techExposed
/Breaking Down Technical Technology
Hosted by Raheem Kareem
/Breaking Down Technical Technology
techExposed
Presented by Raheem Kareem, techExposed: Breaking Down Technical Technology isn’t just another tech series—it’s the ultimate guide to solving the challenges of the digital age. In a world where technology evolves faster than ever, understanding the inner workings of the tools we rely on is crucial. This series tackles the pressing issue of tech literacy by demystifying the complex processes behind the development and application of cutting-edge technologies.
Throughout the technical series, Raheem Kareem takes viewers on an insightful journey, from the innovation hubs of FAANG (Big Tech) companies to the dynamic environment of agile startups. The series doesn’t just skim the surface; it dives deep into the technical foundations that shape our everyday lives, offering hands-on tutorials and expert insights on critical topics like cloud computing, DevOps, AI, and software development.
With a focus on making the complex accessible, techExposed is designed for everyone—from those just entering the tech field to seasoned professionals looking to sharpen their skills. Each episode breaks down intricate concepts into easily digestible segments, providing viewers with the knowledge and tools they need to excel in the ever-changing tech landscape.
As technology becomes increasingly integral to every aspect of our lives, this series serves as a timely solution to the growing gap in tech understanding. By equipping viewers with practical knowledge and a deeper understanding of the technology that powers our world, techExposed is poised to become a must-watch for anyone eager to stay ahead in the digital era.
This series is more than just educational—it’s an essential resource for anyone looking to navigate and thrive in today’s tech-driven world.
techexposed: /Breaking Down Technical Technology
What are containers?
In this first episode of techExposed, Raheem Kareem explains what containers are, a lightweight form of virtualization that allows developers to package applications and their dependencies together. We explore the benefits of containers, such as isolation, portability, and efficient resource utilization. We also take a look at Docker, a popular container platform, and demonstrate how to run a simple Nginx web server using Docker. Containers are widely used in real-world applications, powering microservices architectures and accelerating deployment cycles.
Technical resources:
techexposed: /Breaking Down Technical Technology
Kubernetes 101: the basics
In this episode, Raheem Kareem explores Kubernetes, the leading platform for container orchestration. We discuss the key components of Kubernetes, including the master node, worker nodes, pods, services, and deployments. We then walk through setting up a basic Kubernetes cluster using Minikube and Docker Desktop. We learn how Minikube leverages Docker Desktop to manage Kubernetes clusters on our local machine. Finally, we discuss how Kubernetes is used by organizations to manage their containerized applications at scale, and we preview our next episode on microservices architecture.
Technical resources:
- Docker Desktop: Build with the #1 most-used developer tool
- Minikube start: minikube is local Kubernetes, focusing on making it easy to learn and develop for Kubernetes. All you need is Docker (or similarly compatible) container or a Virtual Machine environment, and Kubernetes is a single command away: minikube start
techexposed: /Breaking Down Technical Technology
Microservices architecture
In this video, Raheem Kareem discusses microservices architecture, a design pattern that is transforming how we build and deploy applications. We explain that microservices architecture breaks down applications into small independent services that can be developed, deployed, and scaled independently, each corresponding to a specific business function. We discuss the benefits of microservices, including increased scalability, improved fault isolation, and faster time to market. We then walk through an example of setting up a simple microservices architecture using Spring Boot and the Spring ecosystem. We also mention that leading tech companies like Netflix and Amazon use microservices to handle their vast complex systems, allowing them to innovate rapidly and scale effectively.
Human resources:
techexposed: /Breaking Down Technical Technology
RESTful APIs explained
In this episode, Raheem Kareem talks about RESTful APIs, a crucial technology for enabling communication between different systems. We discuss the key principles of REST, including stateless communication, uniform interface, and resource representation. We then create a simple REST API using Node.js and Express, following a lab exercise from the Postman blog. We cover the steps to set up the development environment, install the necessary dependencies, and build the API.
Technical resources:
- How to create a REST API with Node.js and Express
- Node.js: a free, open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment that lets developers create servers, web apps, command line tools and scripts
- Express: Fast, unopinionated, minimalist web framework for Node.js
- IntelliJ IDEA – the Leading Java and Kotlin Integrated Development Enviornment (IDE) – JetBrains
- Postman: API validation
techexposed: /Breaking Down Technical Technology
Intro to GraphQL
In this episode of Tech Exposed, Raheem Kareem dives into GraphQL, a powerful query language for APIs that offers more flexibility and efficiency than traditional REST. We explore GraphQL’s advantages, including efficient data fetching, strong typing, and the ability to query multiple resources in a single request. We’ll guide you through the process of getting started with GraphQL, from setting up a project to executing your first GraphQL query. We’ll also cover setting up a GraphQL API server using Express and using the GraphiQL tool for interactive querying and exploration. Join us as we unpack the capabilities of this transformative technology.
Technical resources:
techexposed: /Breaking Down Technical Technology
Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture
In this video, Raheem Kareem explores the model-view-controller (MVC) architecture, a design pattern used to separate concerns in software development. We discuss how MVC divides an application into three interconnected components – the model, the view, and the controller – and how this separation helps manage the complexities of large applications. We then look at an example of how these components interact and how Ruby on Rails, a popular web framework, follows the MVC pattern. We also mention the benefits of the MVC pattern, including organized code, easier maintenance, and improved testability, and recommend checking out Noble Desktop and rbenv for hands-on experience and version management, respectively.
