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Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Cheat Sheet

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Cheat Sheet

Essential gcloud CLI commands for managing projects, Compute Engine, storage, and IAM on Google Cloud Platform.

2 PagesBeginnerFeb 18, 2026

Auth & Project Config

Authenticate and configure the active project.

bash
gcloud auth login                         # Browser-based logingcloud config set project my-project-id   # Set default projectgcloud config list                        # Show current configgcloud projects list                      # List accessible projectsgcloud config set compute/zone us-central1-a

Compute Engine Instances

Create and manage VM instances.

bash
gcloud compute instances create my-vm \  --machine-type=e2-medium --zone=us-central1-a \  --image-family=debian-12 --image-project=debian-cloudgcloud compute instances listgcloud compute instances stop my-vm --zone=us-central1-agcloud compute instances delete my-vm --zone=us-central1-agcloud compute ssh my-vm --zone=us-central1-a

Cloud Storage (gsutil / gcloud storage)

Manage buckets and objects.

bash
gcloud storage buckets create gs://my-bucket --location=usgcloud storage cp ./file.txt gs://my-bucket/gcloud storage cp gs://my-bucket/file.txt ./gcloud storage ls gs://my-bucket/gcloud storage rm gs://my-bucket/file.txt

IAM & Services

Enable APIs and manage IAM bindings.

bash
gcloud services enable compute.googleapis.comgcloud services list --enabledgcloud projects add-iam-policy-binding my-project-id \  --member="user:[email protected]" \  --role="roles/viewer"gcloud iam service-accounts create my-sa \  --display-name="My Service Account"

Core GCP Concepts

Key core gcp concepts to know.

  • Project- Top-level container for GCP resources, billing, and IAM
  • Region / Zone- Region is a geographic area; a zone is an isolated location within it
  • Service Account- Non-human identity used by applications to call GCP APIs
  • IAM Role- Bundle of permissions granted to a member (primitive, predefined, or custom)
  • gcloud vs gsutil- 'gcloud storage' is the modern unified CLI replacing legacy 'gsutil' commands

Custom IAM Roles & Conditional Bindings

Define least-privilege custom roles and attach IAM conditions for time- or resource-scoped access.

bash
gcloud iam roles create customStorageViewer \  --project=my-project-id \  --title="Custom Storage Viewer" \  --permissions=storage.objects.get,storage.objects.list \  --stage=GA# Bind with a condition (expires access, or scopes to a resource prefix)gcloud projects add-iam-policy-binding my-project-id \  --member="user:[email protected]" \  --role="projects/my-project-id/roles/customStorageViewer" \  --condition='expression=resource.name.startsWith("projects/_/buckets/reports-"),title=reports-only,expression-format=CEL'# Audit effective policy for a principalgcloud projects get-iam-policy my-project-id \  --flatten="bindings[].members" \  --filter="bindings.members:[email protected]" \  --format="table(bindings.role)"

Workload Identity Federation (Keyless Auth)

Let external workloads (CI/CD, other clouds) impersonate a service account without downloading a JSON key.

bash
gcloud iam workload-identity-pools create github-pool \  --location=global --display-name="GitHub Actions Pool"gcloud iam workload-identity-pools providers create-oidc github-provider \  --location=global --workload-identity-pool=github-pool \  --issuer-uri="https://token.actions.githubusercontent.com" \  --attribute-mapping="google.subject=assertion.sub,attribute.repository=assertion.repository" \  --attribute-condition="assertion.repository=='my-org/my-repo'"gcloud iam service-accounts add-iam-policy-binding \  [email protected] \  --role="roles/iam.workloadIdentityUser" \  --member="principalSet://iam.googleapis.com/projects/123456/locations/global/workloadIdentityPools/github-pool/attribute.repository/my-org/my-repo"

Cloud Run: Deploy with Traffic Splitting

Ship a container revision behind a canary rollout instead of an all-at-once cutover.

