When you deploy applications to Kubernetes, it may soon become complicated to control deployments. GitOps is a relatively new concept that assists in the deployment and management of Kuberprises in a predictable and dependable manner.
GitOps best practices enable you to store your single source of truth in Git and rely on automation to do the rest. In this guide, we will discuss the key concepts of GitOps and demonstrate their application to Kubernetes.
Make declarative manifests your source of truth
One of the core GitOps best practices is using declarative manifests as your single source of truth. These are texts, most often YAML-based, which tell your Kubernetes environment what it should look like. Rather than telling Kubernetes what steps to take, you specify the desired state.
You save these manifests in a Git repository. This implies that all modifications to your cluster are:
- Monitored
- Versioned
- Reviewable.
In case of an error, it is easy to see what was changed. Then, you can rollback to a previous version.
Maintain organized git repositories
It is easy to manage GitOps with a well-defined repository structure. You should separate application code and infrastructure configuration. Environment isolation is also common in many teams, e.g., development, staging, and production environments in distinct folders or repositories.
This hierarchy will ensure that you do not make changes to the wrong environment accidentally. It can also enable your staff to comprehend where the changes ought to be implemented and how they pass through your deployment procedure.
Trust controllers to automate changes
GitOps is based on tools known as controllers. They constantly monitor your Git repository and your Kubernetes cluster. A controller will react when it notices a discrepancy between Git-defined and running elements in the cluster and attempt to correct the state.
You do not implement changes manually with command-line tools. Rather, you make amendments to Git, and the controller does the deploying. This minimizes human error and makes all changes go through the same process.
Learn about reconciliation loops
One of the key ideas of GitOps is the reconciliation loop. This is the ongoing process in which the controller measures the desired state in Git against the actual state in the cluster.
Suppose someone changes something in Kubernetes manually. In that case, the reconciliation loop will notice the difference and restore the cluster to the state specified in Git. This keeps your environment stable and predictable. You can be confident that what exists in Git is what is being executed in your cluster.
Use effective access controls and reviews
As Git is the source of truth, it is important to control access to it. You need to restrict the people who can approve and merge changes, particularly with production environments. Take advantage of pull requests and code reviews to review changes before implementing. The practice enhances security, accountability, and teamwork.
Watch and refine over time
GitOps is not a one-time setup. You need to:
- Keep checking on your controllers
- Observe reconciliations that have failed
- Revisit your processes.
Maybe your Kubernetes environment is expanding. In that case, you might have to reorganize repository structures or introduce new controls.
Concluding remarks
GitOps offers a well-defined and dependable Kubernetes deployment administrative solution. With these best practices, you can make Kubernetes more manageable at scale.