Kubernetes
Kubernetes is an open-source platform for automating the deployment, scaling, and management of containerised applications. Originally developed by Google and now maintained by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), it has become the industry standard for container orchestration. Kubernetes handles where containers run, ensures they stay running, manages networking between them, and scales them based on demand. For non-technical readers, Kubernetes is like an automated operations team for your software. Instead of manually deploying applications to servers and monitoring their health, Kubernetes does this automatically. You describe what you want (how many copies, how much memory, how to handle failures), and Kubernetes makes it happen. If a server fails, Kubernetes moves your application to a healthy server automatically. Kubernetes has a steep learning curve and significant operational complexity. It's powerful for large-scale deployments but may be overkill for simpler applications. Managed Kubernetes services (AKS, EKS, GKE) from cloud providers reduce some operational burden but don't eliminate complexity entirely.
Official WebsiteWhen to use Kubernetes
Use Kubernetes when running many containerised applications that need to scale dynamically, when you require high availability and automatic recovery, or when you want consistent deployment across multiple environments (development, staging, production, multi-cloud).
Kubernetes is less appropriate for small applications, teams new to containers, or organisations without DevOps maturity. Consider simpler alternatives (cloud platform services, Docker Compose) if your scale doesn't justify Kubernetes complexity.
Why choose Kubernetes?
Teams choose Kubernetes for its flexibility, scalability, and ecosystem. It provides a consistent platform regardless of where it runs: on-premises, any cloud provider, or hybrid environments. The vast ecosystem of tools, extensive documentation, and large community mean solutions exist for most challenges. For organisations at scale, Kubernetes enables efficiency and reliability that would be difficult to achieve otherwise.