bash
gcloud run deploy my-service \  --image=us-central1-docker.pkg.dev/my-project-id/repo/my-service:v2 \  --region=us-central1 --no-traffic --tag=canary# Send 10% of live traffic to the new revision, keep 90% on stablegcloud run services update-traffic my-service \  --region=us-central1 \  --to-tags=canary=10 \  --to-latest=false# Promote once verifiedgcloud run services update-traffic my-service \  --region=us-central1 --to-latest

Terraform: GCP Provider Snippet

Manage GCP infrastructure declaratively instead of imperative gcloud calls.

hcl
provider "google" {  project = "my-project-id"  region  = "us-central1"}resource "google_storage_bucket" "data" {  name          = "my-tf-bucket"  location      = "US"  force_destroy = false  uniform_bucket_level_access = true  lifecycle_rule {    condition { age = 30 }    action { type = "SetStorageClass", storage_class = "NEARLINE" }  }}resource "google_project_iam_member" "viewer" {  project = "my-project-id"  role    = "roles/storage.objectViewer"  member  = "serviceAccount:${google_service_account.reader.email}"}

Advanced Operational Concepts

Terms that come up once you move past single-VM/single-bucket usage.

  • Organization Policy Constraint- Org-wide guardrail (e.g. disable external IPs) enforced via 'gcloud resource-manager org-policies set-policy', overrides project-level IAM permissiveness
  • VPC Service Controls- Perimeter around APIs (e.g. Storage, BigQuery) that blocks data exfiltration even with valid IAM credentials
  • Shared VPC- Host project centrally owns the network; service projects attach and deploy resources into its subnets
  • Cloud Build Trigger- CI pipeline defined in cloudbuild.yaml, fired on a source repo push, executed by ephemeral build workers
  • Deployment Manager / Config Connector- Native IaC options; Config Connector manages GCP resources as Kubernetes CRDs for GitOps workflows
  • Preemptible / Spot VM- Discounted Compute Engine instance that GCP can reclaim with short notice; use for fault-tolerant batch jobs
  • Binary Authorization- Enforces that only signed/attested container images can deploy to GKE or Cloud Run
Pro Tip

Use 'gcloud config configurations create' to maintain separate named configs (project, account, region) so you can switch contexts instantly with 'gcloud config configurations activate <name>'.

