Web programming is not just about how you can develop applications but also about how these applications can be deployed on a website. There are a number of control panels which have been provided by hosting companies that can help a web developer in the deployment of his applications. However, once your website grows in size and scalability, you might have to look for a better alternative, for instance the Linux administration.
This is a specific field and a developer needs to master a few skills in order to effectively enjoy its use for greater results. If you are able to effectively deploy your applications using the Linux administration, you will always have an easy time in testing and debugging, which can save you a great deal of time.
Here are some tasks you should be able to perform in order to effectively deploy your applications on Linux administration:
1. How to make SSH connections
It is important for a web developer to know how to make SSH connections. This entails being able to log in to a remote system in order to perform any task on that system. You can use Putty for this if you are using Windows, or you can use SSH commands directly if you are using a Mac OS or Linux operating systems. If you want to have an easy time automating tasks between computers, you can opt not to have any password to connect your computers to your servers. Making SSH connections should be the first thing you learn once you decide to use Linux administration because this is what you will always do once you start the deployment process.
2. How to operate files
This is equally important in the use of Linux administration. Web developers should be able to create, copy and move files as well as directories anywhere in their file systems. This is a very easy task especially if you have used Linux and Mac before. However, be careful not to use commands while operating files as this can affect your directories in one way or the other. You could end up deleting your data permanently.
3. How to use Rsync
This is a very useful tool that can help a lot in synching data between different servers. This is in order to create a simple backup for your workstations. With this tool, only the changed files can be copied. You can use compression too in order to make better use of the available space. It is essential to practice with Rsync, to master how to use it well before you start applying it when deploying your applications. Another important skill to master here is how you can automate backups as well, using some of the tools that are available with Linux.
4. Learn about configurations
Configuration in this case refers to the way functional units in a system are arranged, in most cases according to their nature, number and also according to their main characteristics. This is what affects the functioning and performance of a system. Web developers should always be aware of how their servers are performing. If it is not performing as it should, you should know how to configure it in order to boost its performance. There are very simple things you can do in order to better your system performance for instance assigning more memory to your web or server. There are ways you can optimize your database configuration too in order to enjoy better performance in the end.
5. How to use GIT or SVN from command line
These are very important as they will save the developer a considerable amount of time in case of a huge mistake during the deployment process. It is therefore good to know how to work on operations that are related to GIT or SVN on your command line. This way, you will be able to integrate the deployment to your version system, just in case if you need to refer to it in the future.
6. How to configure apache or your web server
It is important for a web developer to be aware of the way his server functions and its common configurations. If you are on apache for instance, you should know about its virtual host settings as well as its .htaccess file handling capabilities. You should know what you can do and what you cannot do on your server too. This will help you take advantage of your server’s capabilities to better your performance. To work even better, learn how you can minimize the memory foot print of your web server in order to boost your performance.
7. How to use cron jobs
With cron, a web developer will be able to schedule commands or scripts on his servers to allow them to run automatically at a specified time or date. This is very useful as it helps automate tasks that should be repeated, saving you time and energy. Web developers should therefore be able to set the schedules of their cron jobs. This is the only way you will be able to handle some common tasks like regenerating cache and clearing garbage on a particular part of the application without necessarily doing everything from scratch.
As a web developer, it is always important to have the necessary skills to work on any project you will come across. Your clients will entrust you with their businesses to develop an application or website that will benefit the business in the end. These are for instance some of the most important tasks you need to be able to do in order to work well as a Linux administrator. There are tasks that are pretty easy like the common ones such as creating and editing files. They are as important as all the others; therefore, if you are planning to use Linux administration for deployment of your websites and applications, you need to equip yourself with the most important tasks, starting with these.