Explain the Cloud Like I’m 10

This is a completely updated and expanded version.

What is the cloud? Discover the secrets of the cloud through simple explanations that use lots of pictures and lots of examples.

Why learn about the cloud? It’s the future. The cloud is the future of software, the future of computing, and the future of business. If you’re not up on the cloud, the future will move on without you. Don’t miss out.

Not a techie? Don’t worry. I wrote this book for you! After reading Explain Cloud Like I'm 10, you will understand the cloud. You will understand how the cloud works. You will understand all the major technologies that make up the cloud. When you hear someone say some new cool thing is in the cloud, you’ll understand exactly what they mean. You will feel the cloud deep in your bones. That’s a promise.

How do I deliver on that promise? I’ll tell you a little secret: the cloud is not that hard to understand. It’s just that nobody has taken the time to explain it properly.

I take the time. I go slow. You’ll learn step-by-step, one idea at a time. You’ll learn by seeing and understanding. You’ll learn something new, whether you’re a beginner, someone who knows a little and wants to know more or thinking about a career change.

In Explain Cloud Like I'm 10, you’ll discover:

   An intuitive picture-based definition of the cloud.

   The deepest secrets behind how the cloud works and what cloud providers do.

   How the cloud got its name. A more interesting story than you might think.

   What it means when someone says a service is in the cloud.

   Significant new advances in the cloud like the cloud model, cloud-native    development, DevOps, FinOps, and more.

   Should you move to the cloud at all?

   How to make your move to the cloud.

   How to select between AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes, private cloud, on-prem, colos, bare-metal, edge computing, hybrid-cloud, and multi-cloud.

   The difference between IaaS, CaaS, PaaS, FaaS, and SaaS and when you'll want to use them.

   How to learn more about the cloud after you finish the book.

   How to get a job in the cloud.

   All about cloud economics and how to significantly lower your cloud bill.

   If stormy weather affects cloud computing.

   How the internet really works. Most people don’t know. You will.

   The good, the bad, and the ugly of cloud computing. It's not all wine and roses.

   How cloud computing changed how software is made—forever.

   Why AWS became so popular. Hint: it’s not the technology.

   What happens when you press play on Netflix.

   Why Kindle is the perfect example of a cloud service.

   The radically different approaches Apple and Google take to the cloud.

   How Google Maps and Facebook Messenger excel as cloud applications.

   How Walmart built the most enormous hybrid cloud in the world.

   Why Coca-Cola loves serverless computing.

   Cloud providers are engaging in a winner-take-all war to addict you to their ecosystems.

   Key ideas like VMs, serverless, containers, multi-tenancy, workloads, virtualization, caching, OpEx, CapEx, networking, public key cryptography, EC2, S3, CDNs, elastic computing, auto-scaling, datacenters, cloud storage, latency, bandwidth, CPUs, GPUs, TPUs, OSs, Infrastructure as Code, automation, pipelines, CI/CD, APIs, functions, and programming.

   And so much more.

Sound like gobbledygook? Don’t worry! It will all make sense. There's so much to learn!

I’ve been a programmer and a writer for over 30 years. I’ve been in cloud computing since the beginning, and I’m here to help you on your journey to understand the cloud. Consider me your guide. I’ll be with you every step of the way.

Sound fun? Buy Explain Cloud Like I'm 10, and let’s start learning about the cloud today!