Originally developed by the engineers at Google, Kubernetes is a descendant of Borg, an internal cluster management system used by Google. Many of the core concepts and design principles used in Kubernetes were inspired by Borg, including the use of containers, the separation of concerns between infrastructure and application, and the automation of 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 Kubernetes!
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 Kubernetes what you want to do, and it makes sure it gets done. For example, if you want to deploy a web application, you would tell Kubernetes what containers you need, what resources they require, and how many instances you want. Kubernetes would then schedule those containers onto the appropriate hosts, manage the networking and storage required, and ensure that the application is available and healthy.
If anything goes wrong, Kubernetes 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, Kubernetes also offers fast scalability and robustness. When workload increases, software developers can respond quickly by adding more containers or nodes to the cluster, which ensures that 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. Morevoer, Kubernetes 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 Kubernetes 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 Kubernetes.
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 Kubernetes
- 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 Kubernetes, as it has a simpler interface and requires less configuration
Kubernetes learning resources
Kubernetes Blog
By closely following Kubernetes 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 Kubernetes large and vibrant community provides opportunities to network, attend conferences and events, and stay up-to-date on the latest developments and 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)
This free introductory course on Kubernetes, written by a web developer for web developers, will teach you how to develop software with a microservice architecture that utilizes Kubernetes to scale and deploy automatically while managing it all.
Upon completion of the course, you will receive a free certificate of completion and have an opportunity to join this course’s own Discord channel to ask any questions you might have in mind.
To sum it up
In conclusion, Kubernetes is a powerful tool for managing containerized applications, allowing developers to automate deployment, scaling, and management across multiple environments.
With its rich ecosystem and thriving community, Kubernetes continues to evolve and improve, making it one of the most popular and widely adopted container orchestration platforms in the world.
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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