Kubernetes has become the default container orchestrator framework, setting the standards for application deployment in a distributed architecture. Wider adaptability of the tool prompted the diversification of the end-user base, and a consistent DX for cluster interaction became essential for Kubernetes. The community channeled herculean efforts towards the enhancement of developer experience, by extending the cluster CLI, building portals and highly-responsive UIs. This talk will focus on the cluster interaction chronicles, showcasing tools and add-ons which contributed to a wider adoption for Kubernetes. An emphasis will be place on kubectl plugins and cluster state managers using mechanisms such as GitOps, ClickOps and even SheetOps.

1. THE CLOUD
CONNECTIVITY COMPANY
Destination:
Automation
San Francisco, CA
July 2020
THE CLOUD CONNECTIVITY
COMPANY
1

2. Katie Gamanji
Cloud Platform Engineer
@American Express
Technical Oversight Committee
@CNCF
@k_gamanji katie-gamanji

3. The Building
Blocks of DX
K8s Evolution from CLI to
GitOps
@k_gamanji katie-gamanji

4. Cluster CLI
DX Enhancement
ApplicationOps

5. Container Orchestrators

7. Production
Systems
58%
Contributors
2K
KubeCon
Attendees
23K

11. User base diversification

12. Application developers
Application operators
Infrastructure operators

13. Cluster CLI

14. kubectl
Command line tool for
interaction and management of
Kubernetes objects.

16. KUBECONFIG
● ~/.kube/config
● --kubeconfig
● export KUBECONFIG

17. SIG-CLI:
● 40+ operations
● 70+ flags
● Declarative and imperative
management techniques
kubectl

18. DX
Enhancement

19. DX Enhancement
1. Simplicity
2. Optimization
3. Transparency
4. Durability

20. DX Enhancement
Extensions
Kubectl plugins
Wrappers
Web and terminal UIs

21. ExtensionsKubectl plugins

22. ● Extend kubectl features
● Support for any language
● Custom DX
Kubectl Plugins

23. $ cat /usr/local/bin/kubectl-greetings
#!/bin/bash
echo "Hello Cloud Native!"
Kubectl
Plugins

24. $ kubectl plugin list
The following compatible plugins are
available:
/usr/local/bin/kubectl-greetings
/Users/bonsai/.krew/bin/kubectl-krew
/Users/bonsai/.krew/bin/kubectl-tree
Kubectl
Plugins

25. $ kubectl greetings
Hello Cloud Native!
Kubectl
Plugins

26. Centralized
plugin
index

27. Centralized
plugin
index

28. ● Service discovery for plugins
● 90+ custom add-ons
● Plugin version manager

29. https://stats.krew.dev/

30. kubectl
plugins
Tailored CLI
Plugins + aliases
No overwrite

31. WrappersWeb and terminal UIs

32. Operational view of the cluster state

33. ● Point of presence
● Developer-first
● Coverage of basic operations
Kubectl Wrappers

34. Kubernetes
UIs
k9s
Lens

35. Application
Ops

36. Configuration
managers

37. ApplicationOps
GitOps SheetOpsClickOps

38. ClickOps
Application deployment is
represented by a collection of
“clicks” through a myriad of menu
settings.

39. ClickOps Abstraction level
Powerful DX
Roll-backs

40. GitOps
Git repositories as the source of
truth for defining the desired
application state.

41. GitOps
● PR based rollout
● Automatic reconciliation
● Versioned cluster state

42. GitOps

43. SheetOps

44. SheetOps
Because why not?

45. SheetOps
Control the Kubernetes state
using Google Spreadsheets.

46. SheetOps
Control the Kubernetes state
using Google Spreadsheets.
Mission: replace YAML with spreadsheets

48. So far ...
K8s Evolution from CLI to GitOps
kubectl
apply -f micro.yaml kubectl
microsvc create
UI
git push

49. Cluster DX
Declarative configuration
schema that advocates for
extensibility and
optimization of the user
journey.

50. Reach out!
@k_gamanji katie-gamanji
medium.com/@kgamanji