Kubernetes

Kubernetes (often shortened to K8s) is the standard for container orchestration. Created by Google and later handed to the Cloud Native Computing Foundation, it automates the deployment, scaling, and resilience of containerized applications across fleets of servers.

What is Kubernetes used for?

Where Docker creates and runs containers, Kubernetes orchestrates them at scale: it spreads containers across a cluster, restarts ones that fail, adjusts instance count based on load, and manages zero-downtime updates. It's the backbone of modern cloud infrastructure, available as a managed service from AWS and the other major providers.

Is Kubernetes right for you?

Kubernetes shines on complex architectures: microservices, high traffic, or multi-cloud setups. For a simple application or a small site, it's massively overkill: the complexity it adds then outweighs the benefit. The real question isn't its power, it's whether you actually need it.

What are Kubernetes's limitations?

Its learning curve is notoriously steep, and running a cluster demands real expertise. Even as a managed service, configuration remains demanding. Many teams adopt it too early and end up paying for complexity they didn't need to take on.