Infrastructure as code: running microservices on AWS using Docker, Terraform, and ECS

The goal of this session is to talk about the real-world mechanics of running a Docker cluster in Amazon Web Services.

We'll start by talking about why infrastructure as code matters. Then we'll talk about microservices, when they make sense, and when they don't. Next we'll cover a quick overview of Docker itself. Then we'll discuss one of the most exciting tools around for deploying infrastructure as code, Terraform. Finally, we'll bring it all together by covering Amazon's EC2 Container Service (ECS), which is a straightforward way to run a docker cluster in AWS.

The speaker, Josh Padnick, has worked with ~ 25 teams worldwide to optimize their DevOps and AWS setup, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small startups. He has extensive experience with AWS, Terraform, and Docker, and previously published A Comprehensive Guide to Building Scalable Web Apps on AWS, which received over 500 upvotes on Hacker News.

This presentation will be based on a prior talk given by my colleague, Yevgeniy Brikman. You can see a preview at http://www.ybrikman.com/writing/2016/03/31/infrastructure-as-code-microservices-aws-docker-terraform-ecs/. I'll be updating the slides to reflect the latest information (e.g. the new ALB) and put my own spin on a few things.