Production Patterns

Welcome to Production Patterns. In this module, we transition from simply running containers to managing production-grade clusters. We will cover the essential tools and patterns required to operate Kubernetes at scale.

1. Module Roadmap

  1. Helm: The Package Manager
    • Stop copy-pasting YAML. Learn how to package, template, and version your applications using Helm.
    • Key Concepts: Charts, Templates, Values, Tillerless Architecture.
  2. The Operator Pattern
    • Automate operational knowledge. Learn how to extend Kubernetes with Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs) and Controllers.
    • Key Concepts: CRDs, Controller Loop, Reconciliation, Kubebuilder.
  3. Monitoring with Prometheus
    • Visibility is everything. Deep dive into the Pull-based monitoring model and PromQL.
    • Key Concepts: Pull vs Push, Time Series Database (TSDB), PromQL, AlertManager.
  4. Logging: The EFK Stack
    • Centralize your logs. Understand the logging pipeline from node-level collection to visualization.
    • Key Concepts: Fluentd/Fluent Bit, Elasticsearch, Kibana, Sidecars.
  5. CI/CD & GitOps
    • Git as the source of truth. Move beyond CI scripts to declarative Continuous Delivery using ArgoCD.
    • Key Concepts: GitOps, ArgoCD, Progressive Delivery, Drift Detection.
  6. Module Review
    • Consolidate your learning with flashcards, a cheat sheet, and key takeaways.

Module Chapters