Meet Ashwin

Obsessive Learner

Technologist / Lifelong learner / Polyglot / Cloud & DevOps enthusiast / Travel freak / Habitual reader

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My Learning Goals for 2020

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Learning Goals

For the last few years, I have a practice of setting annual learning goals. It helps me with two things. First, to focus on specific skills to develop and second, provides an objective way to measure my achievements.

I also find it useful to order goals by priority and have quarterly targets. This way I can savour my achievements on a periodic basis and adjust goals if needed.

Here’s my list for 2020.

Quarter 1 – Jan-Mar

  • Learn SRE basics and advanced topics
  • Complete Google Cloud DevOps Engineer certification
  • Complete my last quarter with Stanford LEAD certification

Quarter 2 – Apr-Jun

  • Learn Kubernetes advanced topics
  • Complete Kubernetes Admin certification
  • Take TOGAF training and complete certification

Quarter 3 – Jul-Sep

  • Learn other topics in Google Cloud
  • Complete Google Cloud Solution Architect certification
  • Learn IT Cybersecurity concepts (Coursera)

Quarter 4 – Oct-Dec

  • Learn AWS cloud topics
  • Complete AWS Solution Architect certification
  • Take Create Leadership (IDEOU) course

I am curious to know about your learning goals for this year.  Please share them as comments to this post.  All the best to achieve great heights and a great 2020!

The Art of Software Engineering Management

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With the proliferation of IT services, engineering management is often treated akin to project management. But, it is a lot more than that. Being one of the top paid IT jobs, this role rests on 6 critical pillars. Read on to know more…

#1 – Core engineering concepts and practices

As an engineering manager, you are not expected to get your hands dirty every day.  However, consistent touch with the low level code is quite important.

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Understanding System Service Levels – SLI, SLO, SLA

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When you talk about service levels to a software team or a consumer of the software, they always tend to assume it as Service Level Agreement (SLA).  But, not all services have a SLA.  Also, there are two other key concepts to understand which are more important – Service Level Indicator (SLI) and Service Level Objective (SLO).  I will explain all the three keywords in this post.

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Making Kindness a Habit : 5 Simple Ways

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In the age of speed dates and fast foods, we often forget the importance of kindness. The need really strikes us when we are a victim – when kindness is desperately expected.

But by making it a habit, we can give unconditional kindness to everyone around. I bet it will come back in the right form. Karma, you know!

Here are five simple ways to start.

  • Spend an extra 10 minutes every day, to talk or listen to someone who needs you. It can be your spouse, child, family member or a friend
  • Genuinely smile at 5 strangers every day. Don’t make it odd, just a gentle smile
  • Perform simple acts of kindness whenever there is an opportunity – holding the door, helping with a heavy bag, getting coffee to a coworker etc
  • Listen more than you talk. Every single time
  • But product or service from small merchants whenever possible. Sometimes it may be the only sale they make in a whole day

Life is too short to spend egotistically. Embed kindness in your daily life and enjoy the beauty of it.