Learn Azure Fundamentals via challenges and code samples
Tags: azure, challenge, beginners, serverless
Published: 2019-12-07 01:57:59

The developers often ask me at meetups/conferences on how to get started with Azure, and I would end up pointing them to [product documentation](azure.com) or [docs.com](docs.com/azure). But developers need more, and hence, I designed below challenges to get started with Azure & to learn new technologies hands-on.

#### Resource Links & References

1. Interested in the cloud, but aren't quite sure what it can do for you? This path is the place to start - [Azure Fundamentals](https://aka.ms/learnaz).
2. Explore [Code Samples](https://aka.ms/CodeonAzure) for different services.
3. Explore some [MS Learn Content](https://aka.ms/HN/AIML) on AI & ML.
4. Learn more about [Azure App Service](https://aka.ms/HN/appservice).
5. Learn about containers & kubernetes - [ebook](http://bit.ly/dockerk8s).
6. Azure for Developers - [GitHub repo](http://bit.ly/wsazdev).

#### Challenges - Virtual Machines

Challenge 1 - Build a scalable application with Azure Virtual Machine scale sets 

Challenge 2 - Manage virtual machines with the Azure CLI (Create, Start/Stop VM, Install software on VM)

Challenge 3 - Build a basic website using Quickstart Azure Resource Manager templates

Challenge 4 - Build and run a web application with the MEAN stack on an Azure Linux virtual machine

Challenge 5 - Backup Azure Virtual Machine & Restore Virtual Machine with data

Challenge 6 - Monitor the health of your Azure virtual machine by collecting and analyzing diagnostic data (Metrics Like - CPU, Data Disk, Network, OS disk, etc.)

#### Challenges - App Service

Challenge 1 - Build a Python (Django) web app with PostgreSQL in the Azure App Service ([Sample code](https://github.com/Azure-Samples/djangoapp))

Challenge 2 - Dockerize [Sample Code](https://github.com/Azure-Samples/djangoapp); build a custom image and run in App Service from an Azure Container registry

Challenge 3 - Build a Node.js and MongoDB app in azure using the Azure App Service

Challenge 4 - Deploy [Sample Code](https://github.com/Azure-Samples/djangoapp) using Azure App Service from visual studio, CLI & Powershell

Challenge 5 - Deploy to Azure App Service by using the Jenkins plugin

#### Challenges - Serverless

Challenge 1 - Create an HTTP triggered Python function in Azure

Challenge 2 - Create a blob trigger to invoke a function when a blob is created or updated in Azure Storage

Challenge 3 - Create a function app that deploys from a GitHub repository, Azure DevOps Repository

Challenge 4 - Create a function app using CosmosDBTrigger and connect it to an Azure Cosmos DB

Challenge 5 - Deploy a Python or a Java app using Azure CLI & Azure Functions Tools

Challenge 6 - Deploy Functions with Logic Apps and Cognitive Services on Azure to run sentiment analysis from Twitter posts. An email to be sent when poor sentiment is detected

#### Challenges - AI + Machine Learning

Challenge 1 - Use Azure Cognitive Services to build a translator app hosted on Azure App Service - [Reference](https://aka.ms/HN/AzAPS)

Challenge 2 - Build & deploy FAQ page using chatbots ([Example]  (https://aka.ms/HN/AzBots))



I will be adding more challenges in my next post on Containers, Kubernetes, Azure DevOps, and more.