Kubernetes Operators

Introduced in late 2016, Kubernetes operators provide a mechanism of orchestration control in the Kubernetes world. An operator is usually the extension of the Kubernetes API via customer resource definitions (CRDs) and a controller. Writing the controller logic requires a deep understanding of Kubernetes objects.

This session will walk through the default Kubernetes API and how to extend it with a CRD defining our own “Kind”. We will demonstrate how to deploy and manage this CRD along with the constraints it is required to live within. We will then use that kind in a simple example.

We will then discuss important Kubernetes objects and how to access those objects in code, including details on how to monitor through watches specific types of objects defined in our CRD. We will discuss several toolkits to help in building out a Kubernetes operator including: Operator SDK, Kubebuilder and KUDO.

About Ken Sipe

Ken is a distributed application engineer. Ken has worked with Fortune 500 companies to small startups in the roles of developer, designer, application architect and enterprise architect. Ken's current focus is on containers, container orchestration, high scale micro-service design and continuous delivery systems.

Ken is an international speaker on the subject of software engineering speaking at conferences such as JavaOne, JavaZone, Great Indian Developer Summit (GIDS), and The Strange Loop. He is a regular speaker with NFJS where he is best known for his architecture and security hacking talks. In 2009, Ken was honored by being awarded the JavaOne Rockstar Award at JavaOne in SF, California and the JavaZone Rockstar Award at JavaZone in Oslo, Norway as the top ranked speaker.

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