5 Beginner-Friendly Continuous Delivery Books to Start Your Journey

Discover beginner-focused Continuous Delivery Books endorsed by experts Nikhil Pathania, Stephen Fleming, and Joel Lord to build your skills confidently

Updated on June 24, 2025
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Every expert in Continuous Delivery started exactly where you are now: curious but cautious about where to begin. Continuous Delivery is reshaping software development by enabling faster, more reliable releases, making it an accessible yet vital skill to learn progressively. You don’t need to be overwhelmed by technical jargon or complex tools when starting out.

Experts like Nikhil Pathania, a solutions architect at Arla Foods specializing in Agile and DevOps; Stephen Fleming, a seasoned consultant guiding non-programmers through DevOps and SRE; and Joel Lord, a developer advocate with MongoDB focusing on cloud-native pipelines, bring practical insights into learning Continuous Delivery. Their books bridge the gap between theory and practice, making foundational concepts approachable.

While these beginner-friendly books provide excellent foundations, readers seeking content tailored to their specific learning pace and goals might consider creating a personalized Continuous Delivery book that meets them exactly where they are. This way, you can build a learning path suited just for you, avoiding overwhelm and focusing on what matters most.

Best for hands-on Jenkins beginners
Nikhil Pathania is a solutions architect with deep expertise in Agile, DevOps, and cloud technologies, brought to life through his work at multinational corporations and Arla Foods. His clear teaching style makes this book an approachable guide for anyone new to Jenkins and continuous integration, driven by his goal to simplify complex CI/CD systems for practical use. This background equips you to confidently create and optimize secure, resilient pipelines, blending traditional DevOps practices with AI-powered coding assistance.
2024·396 pages·Continuous Delivery, Jenkins, CI/CD, DevOps, Cloud Computing

When Nikhil Pathania first realized how fragmented CI/CD learning resources could overwhelm beginners, he crafted this book to offer a clear, accessible path through Jenkins and modern DevOps tools. You’ll gain hands-on skills in setting up Jenkins pipelines using GitOps principles and AI-assisted coding, with chapters that guide you from basic CI concepts to scaling secure, resilient pipelines in cloud environments. The book’s focus on practical integration of Jenkins with Kubernetes, SonarQube, and artifact repositories makes it especially useful if you want to build operational CI/CD workflows. If you’re aiming to move beyond theory into efficient, maintainable software delivery, this book provides a solid foundation without unnecessary complexity.

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Best for non-programmers new to DevOps
Stephen Fleming’s book breaks down Continuous Delivery and related practices into digestible parts for those without programming backgrounds. Its approachable style guides you through DevOps, Microservices, and Kubernetes with practical examples and case studies, making it a strong starting point if you’re new to IT or project management. The book also addresses key frameworks like Agile and Scrum, along with essential security topics, helping you build confidence to participate meaningfully in software development conversations and projects.
2018·352 pages·Continuous Delivery, Microservices, DevOps, Agile, Kubernetes

Stephen Fleming's background as a consultant and industry observer shapes this guide aimed squarely at newcomers to software development frameworks. This book takes you through the essential concepts behind Continuous Delivery, DevOps, Microservices, and Kubernetes without requiring coding experience, making complex ideas accessible through clear examples, case studies, and diagrams. You'll gain a solid grasp of Agile methodologies like Kanban and Scrum, understand architectural differences such as Monolith versus SOA, and appreciate the security considerations in deploying modern applications. If you're stepping into IT roles like project management or consulting, this book equips you to confidently engage with technical teams and stakeholders alike.

