Learn Claude Code.
Deploy Real Infrastructure.
A hands-on course for DevOps, SRE, QA, and developers.
Go from your first claude command to a live app on Kubernetes —
with AI as your co-pilot the entire way.
What You'll Build
Not a toy demo. A real Next.js dashboard app, containerized, deployed to k3s on DigitalOcean via GitOps, accessible from anywhere on the internet.
Before
ai-coderrank: a coding AI models leaderboard.
Running locally. Light theme. No infrastructure.
npm run dev → localhost:3000
After
Dark theme. Docker image. CI/CD pipeline. k3s cluster. ArgoCD GitOps. Public IP.
http://<droplet-ip>:30080 → live on the internet
Claude Code was used to build parts of Claude Code itself. In this course, you'll use Claude Code to deploy an app that ranks AI coding models — including Claude. It's AI all the way down.
Who This Is For
If you work in tech and haven't tried Claude Code yet, this is your on-ramp.
DevOps Engineers
Automate infrastructure tasks, write IaC, debug pipelines, and manage deployments through conversation.
SRE
Analyze logs, create runbooks, build monitoring skills, and set up automated health checks with Claude.
QA Engineers
Generate tests, review code for edge cases, automate test workflows, and build quality gates with hooks.
Developers
Ship features faster, get instant code reviews, manage git workflows, and understand unfamiliar codebases.
AI-Curious Practitioners
You use a terminal daily but haven't tried AI tooling yet. This is your practical on-ramp — real tasks, not toy demos.
Why Claude Code in 2026
Claude Code isn't just autocomplete. It's a full-session AI agent that reads your codebase, runs commands, edits files, manages git, and orchestrates multi-agent workflows. Here's what you'll master:
Plans & ADRs
Claude thinks before it acts. Enter plan mode, generate Architecture Decision Records, and create Mermaid diagrams — all from a conversation.
Custom Skills
Package team workflows as reusable slash commands: /review-k8s, /check-docker, /deploy. Your playbook, Claude-powered.
Hooks & Automation
Auto-format on save, block destructive commands, notify on completion. Hooks run shell commands at every lifecycle point.
MCP Servers
Connect Claude to GitHub, Slack, Linear, databases, and 50+ external tools via the Model Context Protocol.
Sub-agents & Teams
Spawn specialized AI workers for security review, K8s validation, or parallel research. Coordinate multi-agent teams on complex tasks.
CI/CD & GitHub Actions
Tag @claude in a PR for automated review. Create issues and let Claude implement them. Schedule recurring cloud tasks.
The Course
14 blocks. Each one builds on the last. By the end, you've deployed a real app and mastered Claude Code.
Welcome & Setup
Install Claude Code, authenticate, fork the project, and have your first AI conversation.
Understanding Your Codebase
Let Claude analyze the project, generate CLAUDE.md, and explore the architecture.
Running & Testing
Set up locally, run tests, build Docker — and watch Claude handle errors.
Planning with ADRs & Diagrams
Think before you code. Create ADRs, Mermaid diagrams, and an implementation plan.
Making Changes — Dark Theme
Implement the dark theme, preview it, and commit — Claude handles the git workflow.
Memory & Project Intelligence
Teach Claude your preferences, team rules, and project conventions — across sessions.
Custom Skills
Build reusable slash commands for K8s review, Docker audit, and team workflows.
Infrastructure — k3s on DO
Provision a DigitalOcean droplet, install k3s, and deploy the app to Kubernetes.
Hooks — Workflow Automation
Auto-format, notify, block dangerous commands — hooks fire at every lifecycle event.
MCP Servers
Connect Claude to GitHub, filesystems, and external APIs via the Model Context Protocol.
GitHub Actions & CI/CD
Automate PR reviews, issue implementation, and code quality with Claude in CI.
Sub-agents
Create specialized AI workers for security review, K8s validation, and parallel tasks.
GitOps Finale — ArgoCD
The grand finale. Push to git, ArgoCD syncs, dark theme goes live on the internet.
Advanced Patterns
Agent teams, plugins, headless mode, Desktop app — and where to go next.
What You Need
Minimal prerequisites, minimal cost. That's the point.
Prerequisites
- You know git and can open a terminal
- Basic familiarity with Docker concepts
- A GitHub account
- A DigitalOcean account (new accounts get $200 free credit)
- Curiosity and about 10 hours of focused time
No Kubernetes experience needed — we teach that as we go.
Cost Breakdown
Tear down the droplet after the course to stop charges. DigitalOcean new accounts get $200 free credit — enough to run this course for free.
Need help applying this to your real stack?
Get Mentoring →Facts, pricing, and Claude Code features last verified on 2026-04-06. See official docs for the latest.