Kubernetes delivery unlocked
A guide for developers navigating Continuous Delivery in a complex deployment landscape
Introduction
As software has become more complex, so has the infrastructure that it's deployed to. Gone are the days when you could run your software on a virtual machine (VM) in the cupboard. What used to be a simple deployment can now involve hundreds of interdependent microservices, each separately scalable. Without good tooling and strategy, deploying and debugging your software can (and will) take more time out of your day than actually writing it. Kubernetes is an open-source abstraction around infrastructure that attempts to solve the tooling part of the problem.
In the last 10 years of helping developers be happy deployers, we've seen the deployment landscape shift a lot at Octopus Deploy. But nothing has changed the landscape more than Kubernetes. With the obvious benefits of Kubernetes comes yet another layer of complexity that developers need to overcome to get their code into the hands of customers. This white paper explores the principles, practices, and tools that underpin effective Continuous Delivery (CD) for Kubernetes, specifically tailored for developers.
An effective CD pipeline for Kubernetes helps manage the cognitive overload that comes with a complex system. It lets developers focus on what they do best: writing code that delights customers.
This white paper delves into Kubernetes' architecture and how to best use it to achieve seamless, zero-downtime deployments. We examine in detail CI/CD tools, GitOps, and deployment strategies like blue-green and canary releases. We also address common challenges faced by developers, including managing configuration, ensuring security, and maintaining observability. You'll find practical tips, tricks, and best practices to set you up for ongoing success when you deploy to Kubernetes.
This white paper has 2 main parts. The first is a general overview of Kubernetes and its concepts, including how to use Kubernetes to achieve seamless, zerodowntime deployments. The second part goes deeper into Continuous Deployment (CD), helping you define and build your deployment process. This helps ensure you can scale your deployments with your organization well into the future.
About the author
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Liam Mackie is a Lead Cloud Engineer at Octopus Deploy and a Kubernetes maintainer, where he contributes to one of the world's most widely adopted container orchestration platforms. With deep expertise in cloud-native technologies and infrastructure automation, Liam helps organizations navigate the complexities of modern deployment architectures. His dual perspective as both a maintainer of core Kubernetes functionality and a practitioner implementing real-world solutions at Octopus Deploy gives him unique insight into Continuous Delivery, cloud infrastructure, and helping teams adopt cloud-native practices effectively at scale.