Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Packer VS Google's Python Class

Compare Packer VS Google's Python Class and see what are their differences

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Packer logo Packer

Packer is an open-source software for creating identical machine images from a single source configuration.

Google's Python Class logo Google's Python Class

Assorted educational materials provided by Google.
  • Packer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-15
  • Google's Python Class Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-24

Packer features and specs

  • Multi-Provider Support
    Packer supports a wide variety of providers such as AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, VMware, and more. This allows for flexibility and the ability to create machine images across different environments.
  • Automation
    Packer automates the creation of machine images, eliminating the need for manual image configuration and reducing the potential for human error.
  • Script Reusability
    Packer allows for the reuse of scripts and configuration files, enabling a consistent and repeatable process for image creation.
  • Parallel Builds
    Packer can build multiple images in parallel, which can significantly speed up the provisioning process.
  • Idempotency
    Packer ensures that the output machine image is always an identical result given the same input configuration, reducing the risk of inconsistencies.

Possible disadvantages of Packer

  • Steep Learning Curve
    The variety of features and flexibility that Packer offers can make it complex and challenging to learn, especially for beginners.
  • Limited Debugging Tools
    Packer's debugging tools are not as mature or as integrated as those found in some other DevOps tools, making troubleshooting more difficult.
  • Configuration Complexity
    Complex configurations with multiple builders and provisioners can become hard to manage and maintain, leading to potential errors.
  • No State Management
    Unlike Terraform, Packer does not manage state, which means users need to handle state management separately if required.
  • Dependency on External Tools
    Packer often relies on external scripts and tools for provisioning, which can introduce additional dependencies and complexities.

Google's Python Class features and specs

  • Free Access
    The class is available for free online, making it accessible to anyone with internet access who is interested in learning Python.
  • Beginner-Friendly
    Designed for people with little or no coding experience, the class starts with the basics of Python programming, making it ideal for beginners.
  • Comprehensive Content
    Covers a wide range of topics from basic syntax to advanced functions, data structures, and more, providing a well-rounded introduction to Python.
  • Hands-On Exercises
    Includes exercises and code examples that allow learners to practice and apply what they've learned, reinforcing comprehension and retention.
  • Google-Endorsed Quality
    As a course offered by Google, learners can trust that the material is presented clearly and structured effectively by industry experts.

Possible disadvantages of Google's Python Class

  • Outdated Information
    Some of the materials and examples may be outdated, as Python and its libraries have evolved over time, possibly leading to confusion for learners expecting the latest practices.
  • Lack of Interactivity
    The static nature of the materials, such as downloadable slides and text resources, might not engage all learning styles as effectively as interactive platforms would.
  • Limited Advanced Topics
    While comprehensive for beginners, the class might not delve deeply into more advanced topics, which could limit its usefulness for intermediate or advanced learners.
  • Prerequisite Knowledge
    Assumes some familiarity with general programming concepts, which might be a hurdle for absolute beginners who have no coding background.
  • No Formal Certification
    Completing the class does not provide a recognized certification, which may be a downside for those looking to add credentials to their professional profiles.

Analysis of Packer

Overall verdict

  • Packer is a valuable tool for organizations looking to streamline their image building process and maintain consistency across different environments. Its flexibility and wide range of features make it a strong asset in infrastructure automation and DevOps pipelines.

Why this product is good

  • Packer is considered a good tool because it automates the creation of machine images for multiple platforms from a single source configuration. This efficiency reduces errors and speeds up the deployment process. Packer is highly versatile and integrates well with various configuration management tools, broadening its applicability across different environments. It also supports multiple cloud providers, making it a great choice for multi-cloud strategies.

Recommended for

  • DevOps teams
  • Cloud infrastructure engineers
  • Organizations using multi-cloud strategies
  • Teams seeking automated and consistent image building processes
  • Developers looking to integrate infrastructure as code practices

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Packer and Google's Python Class)
DevOps Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Online Learning
0 0%
100% 100
Continuous Integration And Delivery
Education
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Packer and Google's Python Class

Packer Reviews

Introduction to Top Open Source Virtualization Tools
Packer is notably light, high performing, and operates on every major operating system. It assembles and configures all the necessary components for a virtual machine then creates images that run on multiple platforms. Packer doesn’t replace configuration management tools like Puppet or Chef; as a matter of fact, when creating images, Packer can utilize tools like Puppet or...

Google's Python Class Reviews

We have no reviews of Google's Python Class yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Google's Python Class should be more popular than Packer. It has been mentiond 22 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Packer mentions (9)

  • Failed to connect to the host via SSH on Ubuntu 22.04
    If you have just upgraded to Ubuntu 22.04, and you suddenly experience either errors when trying to ssh into hosts, or when running ansible or again when running the ansible provisioner building a packer image, this is probably going to be useful for you. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Create a minimalist OS using Docker Containers and Hashicorp Packer
    I am already using Hashicorp Packer at work and for personal projects and I wanted to test This idea out by wrapping it a single Packer Template file. This reduces the level of maintaining a lot of small scripts, Dockerfiles and configurations and the user can simply trigger a couple of Commands to get a minimalist OS at the end of the process. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • After self-hosting my email for twenty-three years I have thrown in the towel. The oligopoly has won.
    And while it is a slight increase in complexity, it can be an overall net gain in functionality, configurability and reliability. Much like Packer is far more reliable and practical than manually making VM images sitting in front of a terminal, even though making the initial configuration takes some time. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Customized Ubuntu Images using Packer + QEMU + Cloud-Init & UEFI bootloading
    Hashicorp Packer provides a nice wrapper / abstraction over the QEMU in order to boot the image and use it to set it up on first-boot. Instead of writing really long commands in order to boot up the image using QEMU, Packer provided a nice Configuration Template in a more Readable fashion. - Source: dev.to / almost 3 years ago
  • The journey of sharing a wired USB printer over the network
    Packer seemed like the perfect tool for the job. I have never used it before and wanted to get familiar with the tool. It doesn't come with ARM support out of the box, but there are two community projects to fill that niche. - Source: dev.to / about 3 years ago
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Google's Python Class mentions (22)

  • [AMA] Gano $200,000+ MXN al mes a mis 23 años
    Https://youtu.be/rfscVS0vtbw Https://developers.google.com/edu/python/. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Best resources to learn Python?
    The original Google Python crash course was made for people like you in mind! Self paced with exercises set up for you to jump right in. Source: about 2 years ago
  • !CS 1005c Syllabus! Help
    Google Education Python Course: https://developers.google.com/edu/python/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • I want to learn Python as a hobby
    This is how I started, and was enough to get me started on a large automation project for work: https://developers.google.com/edu/python. Source: over 2 years ago
  • SCARED!! after first interaction with my manager.
    I think he might have chosen you for math skills. This tends to be good starting point for junior SE/DE. Follow some starter course for python if needed. Get familiar with pandas first, pyspark 2e. Some SQL can also do wonders. Source: almost 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Packer and Google's Python Class, you can also consider the following products

Terraform - Tool for building, changing, and versioning infrastructure safely and efficiently.

The New Boston video series - Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Puppet Enterprise - Get started with Puppet Enterprise, or upgrade or expand.

A Byte of Python - A Byte of Python is a Python programming tutorial and learning book that teaches you how to program with the Python programming language.

Rancher - Open Source Platform for Running a Private Container Service

Think Python - Learning Resources