DEVOPS
IN THE
TRENCHES.
A field guide to building, changing, securing, operating and leading production systems under pressure.
Production doesn't care
how many tools you know.
When systems fail, what matters is the ability to understand the evidence, make difficult decisions, manage risk, and recover safely. DevOps in the Trenches goes beyond tools and tutorials to explore the engineering judgment behind reliable production systems.
See beyond the dashboard
Recognize the risks hidden behind successful deployments, healthy metrics, and apparently stable infrastructure.
Understand what breaks
Examine how automation, infrastructure, security, and organizational decisions can fail under pressure.
Build better judgment
Learn to evaluate trade-offs and make safer decisions when production systems are on the line.
For engineers who know that production reliability requires more than working tools.
What you'll learn
Inside the trenches.
Production-inspired scenarios, failure analysis, operational lessons, and practical decision frameworks. Explore what happens when infrastructure, automation, security, people, and organizational decisions meet under pressure.
GitHub currently opens the VERIQTA PRESS repository. Replace this link with the exact sample chapter URL when it is published.
For the engineers
who keep systems running.
Written for engineers and technical leaders who want to think beyond tools and operate production systems with greater confidence.
Ann Felix
Author of DevOps in the Trenches. A senior DevOps engineer, technical author, and the driving force behind VERIQTA, an engineering education brand focused on DevOps, cloud, site reliability, and platform engineering. Through VERIQTA, Ann develops technical learning resources and coordinates practical training programs designed to help engineers grow from understanding tools to making sound engineering decisions.
Her work explores the realities of infrastructure, delivery systems, operational risk, troubleshooting, and reliability. In DevOps in the Trenches, she brings that perspective to production-inspired scenarios: what can go wrong, why seemingly healthy systems fail, and how engineers can reason through uncertainty, competing priorities, and recovery under pressure.
Ann also leads VERIQTA PRESS, the publishing imprint for engineering books and field guides. Her goal is to make technical knowledge more practical, accessible, and grounded in the decisions engineers face when systems matter most.
Real systems.
Real failures.
Real lessons.
Not another DevOps tutorial. A field guide to engineering judgment when production is on the line.
DEVOPS IN THE TRENCHES · ANN FELIX
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Frequently asked questions.
Answers to the questions engineers and readers most often ask before purchasing.
Is this a beginner’s DevOps tutorial?
No. This is a field guide to production engineering judgment, not a command-by-command introduction to DevOps tools. Readers who already understand basic infrastructure and delivery concepts will be able to connect the lessons to their work.
Who should read this book?
DevOps engineers, site reliability engineers, platform engineers, cloud and infrastructure engineers, technical leads, and engineering managers who want to reason more clearly about risk, failures, and operational decisions.
Do I need years of production experience?
No specific number of years is required. Some familiarity with engineering systems is helpful, but the production-inspired scenarios are written to help readers build stronger judgment as they develop their careers.
Does the book contain code, commands, or step-by-step labs?
No. The book intentionally focuses on incidents, engineering trade-offs, ownership, decision-making, and lessons from production-inspired situations rather than scripts, commands, or hands-on lab walkthroughs.
What technical areas does the book cover?
The book explores infrastructure, Kubernetes, cloud, security, observability, databases, delivery practices, reliability, incident response, operational processes, and the human decisions that affect production systems.
Are the stories based on real incidents?
The book uses production-inspired scenarios and analysis. They are designed to reflect realistic engineering pressures; they should not be understood as a claim that every scenario documents a particular named company or actual incident.
How can I preview a chapter before buying?
Use the “Preview a Chapter on GitHub” link on this page. When the sample is published, the link will point to the specific preview file in the VERIQTA PRESS repository.
Where do I buy the book?
The “Get the Book” button will open the official SendOwl checkout once the product is available. Until then, this prototype does not collect payments.
What editions are available?
The available editions, prices, and any print or Kindle options will be confirmed on the live purchase page. This prototype does not promise an edition that has not yet been released.
How will I receive a digital edition?
Digital access and delivery instructions will be displayed at checkout once the edition is available. Follow the confirmation email and instructions provided by the official store.
Can I read the book on a phone, tablet, or computer?
Compatibility depends on the edition and file format purchased. The live product listing will state the format and any reading requirements before checkout.
Can I share the book with my team?
Purchases are intended for the license terms shown at checkout. Do not redistribute a personal-use copy. For team or organization access, contact VERIQTA PRESS to discuss suitable licensing.
Can I get a refund?
The applicable refund policy will be linked at checkout before purchase. Please review that policy for eligibility and instructions; this preview does not establish refund terms.
Is this book part of a VERIQTA bootcamp?
No. It is a standalone VERIQTA PRESS publication. It complements engineering learning, but it is not presented as enrollment in a bootcamp or a replacement for hands-on training.
Will there be more VERIQTA PRESS books?
VERIQTA PRESS is being developed as a home for technical books and engineering field guides. Future titles will be announced when their publication details are confirmed.