Kubernetes

Kubernetes plays a central role in today’s cloud-native and DevOps ecosystems, redefining how teams design and deliver software. Rather than managing infrastructure manually, developers can rely on Kubernetes to orchestrate containers across environments with precision and consistency. It enables organizations to adopt agile, scalable, and fault-tolerant application strategies that meet modern performance demands. As enterprises move toward distributed and hybrid architectures, Kubernetes continues to serve as the foundation for reliable, future-ready software delivery.

What exactly is Kubernetes used for?

Kubernetes is an open-source system that automates deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It provides developers with a unified way to run applications across environments while ensuring reliability, efficient resource use, and consistent performance in modern software development.

Why use Kubernetes?

​​Kubernetes streamlines operations by automating deployment, scaling, and recovery. It ensures high availability, efficient resource utilization, and consistent performance across environments. By minimizing manual intervention and downtime, it enables faster, more reliable software delivery—making it a cornerstone of DevOps and modern application management.

When to use Kubernetes?

Kubernetes is best used for containerized, distributed, or microservice-based applications that require scalability and resilience. It’s particularly effective in hybrid or multi-cloud environments, CI/CD pipelines, and large-scale production systems where automation, flexibility, and consistent performance are essential.

What is Kubernetes architecture?

Kubernetes architecture defines how the system operates internally. It consists of a control plane—which includes the API server, scheduler, controller manager, and etcd database—and worker nodes that run workloads through components like kubelet, kube-proxy, and container runtimes. This layered design enables Kubernetes to orchestrate containers efficiently and maintain the desired system state automatically.

What are Kubernetes clusters?

A Kubernetes cluster is a unified environment that connects multiple machines (nodes) to run applications reliably and at scale. It organizes workloads across these nodes, balancing performance and ensuring high availability. Clusters provide logical separation for workloads, support scalability, and simplify management across on-premise, hybrid, or cloud setups.

What is the main purpose of a Kubernetes service?

A Kubernetes service provides a stable endpoint for communication between pods. Since pods can be replaced or moved, services maintain consistent network access and handle internal load balancing automatically.

What is container vs pod?

A container is a lightweight, isolated environment that runs a single process. A pod, on the other hand, is the smallest deployable unit in Kubernetes and can contain one or more containers that share storage and network resources. This design allows containers within a pod to work seamlessly together.

How many pods can Kubernetes handle?

A single Kubernetes cluster can manage up to approximately 150,000 pods, depending on system configuration, hardware capacity, and network performance. Scalability is one of the core strengths that makes Kubernetes suitable for large-scale applications.

What are Kubernetes operators?

Operators are custom controllers that automate complex application lifecycle tasks, such as database upgrades, backups, and scaling. They extend the core capabilities of Kubernetes by embedding domain-specific knowledge directly into cluster management.

What is Kubernetes vs Docker?

Docker and Kubernetes serve different but complementary purposes. Docker is a containerization platform that packages applications and their dependencies into lightweight, portable units. Kubernetes, on the other hand, is an orchestration system that manages those containers across multiple nodes—handling deployment, scaling, and fault recovery. While Docker is often used as the container engine within Kubernetes, the two are independent technologies that work best together in modern software development.

Can I run Kubernetes without Docker?

Yes. Kubernetes originally used Docker as its default runtime but now supports other Container Runtime Interface (CRI)–compliant engines like containerd and CRI-O. These runtimes provide the same functionality more efficiently, allowing Kubernetes to remain flexible, modular, and compatible with various container ecosystems.

What is a real-life example of Kubernetes?

Netflix uses Kubernetes to run and manage thousands of microservices across global data centers. It automatically scales resources based on demand, ensuring smooth performance even during heavy traffic periods. Other major adopters include Spotify and Airbnb.

What are common Kubernetes use cases?

• Running microservices that scale independently

• Automating CI/CD pipelines for faster deployments

• Managing hybrid or multi-cloud applications

• Running AI/ML and data-processing workloads

• Deploying distributed IoT or edge systems

Is Kubernetes Linux-based or dependent on Linux?

Kubernetes was originally built on Linux because it uses kernel features like namespaces and cgroups. While the control plane runs on Linux, Windows can be used for worker nodes in mixed clusters, allowing flexibility for diverse workloads.

Can Kubernetes run on Windows?

Yes. Kubernetes supports Windows worker nodes within hybrid clusters. This allows developers to orchestrate .NET or Windows-based applications alongside Linux workloads using a single management framework.

What programming language is Kubernetes written in?

Kubernetes is written in Go (Golang). Go’s concurrency model and performance efficiency make it ideal for managing distributed systems at scale, allowing Kubernetes to handle thousands of parallel operations reliably.

What are the key functions and benefits of Kubernetes?

• Automation: Streamlines deployment, scaling, and recovery

• Load balancing: Distributes traffic evenly across pods

• Self-healing: Automatically restarts failed containers

• Scalability: Expands or shrinks workloads as needed

• Portability: Works across cloud providers and data centers

• Declarative configuration: Ensures consistent environments using YAML manifests

Conclusion

Kubernetes has become the industry standard for container orchestration, driving automation, resilience, and scalability in software development. It empowers teams to manage complex systems with less manual effort and higher efficiency across all environments.

Explore how Better Software helps teams turn Kubernetes into a foundation for faster, smarter, and more reliable products.

Book your build call here!