In this post, I want to share my review of Azure for Developers (Third Edition) by Kamil Mrzygłód, published by Packt Publishing and available on Amazon as well as other e-book subscription platforms.
This definitive guide focuses on creating secure, scalable Azure apps with GenAI, serverless, and DevOps pipelines, making it an essential resource for developers looking to build modern cloud-native applications on Azure with the latest technologies.
About the book (from the cover)
Supercharge your development career by mastering Azure’s evolving GenAI, container, and serverless capabilities to build scalable, secure applications with confidence. This third edition of Azure for Developers transforms complex cloud concepts into practical skills, guiding you through the design, deployment, and management of cloud-native solutions while eliminating infrastructure headaches.
Fully updated with Azure’s latest features, this hands-on guide helps you automate DevOps pipelines with GitHub Actions, deploy microservices using containers, and integrate generative AI via Azure OpenAI to modernize your development workflows. You will learn how to set up your environment, streamline app deployment, and implement robust service integrations using real-world best practices.
The final section is a game-changer for developers who want to stay ahead of the curve. It shows you how to leverage Azure’s AI and machine learning services to automate tasks, fine-tune models, and build intelligent assistants and next-generation workflows. By the end, you will have the confidence and capabilities to deliver production-grade cloud solutions that meet real-world demands and position yourself at the forefront of modern cloud development.
What this book covers
The book has 20 chapters, about 584 pages in total, organized in 5 different Parts:
Part I - Setting Up Your Environment
This opening section gets you started with Azure. It covers creating an Azure account and selecting the right IDE for your development needs. The section then dives into Azure CLI and Azure PowerShell, helping you choose between these powerful command-line tools and understand how to enable plugins and extensions for enhanced productivity.
Part II - Web Applications and Workflows in Microsoft Azure
This part focuses on hosting and building web solutions. It starts with Azure App Service for hosting applications, followed by Static Web Applications for developing and deploying modern web apps. The section then covers Azure Functions for serverless computing, Azure Key Vault for managing secrets and configuration securely, Logic Apps for integrating services with low-code workflows, and Durable Functions for building complex, stateful workflows.
Part III - Containers in Microsoft Azure
This section is dedicated to containerization strategies. It begins with Azure Container Registry for storing and managing container images, followed by Azure Container Instances for ad hoc workloads. The section then explores Azure Container Apps for developing microservices and concludes with hosting containers using Azure App Service, providing multiple deployment options for containerized applications.
Part IV - Storage, Messaging, and Monitoring
This comprehensive section covers the data and observability layers. It starts with Azure Storage (Tables, Queues, Files, and Blobs), followed by a deep dive into queuing mechanisms across Azure services. The section covers relational databases in Azure, and wraps up with Application Insights for monitoring your applications with embedded SDK telemetry and diagnostics.
Part V - AI, ML, and DevOps
The game-changing final section covers the cutting-edge technologies. It begins with integrating Azure OpenAI Service to add generative AI capabilities to your applications. The section then covers Azure Machine Learning for automating ML tasks and model training. The DevOps portion includes GitHub Actions for building and deploying applications to Azure with CI/CD automation, and concludes with developing, testing, and deploying Azure Logic Apps in a production environment.
My Personal Feedback and observations
This book is exceptionally well-suited for its target audience: developers who want to build applications on Azure. Unlike most architecture-focused books, this one takes a very hands-on, practical approach with code samples, step-by-step instructions, and real-world scenarios.
What impressed me most is the developer-centric perspective. Kamil doesn’t just explain what services do – he shows you how to implement them, with practical code examples in the context of building actual applications. The book includes numerous code samples available on GitHub, making it easy to follow along and experiment.
The third edition aspect is crucial here – Azure evolves rapidly, and this latest edition reflects the most current best practices and cutting-edge service offerings. The addition of GenAI integration with Azure OpenAI Service is particularly timely, showing developers how to build intelligent applications with generative AI. The coverage of serverless, container, and DevOps patterns with GitHub Actions is particularly strong, which aligns perfectly with modern cloud-native development approaches.
I appreciate that the book covers the full development lifecycle – from setting up your environment and local development tools, through building with Azure Functions and container services, to implementing CI/CD with GitHub Actions, monitoring with Application Insights, and integrating AI capabilities. This holistic view helps developers understand not just how to build features, but how to build production-ready, intelligent applications.
The section on Azure OpenAI Service and Machine Learning deserves special mention – it’s incredibly timely and practical, showing developers how to integrate generative AI and automated ML into their applications. The coverage of container deployment options (Container Apps, Container Instances, and App Service for containers) helps clarify which service to use for different scenarios – a common point of confusion. The DevOps automation with GitHub Actions chapter is also excellent, providing practical CI/CD patterns for Azure deployments.
If I were to identify the target personas, this book is perfect for:
- Developers preparing for the AZ-204 (Azure Developer Associate) certification – though not explicitly an exam prep book, it covers most exam topics with practical depth
- Full-stack developers moving to Azure who want to understand PaaS services
- DevOps engineers who need to understand how applications use Azure services
- Anyone building cloud-native applications on Azure
The review questions at the end of chapters and further reading links add significant value, allowing readers to self-assess and dive deeper into topics of interest.
Summary
“Azure for Developers” (Third Edition) is an excellent practical guide for developers who want to leverage Azure’s latest services effectively. With its focused coverage of 584 pages, hands-on approach, and developer-focused perspective, it serves both as a learning resource and a desk reference.
The book strikes a great balance between breadth and depth – covering essential Azure services while providing enough detail to actually implement them. The emphasis on cutting-edge technologies (GenAI, serverless, containers, DevOps automation) makes it particularly relevant for building contemporary cloud applications that leverage AI and modern deployment practices.
Whether you’re preparing for the AZ-204 certification, migrating applications to Azure, or starting a new cloud-native project, this book provides the practical knowledge you need. The code samples, step-by-step guides, and real-world scenarios make it much more than just a reference – it’s a hands-on learning experience.
Highly recommended for developers at all levels who want to build robust, scalable applications on Azure!
Ping me if you should have any additional questions.
Cheers!!
/Peter