Kubernetes Best Practices, 2nd Edition

Chapter 15. Building Higher-Level Application Patterns on Top of Kubernetes

It’s no secret that Kubernetes is a complex system. Although it simplifies the deployment and operations of distributed applications, it does little to make the development of such systems easy. In fact, when adding new concepts and artifacts for the developer to interact with, it adds a layer of complexity in the service of simplified operations. Consequently, in many environments, it makes sense to develop higher-level abstractions to provide more developer-friendly primitives on top of Kubernetes. Additionally, in many large companies, it makes sense to standardize the way in which applications are configured and deployed so that everyone adheres to the same operational best practices. This can also be achieved by developing higher-level abstractions so that developers automatically adhere to these principles. However, developing these abstractions can hide important details from the developer and might introduce a walled garden. This limits or complicates the development of certain applications or the integration of existing solutions. Throughout the development of the cloud, the tension between the flexibility of infrastructure and the power of the platform has been a constant. Designing the appropriate higher-level abstractions enables us to walk an ideal path through this divide.

Approaches to Developing Higher-Level Abstractions

When considering how to develop a higher-level primitive on top of ...