Technical resources:
techexposed: /Breaking Down Technical Technology
Event-driven architecture (EDA)
In this episode, Raheem Kareem explores event-driven architecture (EDA), a crucial design pattern for building responsive and scalable applications. We discuss how EDA revolves around events, significant changes in state, and how it enables asynchronous communication and decoupling between services. We then dive into implementing an event-driven system using Apache Kafka, a popular event streaming platform, and walk through the process of setting up a producer and consumer. We also discuss the wide range of applications that utilize EDA, such as real-time analytics, monitoring, and e-commerce systems.
Technical resources:
techexposed: /Breaking Down Technical Technology
Building CI/CD pipelines
In this episode, Raheem Kareem dives into continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines, an essential part of modern software development. We discuss how CI/CD enables teams to deliver code changes more frequently and reliably, and the benefits it brings, such as faster deployment cycles, improved code quality, and reduced risk of deployment failures. We then walk through setting up a simple CI/CD pipeline using Jenkins, a popular open-source automation server, and explore deploying Jenkins in the public cloud. Finally, we discuss how CI/CD is widely used across the tech industry, from small startups to large enterprises, and how it’s transforming software delivery.
Technical resources:
- Jenkins.io: the leading open source automation server, Jenkins provides hundreds of plugins to support building, deploying and automating any project
- Download and deploy Jenkins.io
- Creating a Jenkins pipeline
- GitHub (Raheem Kareem’s profile)
- Types of cloud computing infographic diagram by RK Blueprints
techexposed: /Breaking Down Technical Technology
Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
In this episode of Tech Exposed, Raheem Kareem discusses infrastructure as code (IAC) and how it is a game changer in the world of cloud computing and dev apps. We explore the benefits of IAC, such as consistent environments, reduced configuration drift, and rapid deployment of infrastructure changes. We then dive into using Terraform, a popular open-source tool, to define and manage infrastructure in a declarative configuration language. We walk through the process of writing Terraform configuration files, initializing and applying them to deploy resources, and exploring the HashiCorp ecosystem. We also touch on the various learning paths and courses available for Terraform, as well as the importance of IAC in cloud environments.
Technical resources:
- Terraform: an infrastructure as code tool that lets you build, change, and version infrastructure safely and efficiently (created by HashiCorp)
- Terraform w/ GCP
- What is Infrastructure as Code with Terraform? (has tutorial that includes a free interactive command-line lab that lets you follow along on actual cloud infrastructure – use Terraform in a hosted terminal to build and destroy a Docker container)
- Google Cloud Skills Boost Learning paths: guided journeys through several learning activities that will help you gain the skills you need to help you grow your career
- Google Cloud Skills Boost course catalog
- Raheem Kareem’s Google Cloud Skills Boost
techexposed: /Breaking Down Technical Technology
API gateways
In this episode of Tech Exposed with Raheem Kareem, we take a closer look at API gateways, a critical component in managing, monitoring, and securing APIs. We discuss the benefits of using an API gateway, including improved security, simplified client interactions, and centralized monitoring and logging. We then dive into setting up an API gateway using AWS (Amazon Web Services) API Gateway, exploring the documentation and guided workshop to get hands-on experience. We also discuss how API gateways are commonly used in microservices architecture and for managing public APIs. Finally, we tease our next episode, where we’ll explore the world of NoSQL databases and their use cases.
Technical resources:
techexposed: /Breaking Down Technical Technology
NoSQL databases
In this episode of Tech Exposed, Raheem Kareem dives into the world of NoSQL databases, an alternative to traditional relational databases that is gaining popularity in big data and real-time web applications. We explore the key features of NoSQL databases, including flexible schemas, horizontal scaling, and the ability to handle large volumes of unstructured data. We then focus on the popular NoSQL database, MongoDB, and walk through the steps of setting up a free cloud database using MongoDB Atlas. We also discuss the various use cases of NoSQL databases, from real-time analytics to content management systems.
Technical resources:
techexposed: /Breaking Down Technical Technology
Building Large Language Models (LLMs) with AI & ML
In the final episode of Tech Exposed: Breaking Down Technical Technology, host Raheem Kareem explores the groundbreaking world of Large Language Models (LLMs) with AI and ML. From showcasing top industry platforms like OpenAI, Meta, and Google Cloud to hands-on walkthroughs of building and testing AI models, this episode uncovers the magic behind the technology powering chatbots, content generation, and more. Raheem also delves into ethical challenges and shares essential resources to help you get started with LLMs. Tune in for an exciting close to this informative series.
Technical resources:
- “Generative AI & LLMs for dummies”
- OpenAI platform
- ChatGPT
- Llama by Meta (formerly Facebook)
- Meta.ai
- PaLM 2 by Google
- Large Language Models powered by world-class Google AI
- Google Cloud console
- Gemini by Google
- Build and test LLM applications with AIConfig and CircleCI
- circleci-lastmile-ai on GitHub
- CircleCI console
- Large language model (LLM) development framework infographic diagram by RK Blueprints
