How I became a Docker Associate Certified?

Hello everyone!
First things First!

Yahhh! The GIF above describes exactly the way that I am feeling about passing the Docker Associated Exam!

Quite a challenge I would say! I spent 18 hours, 30 minutes and 53 seconds (super precisely hamn?!) studying, but yeah, sure I didn’t count all of it with some kind of timer tool. It all came from the Linux Academy Docker Preparation Course length.

But if you are thinking that just taking this course would move you straight to the success you are very, very, veeeeery #WRONG!

Even reading their Docker Cheat Sheet, some parts of the Dockerfile Documentation and doing some research around it, I failed in my first attempt (shame on me!).

I’ll point some of my first try mistakes below, it may be useful if you want to try the certification test as well:

• Overlook the Docker Documentation website. You #MUST go through their Dockerfile Best Practice and definitely read about their Docker Command Line Guide – pay attention to their command flags.
• Do hands-on labs. Either you use the Linux Academy Hands-on Labs or do it directly on your OS, practice, practice and guess what? #SIMULATE real situations -means practice!
• Search and try to find as much as possible simulated tests/questions online.
• Treat all topics from their Docker Study Guide seriously, really, even subtopics that you may think: – Naaah, it doesn’t seem that important.

… and what about notes?

– Take notes mate ! notes, notes and more notes !! Linux Academy has a nice flashcards solution if you prefer the digital form, or if you have a bad handwritten like me…

Okay, so now it’s time to talk about the test itself!

The exam consists of 55 questions, with multiple choices (sometimes you pick 2 or 3 options), and you have 90 minutes to complete it. In both of my attempts, I spent less than 40 minutes to finish the test, it’s pretty straightforward, either you do know exactly which option is correct or you will have to do some “moves” to, luckily, find the right one.

Be ready because you may be facing questions like:

• Which flag supposed to be used to do this and that – remember the flag warning above?! Yes, and again, take it seriously! 
• What are the differences between ADD and COPY commands?
• Having more than one FROM instruction in the Dockerfile is useful because…
• How do you know that a node actually left the Swarm?
• If you want to deploy a service in just some specific nodes, how can you accomplish it?
• Differences between publishing ports using -p and -P.
• How do you sign an image while pushing to your private repository?
• Which storage drive should you use for production workloads?
• Can you explain what –replicas flag and scale command do with your service?
• If you lost the Swarm key to join a node, either Manager or Worker, how to recover it?
• Do you know how to calculate a Swarm Quorum?
• What are the benefits/advantages of a user-created docker bridge network?
• The configuration involving Docker Client, Docker Daemon, Docker Swarm, Secrets, DTR and UCP.

Ufffff!!

I think that you may have, right now, a good idea about what the test will expect from you. Before closing this topic, I would like to share a pretty interesting repository about a Docker Study Guide for the exam.

• https://github.com/Evalle/DCA (thanks! Evgeny Shmarnev)

That is it #FOLKS!

If you are looking forward to trying this certification test, I wish you the #BEST!

As well, feel free to share your experience and hopefully with some good news!

NOTES: All those #hashtags around means nothing special, I just like to express feelings using it… 21st-century consequences!