Useful Tech Resources

Intro

This page exists to share resources we’ve encountered that may prove useful to others (including those starting out in their IT careers that I work with) and in some cases a shortcut for me to return to resources.

  1. Intro
  2. General Resources
  3. GIT
  4. API
  5. Oracle Cloud
  6. Development Knowledge Bases
  7. Dev Tools
  8. Development Platform Resources
  9. OS Resources
  10. Development Thought Leaders
  11. Development Language Resources
  12. Paradigms, Principles & Architectural Philosophy
  13. Patterns & Integration
  14. UI/UX
  15. Softskills
  16. Publisher Free Content
  17. Security
  18. Call for Papers
  19. SEO
  20. Sources of General Tech Insights

General Resources

The following is a list of general resources that prove to be useful and cover many different domains:


GIT

NameDescription / Explanation
GIT free bookFree comprehensive book from APress on GIT
Git Cheat SheetQuick reference
GitHub searchAn explanation has to how to construct searches that will look inside of the code and across multiple modules. For example org:oracle-devrel extension:tf in:file template_file Search for references to template_file in all files with the terraform extension for the Oracle devrel repositories.
OpenGitOpsCNCF governed project to define best practises and tools to support the idea of GitOps
All things GIT related

API

NameDescription / Explanation
Nordic APIsFree comprehensive book from APress on GIT
API EvangelistQuick reference
goodAPIWebsite for consultants – with good blog and related tech resources for APIs
Open API Spec visualization toolExcellent visualization tool for the Open API Specifications from API Handyman
API HandymanThis is the apps and service side of the organization that lead to the Swagger API specification, which became OAS v2. IMHO, the tooling is not as usable as Apiary
OWASPIn addition to a great tool, blog, and links to API Handyman‘s book published through Manning
ApiaryThis is the apps and service side of the organization that lead to the Swagger API specification, which became OAS v2. IMHO, the tooling is not as usable as Apiary
Swagger HubCatalog of API tools and their compatibility with different versions of the standards.
API Friends
API AcademyAPI design and mocking portal. Two versions, one is free for all, and the other costs and provides a range of features. Apiary supports Open API Specification (OAS) and API Blueprint, although Oracle, who owns Apiary, focuses on the more dominant OAS
API ToolsThis is the apps and service side of the organization that lead to the Swagger API specification, which became OAS v2. IMHO, the tooling is not as usable as Apiary
AsyncAPIExcellent information resources, including online training resources.
APIcurioRegistry of schemas for Open and AsyncAPIs
GraphQLGraphQL Spec
gRPCSpec and tooling for the API standard donated to CNCF by Google
Webhooks Foundation
All things API related

Oracle Cloud

go here for Oracle’s owned content.

NameDescription / Explanation
Oracle Integration CloudLinked to the book for Packt and tracks all the new community content on the use of OIC
OCI Architecture Best PracticesOracle recommends a set of best practices to design and operate cloud topologies that deliver the maximum business value.
OraWorldMagazine linked to DOAG (user group) (A journal that I have written for)
Red Thunder BlogOracle team based in Australia and New Zealand publishing good articles around Oracle tech such as integration AI/ML
AMIS Oracle BlogHome of an Oracle partner with a very active blogging team sharing lots of useful tech insights.
Foggy KitchenSite contributed to by Luke Martin Feldman (aka Martin Linxfeld) – Oracle Terraform guru
Oracle Terraform Provider docTerraform provider documentation
All things Oracle Cloud related

Development Knowledge Bases

NameDescription / Explanation
CNCFCloud Native Computing Foundation – home of many of the leading cloud-related open source projects from K8s onwards
Artifact Hub — CNCF repositoriesFrom Helm Charts to prebuilt Keda configurations
CI/CD FoundationAnother child organization of the Linux Foundation (like CNCF) but covering technologies supporting continuous integration and delivery.
Container Journal
Chris Richardson’s Micerservices.ioExceptional book covering many design patterns for Microservice style development.
ThoughtWorks Tech Insights
Confluent (Kafka)see below
DZone (Ref Cardz)Cloud Native Computing Foundation – home of many of the leading cloud-related open-source projects from K8s onwards
DevOps-ResearchReports on the adoption of DevOps, performance measurement, etc., such as DORA. More on DORA here.
Catalog of free programming language ebooksCatalog of free programming books. The books can vary in detail, quality and age. But the breadth makes it worthwhile checking out
MDNMozilla Developer Network – lots of resource on Web twech from APIs to HTTPS
Regex101multi language REGEX online validation tool
All things Development related

Dev Tools

NameDescription / Explanation
Everything cURLReference for using the CURL CLI tool
Confluent (Kafka)see below
Kubectl QuickRefTwo-page quick ref to the core kubectl commands
VS CodeLight weight polyglot IDE
GitKrakenExcellent GIT tool
JenkinsJenkins Pipeline best practices etc
tfenvLightweight polyglot IDE
TheiaOpen-Source foundation to various editors including VS Code
Open LensCommunity/open-source version of Lens (commercial) – code here, binary here
Fluentd & Fluentbit
OpenTelemetry (OTel)OpenTelemetry documentation
JQ (JSON Commanf Line Processor)Commandline tool for rendering and manipulating JSON from simple pretty print and more
All things Development related

Development Platform Resources

NameDescription
NameDescription / Explination
KubeByExampleTutorials etc., for K8s
Prometheus
Grafana
Dev Platform related

OS Resources

NameDescription
TecMintIncludes some decent in-depth articles about Linux – for example, this view of what the different Linux root folders are meant for.