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Does SkillVeris have a tech blog, and what does it cover?
Yes, the SkillVeris blog has over 500 articles covering AI and machine learning, programming, web development, DevOps, cloud, security, databases and career guidance. Articles are practical and answer-first, and many use the Learn Through Hobbies approach, teaching technical concepts through cricket, music, gaming or cooking analogies. Everything is free to read.
What is the SkillVeris tech glossary and how big is it?
The SkillVeris glossary is a free reference of roughly 2,000-plus technology terms, each with a clear plain-language definition. It spans AI, programming, web, DevOps, cloud, security and database vocabulary, so whenever a lesson, article or job description uses jargon you do not recognise, the glossary gives you a fast, reliable answer.
Are the developer cheat sheets on SkillVeris free to download?
The cheat sheets are completely free to use, like everything else on SkillVeris. Each sheet condenses a language or tool into its essential syntax, commands and patterns for quick reference while coding. They are designed for rapid lookup during real work, complementing the deeper explanations found in study notes and courses.
Which programming references and cheat sheets are available?
Cheat sheets cover the platform's main domains, including programming languages, AI and ML tooling, web development, DevOps, cloud, security and databases, matching the topics of the 37 live courses. Each sheet lists related reading links and hashtags, so you can jump from a quick reference into fuller study notes or blog articles.
How do I find the meaning of a technical term quickly?
Search the SkillVeris glossary, which holds around 2,000-plus terms with concise, plain-language definitions. Each entry gets to the point in its first sentence, then links to related reading like blog posts or study notes for deeper context. It is faster and more consistent than sifting through scattered search results.
Is the SkillVeris blog good for beginners learning to code?
Yes, many blog articles are written specifically for beginners, and the Learn Through Hobbies style makes them unusually approachable: you might learn Python concepts through cricket or understand APIs through cooking. With 500-plus articles across skill levels, beginners can start with fundamentals and keep reading as they advance, entirely free.
Can cheat sheets replace full courses for learning a language?
No, cheat sheets are references, not teaching tools; they assume you already understand the concepts and just need syntax or commands fast. To actually learn a language, take a structured SkillVeris course with its 24–40 lessons and assessments, then keep the cheat sheet beside you while practising in Code Lab.
How often are new blog articles published on SkillVeris?
The blog grows regularly and already exceeds 500 articles, with new posts added as courses launch and technologies evolve. Topics track the platform's catalogue across AI, programming, web development, DevOps, cloud and security, so checking the Blog section periodically surfaces fresh tutorials, explainers and career-focused pieces, all free to read.
Does the glossary cover AI and machine learning terms?
Yes, AI and machine learning vocabulary is a major part of the roughly 2,000-plus term glossary, covering everything from foundational terms to modern concepts around LLMs, RAG and MLOps. Definitions are plain-language and answer-first, which helps when dense AI papers or course lessons throw unfamiliar jargon at you.
Are there cheat sheets for interview preparation?
Cheat sheets work well as interview-day refreshers because they compress syntax, commands and key concepts into scannable references. For dedicated preparation, combine them with the SkillVeris interview questions feature, which includes readiness scoring, plus study notes for depth. Reviewing a relevant cheat sheet just before an interview steadies recall under pressure.
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How is the SkillVeris glossary different from Wikipedia?
The glossary is purpose-built for learners: definitions are short, plain-language and answer-first, sized for a quick lookup mid-lesson rather than a deep encyclopedic read. Entries also cross-link to related SkillVeris study notes, blog posts and courses, so a definition becomes a doorway into structured learning instead of a dead end.
Do blog articles use the Learn Through Hobbies method?
Many blog articles teach technical topics through hobby analogies, a hallmark of the SkillVeris blog, so you will find articles explaining programming through cricket, machine learning through music, or system design through cooking. The analogy is the teaching device; the article still delivers the real technical concept underneath.
Where can I find quick programming references while coding?
Open the SkillVeris cheat sheets, which are built exactly for that moment: compact, scannable references for syntax, commands and common patterns across languages and tools. Keep the relevant sheet in a browser tab while you work in Code Lab or your own editor, and dip into the glossary for terminology.
Is there a glossary entry for terms I meet in job descriptions?
Very likely yes, with roughly 2,000-plus terms across AI, programming, web, DevOps, cloud, security and databases, the glossary covers most jargon that appears in tech job descriptions. Decoding a listing this way helps you judge role fit honestly and prepares you to discuss those terms in interviews.
Are the blog articles written for the Indian tech audience?
The blog serves Indian learners plus a worldwide audience. Content stays globally relevant while acknowledging realities that matter in India, such as free access being essential for students and freshers, and career guidance that connects naturally to the SkillVeris jobs portal, which aggregates roles across India, UK, USA, Germany and Remote.
Can I suggest a topic for the blog or glossary?
SkillVeris content grows in response to what learners need, so feedback is welcome through the platform's support channels. If a term is missing from the glossary or a topic deserves an article, telling the team helps prioritise it. Meanwhile, the AI Mentor can answer the question immediately, 24/7, at any depth.
Do cheat sheets and glossary entries link to deeper learning?
Yes, every cheat sheet and glossary entry carries related reading links into study notes, blog articles and courses, plus concept hashtags for discovering similar content. This cross-linking means a thirty-second lookup can smoothly become a structured learning session whenever you decide you want more than a quick answer.
What makes SkillVeris programming references trustworthy?
The references are written to strict internal quality standards, kept consistent with the platform's 37 live courses, and never padded with invented statistics or hype. Definitions and cheat sheets are reviewed against the same content contracts that govern courses, and the answer-first style makes any inaccuracy easy to spot and correct.
How do the blog, glossary and cheat sheets fit into my learning routine?
Use them as satellites around your main course: read blog articles for context and motivation, hit the glossary the instant jargon appears, and keep cheat sheets open while coding. Together with study notes, Code Lab and the 24/7 AI Mentor, they turn passive reading into a complete, free learning system.

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