Essentials: Core Python for Platform Engineers

Day One got you a script that solves one specific problem. Essentials is where those one-off scripts turn into patterns you reuse — pulling secrets and config the right way, working with the YAML your team already has everywhere (Kubernetes manifests, CI configs, Ansible playbooks).

Who This Is For

Essentials assumes you:

• Finished Day One, or already write basic Python scripts that work
• Want patterns that hold up once a script becomes something your team relies on
• Are ready for peer-to-peer tone — no hand-holding on the basics

What You'll Be Able to Do

Situation	Article
A script hardcoded a password once, and you don't want to do that again	Environment Variables and Secrets
Your team's Kubernetes manifests, CI configs, and Ansible files are all YAML	Working with YAML

The Articles

1. Environment Variables and Secrets — loading API keys, passwords, and tokens with environment variables, .env files, and secrets stores, without hardcoding anything
2. Working with YAML — reading, modifying, and generating YAML with PyYAML, including multi-document files, safe loading, and the pitfalls that bite people first

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Start with Environment Variables and Secrets — hardcoded credentials are usually the first thing worth fixing.

After Essentials, Efficiency covers professional-grade Python: CLI tools, logging, and testing your automation.