Learn to Cloud

What it is

Learn to Cloud is a free, open cloud engineering curriculum. It was founded by Gwyneth Peña-Siguenza, and Rishab Kumar has helped build it. It describes itself as free, open-source cloud engineering education, and it is organised in phases that each combine context, resources, a hands-on project, knowledge checks and suggested certifications. The original GitHub repository, which gathered about 5.8 thousand stars and is licensed under CC BY 4.0, was archived in February 2026 as the curriculum moved to the learntocloud.guide site.

The phases

• Phase 0, starting from zero: what Linux, networking, programming, cloud and DevOps are, and what a cloud engineer does.
• Phase 1, Linux and Bash: developer setup, the cloud CLI, SSH, command-line basics and a capture-the-flag lab.
• Phase 2, networking fundamentals: ports and protocols, HTTP and a network troubleshooting lab.
• Phase 3, programming fundamentals: Python, FastAPI, databases and calling generative AI APIs, with an API project.
• Phase 4, cloud platform fundamentals: compute, IAM, cloud networking, databases and AI services, ending in a secure deployment, on AWS, Azure or Google Cloud.
• Phase 5, DevOps fundamentals: containers, CI/CD, infrastructure as code, Kubernetes and monitoring.
• Phase 6, securing cloud applications: IAM and secrets, network security, monitoring and incident response.
• Phase 7, job search: personal branding, CV writing, networking and applying.

Is it worth your time?

If you want one free, ordered path from basics to a first cloud role, it is one of the best-known options. Its strength is that every phase ends with something you build, so you finish with projects rather than only notes. It is also provider-neutral: you choose your cloud for the platform phase.

How long it takes

The FAQ says most learners complete all phases in three to six months of part-time study. If you already program or know Linux, you can move quickly through the early phases.

Prerequisites

None. Phase 0 covers the basics. You will need a computer, a GitHub account if you want to track progress and submit projects, and a cloud account with a budget alert for the platform phases.

Free or paid

The curriculum is free, and you can browse it without an account. Sign-in with GitHub is needed only for progress tracking and project checks. Cloud usage during the projects may cost money outside free offers, and certification exams are paid.

Common questions

Does it replace a certification course? No. It tells you what to learn and gives you projects; for an exam, add the provider's official training and practice questions.

Is it only for one cloud? No. The platform phase supports AWS, Azure and Google Cloud.