KubernetesNowadays, applications are mostly built using container and microservice architecture. That is why Kubernetes, an open-source software, plays an important role, as it is designed for deploying and managing containers at scale. This technology can group containers into logical units with the aim of making the discovery, management, and scaling of apps easier.

This article provides a clear insight into what Kubernetes is and how it works. If you want to use Kubernetes but don’t know a lot about it, you should first learn all the important concepts about it, which are listed below. Additionally, you will have a chance to see these Kubernetes concepts presented through practical examples.

What is Kubernetes exactly?

Kubernetes was created by Google in 2014. It was an open-source project based on an earlier one and written in the Go programming language.

Kubernetes was officially released in 2015. Since then, it has been the gold standard for creating and managing apps in the cloud. On top of that, the tools, support, and services are ample and readily available. Millions of users and thousands of companies around the globe are using Kubernetes.

Thanks to this huge community, it gets the best ideas and practices straight from the users and it is this kind of contribution that makes Kubernetes special in the sense that it is quite diverse and adaptable.

At the moment, Kubernetes is maintained by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation and many contributors. In addition, modifications are made to the project as new technological trends emerge.

What is it used for?

As a user, you should know that Kubernetes allows you to swap out components to fully customize the underlying architecture of the app. If a user happens to optimize the app for the cloud, Kubernetes can provide the platform that allows scheduling and running clusters of physical or virtual machines.

The containers, in this case, create an infrastructure that supports production in an automated way. This allows users to manage their containers in the same way many app platforms allow it on a smaller scale.

Keep in mind, however, that Kubernetes is not the only resource for building container-based apps. In reality, it is one of the best-known projects and brands will almost always get to a point where they are in doubt if their app should be on Kubernetes because of how popular it is.

When it comes to this infrastructure tool, it is not for the non-experts. The vast majority of Kubernetes users are app developers, coding experts, administrators, tech support people, and individuals experienced in high tech and tech solutions.

App developers can use Kubernetes patterns as a method to create cloud-native apps utilizing k8s as a runtime platform for:

  • Building enterprise apps that scale to the size
  • Adding storage and increasing resources on the go while running containers across multiple hosts
  • Establishing deployed apps that run consistently
  • Adjusting scaling without interrupting end-users
  • Self-healing and self-analyzing apps for automated restarts, placement, and replication capabilities

It is possible to support Kubernetes with other open-source projects and this can be done in a way that utilizes Kubernetes to an even greater extent. Projects such as these are designed to modify, improve, or adjust the Kubernetes default way with a different approach.

Projects such as these include:

  • Docker Registry to support container runtimes and registry
  • Prometheus for systems monitoring and alerts
  • Jaeger helps with monitoring and troubleshooting
  • Open vSwitch supports networking and edge routing
  • Kibana and Elastic allow telemetry
  • Knative allows for serverless containers with automated scaling, networking, and revisions
  • SELinux, LDAP, OAuth, and RBAC help provide support with security
  • Ansible allows for automation and cluster life cycle management

Finally, bear in mind that not all tools work smoothly. To get a workable tool, seek those that are working on the newest Kubernetes versions. All the mentioned tools above are popular and they usually get a lot of attention due to their abilities to alter Kubernetes.

However, you would most likely need to bring someone on-board to help you organize and determine a plan for what you need to purchase.

Why would you need Kubernetes?

Kubernetes has the purpose to fill an empty space in application creation that is not filled by other similar infrastructure systems. Many developers often face an issue when their app is launched and continual service is expected.

Additionally, there is a decent demand for numerous tasks when an app is launched. It is almost impossible for developers to keep up with the demand in real-time, as they need a platform to provide a manifest for the automated activity that supports their design. This is where Kubernetes comes into play since it is all about the control a developer can have with it.

The control a developer gets might be the most important benefit to Kubernetes. There are just so many options available because of the vast number of companies and experts that are turning to Kubernetes with their own needs and ideas to fill.

Thanks to Kubernetes, creators and administrators can have control with no demand for action. Due to this benefit, developers can work on other areas such as:

  • Deploying codes and updates with no downtime
  • Providing activities and responses 24/7 through automation
  • Creating scaling to adjust to loads immediately
  • Removing unnecessary components and objects to avoid conflicts or sluggish responses
  • Using cloud resources efficiently
  • Establishing self-healing for reliable service

Thanks to the automation feature, developers are allowed to create and return when they have updates or changes they wish to make.

Developers do not need to handhold each user and that is hardly even possible. Additionally, developers will not have to create the wheel, since the systems are already in place for them to establish these actions, components, and controllers.

Are you ready to embrace Kubernetes?

Applications have become complex, they often grow to cover multiple containers, running over multiple servers. This, alone, can be hard to manage, but Kubernetes can help with this. As you can see, this open-source API can control how and where the containers will run on a cluster of virtual machines.

Kubernetes can adjust automatically without the end-user even noticing the scale adjustment. It can replicate or even restart containers to support the stability of individual resources. Moreover, it can do so automatically.

So, take another good look at your business processes and consult your top developers to evaluate the value Kubernetes can have for your specific needs.

It is essential to make an informed decision about whether you should implement Kubernetes at your own enterprise or not. Clearly, it is useful, but try to figure out if you really have a real need for it.

If so, know that it might take some time for every team member to adjust and familiarize themselves with this API, keeping in mind that they may not have any previous experience with Kubernetes.