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Best for personal learning pace
This AI-created book on Continuous Delivery is tailored to your skill level and goals, ensuring a comfortable introduction to this essential software practice. By focusing on your background and specific interests, it removes overwhelm and helps you build expertise step by step. Unlike one-size-fits-all guides, this book is designed specifically for you, making learning both accessible and relevant. It offers a clear path for mastering Continuous Delivery principles at your own pace.
2025·50-300 pages·Continuous Delivery, DevOps Basics, Software Deployment, Pipeline Concepts, Automation Tools

This tailored book explores the foundational principles and practices of Continuous Delivery with a focus on your unique background and learning pace. It provides a clear, step-by-step introduction designed to build your confidence progressively while removing common sources of overwhelm. By matching your specific goals and current skill level, this personalized guide examines core concepts and practical techniques essential for mastering Continuous Delivery. The learning experience is carefully crafted to help you absorb the material comfortably, making complex topics approachable and relevant to your individual journey.

AI-Tailored
Foundational Mastery
1,000+ Happy Readers
What makes this handbook stand out is its approachable style tailored specifically for non-programmers eager to enter Continuous Delivery and Site Reliability Engineering fields. It methodically explores DevOps culture and microservices architecture, while guiding you through automation using Kubernetes, reflecting Google's SRE and DevOps philosophies. Whether you’re a project manager, business consultant, or part of a development team, this book equips you with the language and frameworks to confidently participate in or lead Continuous Delivery initiatives. It’s a solid foundation for anyone looking to understand and apply these important practices without being overwhelmed by technical jargon.
2018·440 pages·Continuous Delivery, Site Reliability, DevOps, Microservices, Kubernetes

Stephen Fleming’s background as a technology consultant shines through in this accessible guide aimed at demystifying Continuous Delivery and Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) for non-programmers. The book breaks down complex concepts like DevOps culture, microservices architecture, and Kubernetes automation into digestible explanations, helping you understand how Google’s SRE philosophies intersect with practical deployment strategies. You’ll find detailed case studies and answers to common questions that enable you to confidently engage with stakeholders or lead initiatives within your role. This book suits project managers, business consultants, and newcomers seeking a clear, structured entry point into Continuous Delivery and SRE without getting lost in code.

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Best for beginners learning Tekton pipelines
Joel Lord brings a strong foundation in computer programming and computational astrophysics to this book, paired with practical experience as a developer advocate at MongoDB. His passion for web technologies and teaching shines through as he guides you step-by-step to master Tekton Pipelines and Triggers. This book is designed to ease beginners into building powerful CI/CD pipelines within Kubernetes, making complex concepts approachable and actionable for those starting their continuous delivery journey.
2021·278 pages·Continuous Delivery, CI/CD, Continuous Integration, Tekton Pipelines, Kubernetes

Joel Lord's background in computer programming and his role as a developer advocate with MongoDB shape this accessible guide to Tekton-based CI/CD systems. You learn how to build flexible pipelines using Tekton Pipelines and Triggers, focusing on hands-on tasks like sharing data across pipelines with volumes and workspaces and automating deployments in Kubernetes clusters. The book breaks down core concepts such as reusable tasks and advanced features like WhenExpressions and Secrets, making it approachable if you have beginner-level Kubernetes knowledge. This is a solid choice if you want practical skills for creating cloud-native delivery pipelines without getting lost in overly complex theory.

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Best for mastering Jenkins automation basics
Mastering Jenkins offers a detailed exploration of Jenkins as a powerful automation server, making it an excellent starting point for newcomers to continuous delivery. This book guides you through everything from the basics of setting up Jenkins to more advanced topics like pipeline as code and plugin integration. Its focus on practical examples and real-world scenarios helps you understand how to leverage Jenkins to increase efficiency in software development and delivery. Whether you're a developer, system administrator, or DevOps professional, this book provides the tools to build and optimize your automation workflows effectively.
2023·648 pages·Continuous Delivery, Software Automation, Jenkins, Pipeline Configuration, Job Management

What happens when deep technical expertise meets a focus on continuous delivery? Bruno Dossantos developed this guide to help you grasp Jenkins, the automation server crucial for modern software pipelines. You’ll learn the nuts and bolts of Jenkins architecture, pipeline as code, plugin integration, and job management, all framed around improving your development workflow. The book lays out clear paths, like setting up your first pipeline and managing complex deployments, making it accessible to beginners and valuable for experienced users. If you're aiming to streamline automation and speed up delivery cycles, this book shows you how to put Jenkins to work effectively.

