Container orchestration platform that automates deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications at scale, becoming the de facto standard for cloud native.
Kubernetes (K8s) is a container orchestration platform that automates deployment, scaling, and operation of containerized applications. Originated at Google and now maintained by CNCF, it's the de facto standard for cloud native.
| Resource | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Pod | Minimum deployment unit (one or more containers) | Pod with app + logging sidecar |
| Deployment | Manages pod replicas with rolling updates | 3 replicas of an API server |
| Service | Exposes pods with stable IP and load balancing | ClusterIP, LoadBalancer, NodePort |
| Ingress | External HTTP/HTTPS routing | Routes by domain or path |
| ConfigMap/Secret | Externalized configuration and secrets | Environment variables, certificates |
| Namespace | Logical resource isolation | production, staging, dev |
| Aspect | Kubernetes | ECS |
|---|---|---|
| Portability | Multi-cloud | AWS only |
| Complexity | High | Lower |
| Ecosystem | Huge (CNCF) | AWS tools |
| Cost | Control plane fee | No fee |
Kubernetes is the de facto standard for container orchestration. Its declarative model, self-healing, and automatic scaling make it indispensable for complex workloads. But its operational complexity is real — not everything needs Kubernetes.
Container platform that packages applications with all dependencies into portable, consistent units that run identically in any environment.
Development approach leveraging cloud advantages: containers, microservices, immutable infrastructure, and declarative automation for scalable and resilient systems.
Repositories for storing, versioning, and distributing container images, from public registries like Docker Hub to private registries like ECR.
Practices and tools for securing containers throughout their lifecycle: image building, runtime, orchestration, and compliance.
Infrastructure layer dedicated to managing communication between microservices, providing observability, security, and traffic control transparently.
Package manager for Kubernetes that simplifies installation and management of complex applications through reusable and configurable charts.
Operational practice using Git as single source of truth for infrastructure and configuration, with automatic reconciliation between desired and actual state.