CLOUD COMPUTING

I help IT teams maximize the value of cloud-native technologies by designing and delivering vendor-agnostic infrastructure that is secure, scalable, and resilient. As an expert Terraform developer, I build complete solutions from the network layer up, leveraging Kubernetes and a broad range of cloud-native tools. My database expertise spans relational, NoSQL, and in-memory systems, ensuring the right fit for any workload. I also design and manage machine learning and AI pipelines on leading cloud platforms, using frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Kubeflow, as well as integrated solutions such as SageMaker and Azure ML Studio, to create scalable, efficient, and production-ready ML workflows.

Code Samples & Publications

Hire me! I can help you with your next project, more details here.

These are a combination of managed GitHub repositories that I use for instructional purposes, combined with repositories belonging to open source organizations to which I am the maintainer. Most of these also demonstrate best practices for software management including pre-commit, linting techniques, and devops methods for automating unit testing, documentation and CI-CD operations for build, deploy and code dependency package updates.

Repository
Full StackData ScienceReact
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6845686
Last commit: Oct 2026
Total commits: 3,337
Python (40.8%)
HCL (34.7%)
JavaScript (18.6%)
FullStackWithLawrence/production-ready-aws-eks

This is the source code for my Blog Article and FullStackWithLawrence Youtube Video. Terraform scaffolding to create a production-ready Kubernetes cluster running inside its own VPC. Sets up spot pricing for EC2 instances, and installs and configures commonly needed packages including:

  • nginx-ingress-controller
  • cert-manager
  • metrics-server
  • prometheus
  • vertical pod autoscaler (vpa) Consists of the following source code:
Full Stack
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Last commit: Aug 2023
Total commits: 21
HCL (96.7%)
Smarty (3.3%)
Makefile (0.0%)
Full StackData Science
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Last commit: Oct 2026
Total commits: 2,187
Python (62.2%)
HCL (30.0%)
Makefile (2.9%)
cookiecutter-openedx/tutor-contrib-k8s-deploy-tasks

tutor plugin to manage deployment tasks that are exclusively (or mostly) specific to Kubernetes deployments.

  • oauth misconfiguration. tutor relies on an environment variable ENABLE_HTTPS to determine the protocol of the production oauth client for applications that rely on the LMS oauth service. For Kubernetes installations however, this value needs to be set to false which results in ./manage.py lms create_dot_application misconfiguring the oauth client for some, but not all, of these oauth clients. This plugin reconfigures the oauth clients of cms, discovery, ecommerce and credentials to use https protocol for redirect URI.
  • Nutmeg upgrade and initializataion tasks There are a few manage.py tasks that need to run for platforms that are upgrading to Nutmeg or newer from Maple or older. This plugin runs those tasks for you. For more information see Open edX Nutmeg Release <https://edx.readthedocs.io/projects/open-edx-release-notes/en/latest/nutmeg.html>_
  • Missing user profile records. User accounts created with manage.py lack a corresponding auth_userprofile record, which causes a 500 exception during login for that account. Adds a blank record in cases where a record is missing.
  • MFE misconfiguration. tutor-mfe relies on the value of ENABLE_HTTPS when generating the dict MFE_CONFIG, which in the case of k8s deployments will result in the browser blocking content due to "Mixed content". This plugin overrides the results of tutor-mfe openedx-lms-production-settings, replacing protocol produced by logic relying on ENABLE_HTTPS (assumed to result in 'http') with the hard-coded value 'https'.
  • Xblock storage configuration. creates this custom storage configuration <./tutork8s_deploy_tasks/patches/openedx-common-settings>_ designed to leverage this custom kubernetes ExternalService <https://github.com/lpm0073/cookiecutter-openedx-devops/blob/main/%7B%7Bcookiecutter.github_repo_name%7D%7D/terraform/environments/modules/kubernetes_ingress_clb/manifests/proxy-service.yml.tpl>_ and ingress <https://github.com/lpm0073/cookiecutter-openedx-devops/blob/main/%7B%7Bcookiecutter.github_repo_name%7D%7D/terraform/environments/modules/kubernetes_ingress_clb/manifests/ingress-scorm-proxy-service.yml.tpl>_ created by Cookiecutter for supporting AWS S3 storage for Xblocks.
Open edX
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Last commit: Jun 2025
Total commits: 99
Python (71.2%)
JavaScript (16.4%)
Makefile (12.4%)
cookiecutter-openedx/cookiecutter-openedx-plugin