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Best for personal learning pace
This AI-created book on continuous delivery pipelines is tailored to your skill level and specific learning goals. It’s designed to introduce pipeline concepts progressively, so you can build confidence without feeling overwhelmed. By focusing on the aspects of pipeline creation and optimization you want to master, this book offers a customized learning path that fits your background and pace. It’s a practical way to gain hands-on skills in building CI/CD pipelines that work for you.
2025·50-300 pages·Continuous Delivery, Pipeline Creation, CI/CD Fundamentals, Automation Basics, Deployment Techniques

This tailored book explores the essential concepts and practical techniques for building and optimizing continuous delivery pipelines. It focuses on helping you understand pipeline creation at your own pace, progressively introducing foundational ideas and hands-on methods. By matching your background and goals, this personalized guide removes the overwhelm often encountered when learning CI/CD, guiding you through the steps to gain confidence with real-world examples and clear explanations. It covers everything from pipeline fundamentals to advanced optimization techniques, all tailored to the areas you want to focus on. This approach makes complex DevOps and CI/CD concepts accessible, enabling you to build effective, reliable pipelines that align with your unique learning journey.

Tailored Guide
Pipeline Optimization
1,000+ Happy Readers

Beginner-Friendly Continuous Delivery Learning

Build confidence with personalized guidance without overwhelming complexity.

Tailored learning paths
Focused skill building
Practical knowledge boost

Many professionals began with these foundations to excel in Continuous Delivery

The Continuous Delivery Blueprint
Pipeline Mastery System
DevOps Starter Formula
Confidence in Delivery Code

Conclusion

The 5 books highlighted here offer a range of beginner-friendly approaches: from the practical Jenkins pipeline tutorials by Nikhil Pathania to Stephen Fleming's clear guides for non-programmers exploring DevOps and SRE. They emphasize hands-on learning, real-world examples, and building confidence step by step.

If you're completely new, starting with the "Continuous Delivery Handbook" or the "Continuous Delivery and Site Reliability Engineering Handbook" will ground you in essential concepts with accessible language. For those ready to dive into tools, "Learning Continuous Integration with Jenkins" and "Mastering Jenkins" provide practical, guided introductions. "Building CI/CD Systems Using Tekton" is a great next step for exploring cloud-native pipeline automation.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized Continuous Delivery book that fits your exact needs, interests, and goals to create your own personalized learning journey. Remember, building a strong foundation early sets you up for success in this evolving field.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with the "Continuous Delivery Handbook" if you're new to DevOps concepts or Stephen Fleming's "Continuous Delivery and Site Reliability Engineering Handbook" for a clear, non-technical introduction to key ideas.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Continuous Delivery?

No, these books are chosen for their beginner-friendly approach. For instance, Fleming's guides are tailored for non-programmers, making complex topics accessible.

What's the best order to read these books?

Begin with foundational overviews like the "Continuous Delivery Handbook," then progress to tool-specific books such as "Learning Continuous Integration with Jenkins" and "Building CI/CD Systems Using Tekton" for practical skills.

Do I really need any background knowledge before starting?

Not necessarily. Books like the "Continuous Delivery Handbook" are designed assuming no prior coding experience, easing you into the field step by step.

Which book gives the most actionable advice I can use right away?

"Learning Continuous Integration with Jenkins" offers hands-on guidance for building and automating CI/CD pipelines, making it very practical for immediate application.

Can personalized Continuous Delivery books help me learn better than these expert titles?

Yes, personalized books complement expert guides by tailoring content to your unique background and goals, allowing you to focus on what matters most. Consider creating a personalized Continuous Delivery book for a customized learning experience.

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