Kubernetes Basics and How to Start Learning

Kubernetes is a powerful open-source container orchestration platform that has become the standard for managing containerized applications in cloud-native environments. If you're new to Kubernetes, it can seem overwhelming at first. However, with the right resources and a willingness to learn, anyone can become proficient in Kubernetes.

What is Kubernetes?

At its core, Kubernetes is designed to automate the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It provides a platform for deploying, scaling, and managing containerized workloads across multiple hosts and clusters, abstracting away the underlying infrastructure and providing a uniform way to manage applications regardless of where they are running.

The key building block of Kubernetes is the pod. A pod is the smallest deployable unit in Kubernetes and represents a single instance of a container. Pods are grouped together in deployments, which define the desired state of a set of pods and manage their lifecycle.

Kubernetes uses a declarative model, meaning that administrators define the desired state of the system and Kubernetes takes care of the details of making it happen. This means that instead of manually configuring each component of the system, administrators can simply declare what they want the system to look like, and Kubernetes will make it so.

Kubernetes also provides a powerful set of features for managing the networking, storage, and security of containerized applications. For example, Kubernetes provides a built-in service discovery mechanism that allows containers to find each other and communicate, even across multiple hosts and clusters.

How to Start Learning Kubernetes

Learning Kubernetes can seem daunting, but there are many resources available to help you get started. Here are a few examples:

Official Kubernetes Documentation The official Kubernetes documentation is an excellent resource for learning Kubernetes. It provides a comprehensive guide to the platform, including detailed information on installation, configuration, and usage. You can find it here: https://kubernetes.io/docs/home/
Kubernetes Bootcamp The Kubernetes Bootcamp is a free, self-paced online course that provides an introduction to Kubernetes. It covers the basics of Kubernetes, including deployment, scaling, and management. You can find it here: https://kubernetesbootcamp.github.io/kubernetes-bootcamp/
Kubernetes the Hard Way Kubernetes the Hard Way is a free, hands-on tutorial that walks you through the process of setting up a Kubernetes cluster from scratch. It's designed to help you gain a deep understanding of how Kubernetes works under the hood. You can find it here: https://github.com/kelseyhightower/kubernetes-the-hard-way
Kubernetes Fundamentals (Pluralsight) Kubernetes Fundamentals is a paid online course from Pluralsight that provides a comprehensive introduction to Kubernetes. It covers topics like deployment, scaling, and networking in depth. You can find it here: https://www.pluralsight.com/courses/kubernetes-fundamentals
Kubernetes Community Slack The Kubernetes Community Slack is a great resource for getting help and advice from other Kubernetes users. You can join the Slack channel here: https://kubernetes.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-h6d30gb6-7X9UHbzcCZBMyisZ62Nf2Q#/