Getting Started with Kubernetes Operators

Kubernetes operators extend the platform’s capabilities by encoding operational knowledge into software. In this post, I’ll walk through the process of building a simple operator from scratch.

What is an Operator?

An operator is a method of packaging, deploying, and managing a Kubernetes application. It uses Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs) to extend Kubernetes and controllers to maintain the desired state.

Why Build Operators?

• Automate complex operational tasks
• Encode domain knowledge
• Provide self-healing capabilities
• Enable declarative management

Getting Started

First, install the Operator SDK and scaffold a new project:

operator-sdk init --domain example.com --repo github.com/example/myoperator
operator-sdk create api --group cache --version v1alpha1 --kind Database

Key Concepts

The operator pattern consists of:

1. Custom Resources: Your API objects
2. Controllers: Reconciliation logic
3. Watchers: Event handlers

Best Practices

• Keep controllers idempotent
• Use finalizers for cleanup
• Implement proper error handling
• Add comprehensive logging