Originally developed by the engineers at Google, Kubernetes is a descendant of Borg, an internal cluster management system used by Google. Kubernetes was inspired by Borg, using containers, separating infrastructure and application concerns, and automating deployment and scaling.
Over time, Google open-sourced Kubernetes and donated it to the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). Since then, Kubernetes has become one of the most popular container orchestration platforms in the world, with a vibrant community of contributors and users driving its development and evolution.
In this article, we’re going to explain what Kubernetes is, what it is used for and some helpful resources which you can use to learn how to use it!

What is Kubernetes?
Kubernetes, also known as “k8s”, is an open-source container orchestration platform that automates the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It works by providing a way to define how your applications should be deployed and managed, and then taking care of the details to make it happen.
You can tell k8s what you want to do, and it makes sure it gets done. To deploy a web app on k8s, specify the containers, resources required and instance count. k8s schedules containers to suitable hosts, manages networking, storage, and ensures app availability and health.
If anything goes wrong, k8s will automatically take action to fix the issue, such as restarting a container or rescheduling it to a different host.
Kubernetes makes it easy to manage large numbers of containers across multiple hosts. So, you can focus on developing your applications rather than worrying about the underlying infrastructure.
What is Kubernetes used for?
Some of the most common Kubernetes use cases include:
Large-scale app deployment
Kubernetes simplifies the container management process, allowing for efficient bundling and deployment of numerous containers. As a result, developers can better isolate containers and their processes from each other, optimizing resource usage.
As a potent tool for building enterprise-level solutions, k8s also offers fast scalability and robustness. When the workload increases, software developers can respond quickly by adding more containers or nodes to the cluster. It ensures the app’s functionality and prevents downtimes caused by component failure.
Managing microservices
With Kubernetes, developers can easily deploy and manage containerized microservices. It provides features such as automatic scaling, load balancing, and self-healing, making it easier to manage microservices architecture.
Developers can quickly add or remove containers based on traffic demand, ensuring each microservice is available when needed. Moreover, k8s also provides tools for deploying, updating, and rolling back microservices, making it easier to manage the entire architecture.
Big data processing
Kubernetes is used for managing big data workloads, such as Hadoop and Spark clusters. Kubernetes provides features such as automatic scaling and self-healing, which helps ensure that data processing jobs run smoothly and efficiently.
Moreover, it also enables developers to quickly and easily allocate resources to specific data processing tasks based on their needs, optimizing the use of resources and reducing costs.
Kubernetes can also be used to manage data processing workflows, making it easier to orchestrate complex data processing pipelines.
Kubernetes vs. Docker
Commonly perceived as competing technologies, Kubernetes and Docker actually work together to run containerized applications.
Docker allows you to package all the components necessary to run an application into a container, while k8s manages the containers and ensures they are running efficiently. It’s quite common for organizations and individuals to develop their apps using Docker, but to run them using k8s.
Kubernetes
- An orchestration tool that manages containerized applications, including deployment, scaling, and load balancing
- Designed to run on multiple hosts in a cluster
- Has more advanced resource management capabilities than Docker (e.g. the ability to automatically scale resources up or down based on demand)
- Has a more complex deployment process
- Has a steeper learning curve, but it provides more advanced features and scalability for larger, more complex applications.
Docker
- Primarily used for containerization, which involves packaging an application and its dependencies into a container
- Designed to run on a single host
- Can manage resource allocation within a single host, but it lacks the advanced capabilities of k8s.
- Has a simple deployment process, where you can build a container image, push it to a registry, and deploy it on a host
- Is generally easier to use than k8s, as it has a simpler interface and requires less configuration
Kubernetes learning resources
Kubernetes Blog
By closely following k8s blog you’ll be able to get regular updates, news, and insights on the Kubernetes ecosystem, including best practices, use cases, and new features. Definitely a valuable resource for anyone interested in container orchestration and Kubernetes specifically.

Kubernetes Slack Channel
Being a part of the k8s large and vibrant community provides opportunities to network, attend conferences and events, and stay up-to-date on the latest developments. Also, you can track advancements in the world of container orchestration.

TechWorld with Nana
This free course is highly recommended due to its effective balance of theoretical and practical information in just 4 hours.
By completing the course, learners will gain a thorough understanding of Kubernetes components and architecture and be able to automate the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications.
DevOps with Kubernetes (University of Helsinki)
Learn to develop software with a microservice architecture that uses k8s to scale and deploy automatically with this free introductory course.
After finishing the course, you’ll get a free certificate of completion and access to the course’s Discord channel to ask any questions.

To sum it up
K8s is a popular container orchestration platform that continues to evolve and improve with a thriving community.
Whether you are just getting started with Kubernetes or are an experienced user, there is always something new to learn and explore.
By embracing Kubernetes, developers can focus on writing code while leaving the underlying infrastructure to the platform.
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