My Comprehensive Roadmap for 2025

My Roadmap for 2025

Over the last few years, I have evolved from a curious Ruby beginner to a DevOps-focused engineer, deploying scalable, secure infrastructures. In 2024, I modernized a 13-year-old Rails application by migrating it from EC2 to ECS Fargate, which taught me how containerization can streamline operations by removing the need to manage servers directly. Meanwhile, Linkarooie, my side project, has become a proving ground for Rails upgrades and deployment innovations like Kamal.

As I look to 2025, I am doubling down on AWS ECS/Fargate for frictionless container orchestration where managing servers manually is not necessary. I am also exploring the benefits of deploying with Kamal on platforms like DigitalOcean. This roadmap unites my passion for Rails, AI-assisted development, and the fundamentals of Linux into a plan for continuous learning and professional development.

Immediate Focus (1–3 Months)

  • Linkarooie: Post-Rails 8 Upgrades and Feature Enhancements:

    • With OG image fixes and the Rails 8 upgrade complete, the next step is transitioning from invite-only signups to email validation, improving accessibility and maintaining security.

    • Leverage Kamal for deployments on DigitalOcean, taking advantage of container-based workflows without needing to manage raw VMs. Although Kamal can run on EC2, I prefer ECS/Fargate on AWS when possible to avoid server management altogether.
    • Scale performance with caching (Redis) and database optimizations so Linkarooie can handle an expanding user base.
    • **Upgrade Linkarooie to Ruby 3.4**, taking advantage of new language features and performance improvements introduced in the latest release.
  • Ubuntu Box Project:

    • I am enhancing my personal Ubuntu Box setup, which features Docker, Terraform, Kamal, and 1Password CLI to quickly stand up a production-like environment locally.

    • Document installation scripts, security best practices, and secrets management so others can replicate a similar all-in-one dev environment.
    • Emphasize hardened security from the ground up with SSH keys, firewall configs, and 1Password CLI for storing secrets.
    • Experiment with Docker Compose for local multi-service orchestration, ensuring a smooth transition from development to production.
  • AI-Assisted Coding with Cursor:

    • I am exploring Cursor to see how AI-driven coding suggestions accelerate development, especially for Rails and TypeScript codebases.

    • Integrate AI tools into my workflow for automated refactoring, debugging, and code reviews.
    • Evaluate Cursor's synergy with GitHub Actions and CI/CD pipelines for a smoother code release process.
  • Deepening Linux and Ubuntu Fundamentals:

    • I want to go further into Ubuntu internals, systemd, performance tuning, and shell scripting, to solidify my expertise in day-to-day operations.

    • Produce reference scripts and resources that help automate typical tasks and easily replicate production-grade environments.

Mid-Term Goals (3–6 Months)

  • Legacy Application Migration and Modernization:

    • As more teams move away from Heroku or older hosting setups, I want to formalize best practices for migrating legacy Rails or Node apps into AWS ECS Fargate. Containerization removes server management overhead and offers scalability.

    • Outline Docker-based strategies for these apps and manage data migrations from Heroku Postgres to AWS RDS.
    • Build robust CI/CD pipelines integrating secrets management, logging, and monitoring for a smooth transition.
  • Terraform and AWS Mastery:

    • Sharpening my Terraform skills ensures I can spin up AWS resources efficiently and securely. This is central to handling container orchestration, networking, and edge routing.

    • Develop advanced Terraform modules for ECS, Fargate, and Cloudflare Workers, allowing me to quickly provision entire infrastructure stacks on demand.
    • Experiment with cost-saving approaches like ECS auto-scaling, spot instances, and flexible networking setups.
  • Expanding Rails and Ruby Expertise:

    • With Rails 8 in production, I want to master new features such as ActionCable and caching enhancements that drive performance and developer happiness.

    • Combine end-to-end tests (Playwright) with RSpec for deeper coverage, ensuring confidence in complex systems.
    • Stay alert for emerging Ruby language features that can streamline my day-to-day coding workflow.
    • **Adopt Ruby 3.4 across new and existing projects** once tested in Linkarooie, maximising performance gains and staying current with the latest language improvements.
  • LLM and AI Integration:

    • Beyond Cursor, I will continue building and testing internal tools using GPT-4 or Claude for advanced tasks like text summarization, classification, and code introspection.

    • Focus on practical automations such as automated DevOps reporting or environment configuration suggestions.
    • Distinguish between truly beneficial AI-driven features and those that are hype.

Long-Term Exploration and Learning (6–12 Months)

  • Professional DevOps and Cloud Consulting:

    • By consolidating my experience in Rails, AWS ECS/Fargate, containerization, and AI tooling, I plan to offer specialized consulting services for companies needing modern infrastructure solutions, particularly those transitioning away from Heroku or legacy systems.

    • Define clear packages around Heroku-to-AWS, container migrations, and security-minded DevOps best practices.
    • Publish success stories that showcase real-world improvements in cost, performance, and developer velocity.
    • Launch a dedicated landing page or microsite that highlights these consulting services alongside my personal projects, such as Linkarooie.
  • Cloudflare Workers and Edge Computing:

    • While ECS and Fargate remain my go-to choices for container orchestration, I am also exploring the benefits of serverless edge solutions like Cloudflare Workers for real-time processing and reduced latency.

    • Implement edge caching, auth offloading, and possible dynamic image manipulation for global apps.
    • Contribute to open-source demos or tutorials that help others adopt edge computing strategies effectively.
  • Event-Driven Architectures and Observability:

    • Kafka, RabbitMQ, and AWS EventBridge are essential for building scalable, loosely coupled systems. I will keep refining my knowledge of these patterns to design robust microservices.

    • Build internal prototypes that handle real-time data streams or distributed events, capturing lessons learned in the process.
    • Elevate observability with Prometheus, Grafana, Axiom, or other tools to ensure that performance metrics and error tracking are top-notch.
  • Advanced Database Optimization and Scalability:

    • Whether it is Postgres or another relational DB, tuning for large-scale traffic remains a priority. Techniques like partitioning and read replicas can help me manage data growth without losing performance.

    • Delve deeper into advanced Postgres configuration, indexing, concurrency, and replication to keep data flow efficient.
    • Integrate real-time monitoring, alerting, and auto-failover strategies to mitigate downtime risks.

Core Principles Guiding This Roadmap

My journey is anchored by the following:

  • Continuous Learning:

    I stay sharp by reading, experimenting, and embracing new tools such as Cursor as they emerge, remaining adaptable in a rapidly shifting tech landscape.

  • Practical Application:

    Everything I learn finds a home in real projects like Linkarooie, the Ubuntu Box, or client migrations, ensuring my knowledge remains grounded.

  • Community Contribution:

    Through blogging, open-source code, and mentoring, I help others grow while expanding my own skills through collaboration and feedback.

Balancing Work and Life

As a father, managing time and energy remains crucial. I focus on high-impact goals that can be achieved without sacrificing family life, trusting that well-defined constraints often fuel more efficient innovation.

Conclusion

This roadmap merges my passion for Rails, AWS ECS/Fargate, AI-assisted development, and Linux fundamentals into a cohesive strategy for 2025. By committing to continuous learning and applying my insights in real-world scenarios, I am setting a strong foundation for future client engagements, open-source contributions, and more experimentation with cutting-edge tooling.

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