An Open edX Plugin that implements customizations for deployment to Kubernetes. Implements the following:

  • Hooks for openedx Django Signals for 'user_logged_in', 'user_logged_out', 'register_user', 'course_enrollment_created', 'certificate_created' and more. Demonstrates both the legacy, and the newer methodology for subscribing to and listening for the signals.
  • Scaffolding for waffle flag setup, including Django model initializations. These are currently only used to enable Django Signals.
  • A custom badges backend that is compatible with django-storages backend for Amazon S3
Full StackOpen edX
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Last commit: Apr 2023
Total commits: 20
Python (94.4%)
Makefile (5.6%)
Open edX
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Last commit: Jun 2025
Total commits: 50
Shell (70.6%)
JavaScript (29.4%)
Private repositorylpm0073/openedx_devops

This repository contains Terraform code and Github Actions workflows to deploy and manage a Tutor <https://docs.tutor.overhang.io/>_ Kubernetes-managed production installation of Open edX that will automatically scale up, reliably supporting several hundred thousand learners.

Full StackOpen edX
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Last commit: May 2026
Total commits: 543
HCL (60.7%)
Shell (33.5%)
Smarty (5.6%)
smarter-sh/smarter-infrastructure

This repo contains Terraform source code for creating the AWS cloud infrastructure that supports the Smarter Api and web platform. Smarter is a declarative extensible AI authoring and resource management system. It is used as an instructional tool at University of British Columbia for teaching cloud computing at scale, and generative AI prompt engineering techniques including advanced use of LLM tool calling involving secure integrations to remote data sources like Sql databases and remote Apis.

Full Stack
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0000
Last commit: Sep 2026
Total commits: 145
HCL (90.1%)
Smarty (5.9%)
Makefile (2.1%)

These are articles that I've published. Usually from my personal blog, but every now and then from other sources.

Article
ChatGPT Full Stack Using React + AWS Serverless

Build a custom ChatGPT web app in no time with this open source ready-for-production React + AWS Serverless scaffolding. This completely free, public GitHub repository includes Vite, Terraform, AWS API Gateway and AWS Lambda.

ChatGPT Full Stack Using React + AWS Serverless
The New Github CoPilot

Check out how I’m using the new generative AI features in Github’s completely redesigned CoPilot inside of VS Code to help me with mundane daily coding chores.

The New Github CoPilot
OpenAI API With AWS Lambda

Fork this Github repo, hack up the examples, and have your OpenAI application in production in around an hour with this serverless solution based on AWS API Gateway + Lambda and the OpenAI Python library.

OpenAI API With AWS Lambda
Production-Ready AWS Elastic Kubernetes Service
Create a REST API With Wordpress

WordPress is a fast and highly effective platform for hosting a REST API for a variety of use cases, especially if your API endpoints serve content like images or filterable, categorized blocks of text. This step-by-step guide demonstrates how to implement a production-ready REST API in only a few hours, and with no custom coding

Create a REST API With Wordpress
Open edX Complete Backup Solution

Learn how to create a complete backup solution for your Open edX installation. This detailed step-by-step how-to guide covers backing up MySQL and MongoDB, organizing backup data into a single date-stamped tarball zip file, plus how to setup a cron job and how to copy your backups to an AWS S3 storage bucket.

Open edX Complete Backup Solution
LetsEncrypt On Amazon Linux + Apache

Get your Letsencrypt SSL certificate working on your AWS EC2 Amazon Linux 1 Apache instance in just a few minutes with this detailed step-by-step how-to guide.

LetsEncrypt On Amazon Linux + Apache
LetsEncrypt On Amazon Linux2 + Apache

Get your Letsencrypt SSL certificate working on your AWS EC2 Amazon Linux2 Apache instance in just a few minutes with this detailed step-by-step how-to guide.

LetsEncrypt On Amazon Linux2 + Apache
Serve a Django App from an AWS Lambda Function

Lets take a closer look at using Zappa in a real-world development environment for a full-featured Django app deployed to an AWS Lambda function, with static assets loaded to S3 and served by Cloudfront.

