the nginx/conf.d directory for a simple web page or adjust database settings in the backend’s Dockerfile.

4. Start Your Application

Start your web application:

docker-compose up -d

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues, double-check the configuration files for typos and ensure that all services are compatible with each other. Consult the Docker Compose documentation for further assistance.

Conclusion

By embracing efficient self-hosted infrastructure automation, you can save valuable time and resources – potentially making your employer wonder if they need you anymore. Instead of worrying about job security, focus on providing value through optimizing your DevOps workflows, maintaining system performance, and enhancing overall infrastructure stability. Stay tuned for more tips and tricks on making the most out of open-source technologies in your homelab!