Development Thought Leaders

NameDescription / Explanation
Chris Richardson’s Micerservices.ioExceptional book covering many design patterns for Microservice style development.
Neal FordAnother thought leader with connections to ThoughtWorks. Focus on more architectural aspects.
Sam Newman
Martin FowlerLeading thinker around modern development techniques, including microservices. Name used on a series of very good Prentice Hall books covering a range of topics such as service design. Technical leader at ThoughtWorks.
Kin LaneAPI Evangelist
All things Development related

Development Language Resources

NameDescription / Explanation
You don’t know JS yetguide to Java Script
Python Language ReferenceThe definitive Language reference.
W3C SchoolsExcellent quick reference resources to multiple languages, including JavaScript and Python. Ideal for helping youngsters get coding as well.
GroovyScripting version of Java with convenience libraries to make things even easier to use.
Node JSOfficial node documentation e.g.,, use of import and export declarations
Nodejs.dev/learnMore tutorial-centric content
PL/SQL Dev StdsDevelopment standards for PL/SQL
Lua Language for the extension for Nginx, used by Fluentbit, etc. Additional education resource here
All things Coding related

Paradigms, Principles & Architectural Philosophy

NameDescription / Explanation
12 Factor AppSet of development and design principles for modern app development
Agile ManifestoSimple set of positioning statements that define Agile.
TOGAFThe most dominant architectural framework. Large and complex with additions to fit with Agile and other influencing ways of working.
SAFe
All things Architecture & Principles

Patterns & Integration

NameDescription / Explanation
Enterprise Integration Patterns (Gregor Hohpe)Reference information showing the Integration Patterns detailed in the definitive bible Enterprise Integration Patterns: Designing, Building, and Deploying Messaging Solutions by Gregor Hohpe and Bobby Woolf
Thomas Erl (Arcitura)Thomas Erl is the lead author of a set of excellent reference patterns books covering SOA, cloud, security, etc
Confluent/Kafkaconfluent is the company behind the development of Apache Kafka and the commercially supported version.
Microservices.ioChris Richardson’s summary of his Microservice Patterns book
Martin Fowler’s Enterprise Application ArchitectureMartin Fowler’s Further Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture
Gang of FourFamous Gang of Four Design patterns etc. It can also be found on Wikipedia
Microsoft’s Architecture ResourcesMicrosoft’s architecture resources, whilst referencing Azure, the majority of the content applies anywhere
J2EE PatternsClassic J2EE patterns
Service Design PatternsService Design Patterns by Robert Daigneau, with Ian Robinson (part of the Martin Fowler Signature Series)
Hybrid & MultiCloud PatternsPatterns include handling Hybrid use cases
Terraform development patternsA viewpoint on Terraform development patterns. Useful as it illustrates a journey for maturing the way Terraform is managed. It is a presentation rather than a repository of patterns.
All things Integration related

UI/UX

NameDescription / Explanation
https://www.interaction-design.org/A source of both training and freely available guidance documentation.
Don Normana major thought leader in usability, with excellent books on the subject. Part of the Nielsen Norman group (NNg)
Nielsen Norman Groupregular blogs on various usability techniques and best practices. Including an annual assessment of good and bad websites to illustrate recommended practices.
Alan Cooper (Designit)Leading expert on User eXperience, author of the About Face books. Very accessible UI/UX material.
All things Usability related

Softskills

NameDescription / Explanation
Enterprisers ProjectA website run by RedHat, but regular leadership articles and monthly release of HBR articles.
Harvard Business Review (HBR)A lot of the content is subscription/paywall. But some content is free. Good source of thinking about organization and people skills resources.
Draft.Dev Blog
All things Soft skills related

Publisher Free Content

NameDescription / Explanation
Manningfree ebooks, the majority are an aggregation of chapters from various books
Packtfree ebook scheme releasing different titles regularly along with a core set of free titles
ApressPro GIT, InfoSec Handbook, etc
EBook FoundationFree developer and related ebooks.
RedHat sponsored ebooksalso, RedHat sponsors Havard Biz Review articles for free in the Harvard Business Review at the EnterpriserProject site
Rational Cybersecurity for Business
The Security Leaders’ Guide to Business Alignment
APress book that tackles security from a business lead viewpoint. Addresses the challenges of organizational engagement, support, etc.
All things Book related

Security

NameDescription / Explanation
OWASP (Top 10)Open Web Application Security Project. Ideal developer resource on security includes Top 10 common mistakes guidance.
Center for Internet SecurityThe ideal reference for demonstrating good security compliance for deliverables covering not just software but also security processes.
SANS InstituteCentre for security thought leadership. Produces newsletter and a lot of deep security material.
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)Excellent source of technical recommendations
DLAPiperLaw firm with some great free resources to help understand legal requirements around the world for things like data protection.
All things Conference related

Call for Papers

Where to register to hear for call for paper conference submissions

NameDescription / Explanation
PaperCallannouncement and news aggregation
SeeCFP
CFP Land
Sessionizesite for submitting papers and conferences to be listed.
confs.techCFP announcements, news aggregation
Oracle Events Tracker
ClocWiseTracker for Oracle user group conferences.
All things Conference related

SEO

NameDescription / Explination
Search Engine Optimization Guide

Sources of General Tech Insights

NameDescription / Explanation
Internet ArchiveStats and trends on technologies being used to implement the internet e.g., versions of HTTP use, etc
OpenSource GuideViews on different aspects of delivering an open-source product, from metrics to licensing
Digital Practitioner Book of KnowledgeViews on different aspects of delivering an open-source product from metrics to licensing
Software Assurance Maturity ModelSoftware Assurance Maturity Model (SAMM) is an open framework to help organizations formulate and implement a strategy for software security that is tailored to the specific risks facing the organization
ByteByteGo Bloglots of really handy short tech summary resources. For example SQL summary, DevOps vs SRE vs Platform Engineering