Introduction to Google Cloud Platform (GCP)#

What is Google Cloud Platform?#

Google Cloud Platform is a suite of cloud computing services offered by Google, providing a wide range of infrastructure and application services that can be accessed on-demand. It enables users to build, deploy, and scale applications seamlessly while taking advantage of Google’s powerful and reliable infrastructure.

Why Use GCP?#

Scalability: Easily scale resources up or down based on workload.
Pay-as-You-Go: Only pay for what you use.
Integration: Connect seamlessly with open-source and enterprise tools.
Global Infrastructure: High-speed global network for faster operations.

How to Use GCP#

Prerequisites:

Ensure you have an active Google account.

Confirm that your account has been added to the relevant GCP project.

To access and use Google Cloud Platform (GCP), follow these steps:

Accessing GCP via the Cloud Console#

Visit the Google Cloud Console.
Explore the dashboard to view, manage, and configure services, projects, and resources.

Accessing GCP via Terminal#

To interact with GCP directly from your terminal:

Initialize Google Cloud SDK
- Install the Google Cloud SDK on your machine by following the official installation guide, then use the following command:
```
gcloud init
```
- Follow the prompts to authenticate, select your project, and configure the settings.
Authenticate Your Terminal
- Run the following command to authenticate:
```
gcloud auth login
```
- This opens a browser window asking you to log in with your Google account.
- After login, your terminal will be authenticated, and you’ll see a confirmation message.
Set the Active Project
- Ensure the correct project is set as the active one.
```
gcloud config set project <PROJECT_ID>
```
- Replace <PROJECT_ID> with your GCP project ID (e.g., bhklabproject-123).
- Verify the active project:
```
gcloud config list project
```