Serve a Django App from an AWS Lambda Function
How To Migrate A Wordpress Site

Whether you’re changing hosting providers or trying to clone a WordPress site to jumpstart a new project, rest assured that you can copy, migrate or rename your site in a matter of minutes. But there are a couple of details with the inner workings of WordPress that can cause problems. The following step-by-step tutorial will

How To Migrate A Wordpress Site

Videos from my YouTube Channel, Full Stack With Lawrence

Video
AWS Bedrock vs OpenAI

Check out my review of AWS Bedrock, Amazon's competitive response to the OpenAI API, which includes ChatGPT, DALL·E and other generative AI models. Links: ------- - AWS re:Inforce 2023 - Securely build generative AI apps & control data with Amazon Bedrock (APS208) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EDOTtYmkmI which is the source of the slides in this video.

AWS Bedrock vs OpenAI
OpenAI API With AWS Serverless: Quick Start

Source Code: https://github.com/FullStackWithLawrence/aws-openai Deploy your OpenAI application in one hour with this serverless solution based on AWS API Gateway + Lambda and the OpenAI Python Code: https://github.com/FullStackWithLawrence/aws-openai/tree/main/api/terraform/python Blog Article: https://blog.lawrencemcdaniel.com/openai-api-with-aws-lambda/

OpenAI API With AWS Serverless: Quick Start
OpenAI API: Docker Deployment Method

https://github.com/FullStackWithLawrence/openai-hello-world Deploy the Python OpenAI API using Docker in only five minutes with this handy tutorial that I use in an AI course that I teach at University of British Columbia. Happy learning!!! Also, here's a brief tutorial that better explains the OpenAI "Hello World!" Python application: https://youtu.be/RS9vH9FhGRI **

OpenAI API: Docker Deployment Method
Build a ChatGPT chatbot with React and AWS Serverless

This is a full stack implementation of each of the 30 example applications found in the OpenAI API official documentation, implemented using ReactJS, ViteJS, Terraform and the AWS Serverless components, API Gateway and Lambda. There are example Terraform implementations for Lambda using both Python and Node.js. Links: - The GitHub repository in this video: https://github.com/FullStackWithLawrence/aws-openai - This application deployed to production: https://openai.lawrencemcdaniel.com/ - OpenAI API Example apps: https://platform.openai.com/examples - Blog article: https://blog.lawrencemcdaniel.com/chatgpt-full-stack-using-react-aws-serverless/ - OpenAI Python API With AWS API Gateway + Lambda - https://youtu.be/FqARAi8nS2M

Build a ChatGPT chatbot with React and AWS Serverless
AWS Lambda Layers Crash Course

When should you use Layers with your AWS Lambda function, and more importantly, how? Links: - The GitHub repository in this video: https://github.com/FullStackWithLawrence/aws-openai - YT Video for the React App: https://youtu.be/emW0E8E6M0c - YT Video for the REST API: https://youtu.be/FqARAi8nS2M - AWS Lambda docs: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/lambda/latest/dg/packaging-layers.html - This application deployed to production: https://openai.lawrencemcdaniel.com/ - OpenAI API Example apps: https://platform.openai.com/examples

AWS Lambda Layers Crash Course
OpenAI API: Python 1-Minute Quick Start

https://github.com/FullStackWithLawrence/openai-hello-world Get the OpenAI API working in your dev environment in less than a minute with this great GitHub scaffolding repo that I use as a teaching tool for my AI course at University of British Columbia. **

OpenAI API: Python 1-Minute Quick Start
OpenAI API on AWS Lambda: 12-Factor Methodology

Repo: https://github.com/FullStackWithLawrence/aws-openai Deploy the OpenAI API to AWS Lambda in accordance with the 12-Factor methodology. Python code referenced in this video: - https://github.com/FullStackWithLawrence/aws-openai/tree/main/api/terraform/python/openai_api Terraform Code reference in this video: - https://github.com/FullStackWithLawrence/aws-openai/tree/main/api/terraform Other videos that are mentioned: - AWS Lambda Layers Crash Course: https://youtu.be/5Jf34t_UlZA - Pro Tips For Setting Up Your GitHub Repo - Part I: https://youtu.be/IUgvj0lPYVM - Pro Tips For Setting Up Your GitHub Repo - Part II: https://youtu.be/1w2y_0noo7g **

