# Chicago Coder Conference

> Technical reference for Java, DevOps, cloud architecture, security, and mobile engineering.

## Pages
- [AWS Certifications: What You Should Know](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/aws-certifications): A field-guide breakdown of AWS certifications: how the levels are structured, which cert maps to which role, and how teams should treat them honestly.
- [AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate: What to Know](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/aws-certified-solutions-architect-associate-certification): A field guide to the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate certification: what the exam covers, who it suits, how to prepare, and what it proves.
- [AWS Certified Solutions Architect: What to Know](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/aws-certified-solutions-architect): A field-guide breakdown of the AWS Certified Solutions Architect: what the role tests, the Associate vs Professional split, and how teams should read it.
- [AWS Cloud Practitioner: What You Should Know](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/aws-cloud-practitioner): A field-guide breakdown of the AWS Cloud Practitioner certification: what it covers, who it's for, how to study, and how teams should read the credential.
- [AWS Cloud: What You Should Know](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/aws-cloud): A field-guide breakdown of AWS cloud: what the platform actually is, its core service categories, the shared responsibility model, and how teams adopt it.
- [AWS Cognito: What You Should Know](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/aws-cognito): A field guide to AWS Cognito: what the managed auth service does, user pools vs. identity pools, common pitfalls, and when a team should use it.
- [AWS Lambda: What You Should Know](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/aws-lambda): A field-guide breakdown of AWS Lambda: what serverless functions are, how the execution model works, where they fit, and the tradeoffs teams hit.
- [AWS SageMaker: What You Should Know](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/aws-sagemaker): A field-guide look at AWS SageMaker: what the managed ML platform does, its core components, pricing traps, and when a team should actually reach for it.
- [AWS Services: What You Should Know](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/aws-services): A field-guide breakdown of AWS services: the core categories, the handful most teams actually use, and how to choose without drowning in the catalog.
- [AWS Solutions Architect vs Developer: Which to Pick](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/aws-solutions-architect-vs-developer): A field-guide comparison of the AWS Solutions Architect vs Developer Associate certifications: what each tests, who they suit, and how to choose well.
- [AWS Solutions Architect: What You Should Know](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/aws-solutions-architect): A field guide to the AWS Solutions Architect role: what the job involves day to day, the skills it demands, certs vs. experience, and how teams use one.
- [AWS Tutorial for Beginners: Start With One Safe Path](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/aws-tutorial): A conference-style AWS tutorial path for beginners: account safety, IAM, one small workload, cleanup, and what to learn next.
- [The AWS Well-Architected Framework Pillars, Compared](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/aws-well-architected-framework): A field-guide breakdown of the AWS Well-Architected Framework: its six pillars compared, what each asks of a team, and how to run an honest review.
- [Azure vs AWS: Which Cloud to Pick for Your Team](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/azure-vs-aws): A field-guide comparison of Azure vs AWS: how the two clouds differ on services, pricing, ecosystem, and lock-in, and how a team should choose.
- [CI/CD Pipeline: What It Is and How To Ship Reliably](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/ci-cd-pipeline): A field-guide breakdown of CI/CD pipelines: stages, the CI vs CD vs Continuous Deployment distinction, DORA signals, and anti-patterns to avoid.
- [Cyber Attack Incident Response Plan: A Team Field Guide](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/cyber-attack-incident-response-plan): How to think about a cyber attack incident response plan: roles, evidence, escalation, communication, recovery, and review.
- [How to Use a Developer Conference Archive](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/developer-conference-archive-guide): A field guide for turning old session pages, track lists, and video indexes into practical learning paths.
- [DevOps Engineer: What the Role Really Owns](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/devops-engineer): A practical look at the DevOps engineer role: delivery systems, reliability habits, platform boundaries, and team ownership.
- [DevOps Lessons From Conference Tracks](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/devops-lessons-from-conference-tracks): A practical look at how legacy conference themes map to modern DevOps practice.
- [Docker Build: How an Image Becomes Runnable](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/docker-build): Docker build explained for teams: Dockerfiles, layers, build context, cache behavior, tags, and reviewable release artifacts.
- [Docker Desktop: What Developers Should Know](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/docker-desktop): Docker Desktop explained for teams: local containers, images, Compose, licensing checks, and when Desktop helps or hides details.
- [Docker Images: What They Are and How Teams Use Them](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/docker-images): Docker images explained as build artifacts: layers, tags, registries, reproducibility, security review, and team workflow.
- [Docker Run: A Practical Mental Model](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/docker-run): What docker run does, why image references matter, and how ports, volumes, environment variables, and cleanup fit together.
- [GCP Certifications: What You Should Know](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/gcp-certifications): A field-guide breakdown of Google Cloud (GCP) certifications: how the levels are structured, which cert maps to which role, and how teams should read them.
- [Install Docker on Ubuntu: What to Check First](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/install-docker-ubuntu): Before installing Docker on Ubuntu, check edition, source repository, permissions, service status, and your team's upgrade path.
- [Kubernetes Certifications: CKA, CKAD, CKS Explained](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/kubernetes-certification): A field guide to the official Kubernetes certifications, CKA, CKAD, CKS, KCNA, and KCSA, who runs them, what each validates, and which one to take first.
- [Kubernetes Cluster: What the Parts Do](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/kubernetes-cluster): A clear map of a Kubernetes cluster: control plane, nodes, pods, scheduling, services, and what teams must operate before adopting it.
- [What a Modern Java Track Can Learn From Conference Archives](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/modern-java-track-retrospective): How older Java conference themes still map to current backend work, from runtime choices to maintainable service boundaries.
- [Terraform Definition: Infrastructure as Code in Practice](https://chicagocoderconference.com/blog/terraform-definition): Terraform defined through team practice: configuration files, providers, plan, apply, state, review, and infrastructure drift.