Introduction: When it comes to deploying systems in Kubernetes (K8s), there are a variety of best practices that can help you get the most out of this powerful container orchestration platform. However, it's also important to be aware of the common pitfalls and anti-patterns that can hinder your deployment efforts. In this post, we'll take a look at some of the good and bad practices to keep in mind when deploying applications and infrastructure in K8s.
Good Practices: One of the most important good practices when deploying in K8s is to use a separate pipeline for infrastructure and application deployment. This helps avoid unnecessary rebuilds of the entire system when deploying a new version of the application, which can be both time-consuming and resource-intensive. Additionally, separating the two pipelines allows developers to focus on the application code without worrying about infrastructure concerns.
Another good practice is to use automation tools such as Helm or Kustomize to streamline your deployment process. These tools can help you define, manage, and version your application deployments, making it easier to roll out new versions of your application without introducing errors or inconsistencies.
Finally, it's important to use container images that are optimized for the Kubernetes environment. This means using images that are lightweight, secure, and easy to deploy in a containerized environment. Using images that are optimized for K8s can help improve performance, reduce resource usage, and simplify the deployment process.
Bad Practices: One of the most common bad practices when deploying in K8s is to mix infrastructure and application deployment in the same pipeline. This can lead to unnecessary rebuilds of the entire system each time a new version of the application is released, which can be both time-consuming and resource-intensive. Additionally, mixing the two pipelines can make it harder for developers to focus on the application code without being bogged down by infrastructure concerns.
Another bad practice is to manually deploy Kubernetes objects rather than using automation tools. Manual deployments are error-prone, time-consuming, and can lead to inconsistencies across your environment. By contrast, using automation tools like Helm or Kustomize can help you streamline your deployment process, reduce errors, and ensure consistency across your infrastructure.
Finally, using container images that are not optimized for the Kubernetes environment can lead to poor performance, increased resource usage, and more complex deployment processes. It's important to use images that are specifically designed for containerized environments, which can help you take full advantage of the benefits of Kubernetes.
Conclusion: In conclusion, deploying applications and infrastructure in Kubernetes requires careful planning, attention to detail, and a focus on best practices. By using separate pipelines for infrastructure and application deployment, automating your deployment process, and using container images optimized for the Kubernetes environment, you can ensure that your deployments are efficient, reliable, and consistent. At the same time, it's important to avoid common bad practices such as mixing infrastructure and application deployment, manual deployments, and using non-optimized container images, which can all hinder your deployment efforts.
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