OpenAI API on AWS Lambda: 12-Factor Methodology
Production-Ready With AWS Elastic Kubernetes Service - Part I

Production-ready Terraform scaffolding for AWS Elastic Kubernetes Service + supporting software packages. Source Code: https://github.com/FullStackWithLawrence/production-ready-aws-eks Blog Article: https://blog.lawrencemcdaniel.com/production-ready-aws-elastic-kubernetes-service/ Learn how to use Terraform scaffolding to create a production-ready Kubernetes cluster running inside its own VPC. Sets up spot pricing for EC2 instances, and installs and configures commonly needed packages including: - nginx Ingress Controller - cert-manager - metrics-server - Prometheus - Vertical Pod Autoscaler - Karpenter Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:18 A funny thing happened 02:38 Let's review our work plan 04:06 Why Should You Trust This Code? 08:53 What is Terraform? 10:26 Setting Up Terraform 11:46 Creating Terraform State Management Resources 13:44 Terraform init 15:00 Terraform apply 19:26 Monitoring Progress 21:18 Installing Helm Packages 22:13 Installing nginx ingress controller 26:24 Terraform update 27:50 Thank you!!! Connect with Lawrence McDaniel: - https://lawrencemcdaniel.com/ - https://blog.lawrencemcdaniel.com/ - https://www.patreon.com/FullStackWithLawrence - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencemcdaniel/ - https://github.com/lpm0073 - https://twitter.com/FullStackWLarry - https://www.instagram.com/fullstackwithlawrence/ - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092972253426 My Studio Gear: Follow this link to kit.co for a comprehensive list of the gear that I use to record my videos, along with anything that you see in my studio, including the desk, furniture, and computing workstation setup. - https://kit.co/fullstackwithlawrence/youtube-studio-gear-2023 Legal Disclaimer: https://blog.lawrencemcdaniel.com/youtube-channel-legal-disclaimer/

Production-Ready With AWS Elastic Kubernetes Service - Part I
OpenAI API: Docker Deployment Method

Deploy the Python OpenAI API using Docker in only five minutes with this handy tutorial that I use in an AI course that I teach at University of British Columbia https://github.com/FullStackWithLawrence/openai-hello-world

OpenAI API: Docker Deployment Method
Production-Ready With AWS Elastic Kubernetes Service - Part II

Production-ready Terraform scaffolding for AWS Elastic Kubernetes Service + supporting software packages. Source Code: https://github.com/FullStackWithLawrence/production-ready-aws-eks Blog Article: https://blog.lawrencemcdaniel.com/production-ready-aws-elastic-kubernetes-service/ Learn how to use Terraform scaffolding to create a production-ready Kubernetes cluster running inside its own VPC. Sets up spot pricing for EC2 instances, and installs and configures commonly needed packages including: - Nginx Ingress Controller - cert-manager - metrics-server - Prometheus - Vertical Pod Autoscaler - Karpenter Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:50 Introducing k9s 02:18 Kubernetes Deployments 03:10 Terraform 06:43 Helm Charts In Terraform 08:12 Working With Helm Charts 10:03 Kubernetes Ingresses, Secrets & More 14:30 Managing Kubernetes Resources With Terraform 16:10 Words of Advise About Terraform 22:00 Thanks For Watching! Connect with Lawrence McDaniel: - https://lawrencemcdaniel.com/ - https://blog.lawrencemcdaniel.com/ - https://www.patreon.com/FullStackWithLawrence - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencemcdaniel/ - https://github.com/lpm0073 - https://twitter.com/FullStackWLarry - https://www.instagram.com/fullstackwithlawrence/ - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092972253426 My Studio Gear: Follow this link to kit.co for a comprehensive list of the gear that I use to record my videos, along with anything that you see in my studio, including the desk, furniture, and computing workstation setup. - https://kit.co/fullstackwithlawrence/youtube-studio-gear-2023 Legal Disclaimer: https://blog.lawrencemcdaniel.com/youtube-channel-legal-disclaimer/

Production-Ready With AWS Elastic Kubernetes Service - Part II