Network Programmability with YANG: The Structure of Network Automation with YANG, NETCONF, RESTCONF, and gNMI

Why Network Management Needed a Different Approach

For decades, network engineers configured devices through command-line interfaces, while SNMP handled monitoring and flow protocols handled traffic records. Those tools were not designed for the pace, scale, and repeatability that modern networks demand. Network Programmability with YANG explains why data model–driven management became the foundation for automation and how it changes the way networks are built, configured, and operated.

From YANG Models to Working Automation 💻

The book follows the evolution from manual device management to programmable infrastructure. It introduces YANG as the modeling language for network configuration and state data, then connects that language to the protocols and APIs that put models to work: NETCONF, RESTCONF, and gNMI. Readers see how structured data, standardized interfaces, and model-driven telemetry fit together rather than treating each technology as an isolated topic.

What the Book Explores

• Industry shifts: reduced deployment time, hardware disaggregation, DevOps practices, SDN, NFV, cloud elasticity, and intent-based networking.
• Data modeling foundations: the difference between information models and data models, and why consistent models matter in multi-vendor networks.
• YANG in practice: how YANG modules organize configuration, state, operations, and notifications.
• Protocols and APIs: NETCONF, RESTCONF, and gNMI as paths for reading, changing, and monitoring network data.
• Operational context: telemetry, automation workflows, and the cultural shift toward treating network infrastructure as code.

Built for Engineers Who Need Both Theory and Practice ⚙️

This is not a vague overview of automation trends. It is a technical reference that connects concepts to the protocols and models used in real deployments. The material includes interviews and Q&A segments with experienced practitioners, adding industry perspective to the standards and architectures discussed in the main chapters. For readers who already understand basic networking, the book offers a structured path into model-driven programmability.

Who Will Benefit

Network engineers, architects, automation developers, and DevOps professionals will find the most value here, especially those working with multi-vendor environments or moving beyond CLI scripts. Students and technical managers who need to understand why YANG, NETCONF, RESTCONF, and gNMI matter will also gain a clear conceptual map. The book assumes a networking background but does not require prior experience with YANG.

A Lasting Reference for Model-Driven Networks 🧠

Network automation is not only about writing scripts; it is about agreeing on data structures that machines and humans can understand. Network Programmability with YANG examines that idea from standards, protocol design, and operational angles. Published by Addison-Wesley Professional in 2019, it remains a useful guide for anyone building the skills behind modern network automation. Digital Delights makes this technical title available as a digital edition for readers who want a searchable, portable reference.