You’ve undoubtedly heard about Kubernetes if you work in cloud computing or DevOps. It is the preferred platform for managing, scaling, automating, and deploying containerised applications. However, you may ask yourself, ”What is Kubernetes, and how can I make the most of it?” if you’re new to the Kubernetes world or are considering obtaining a Kubernetes Certification. Don’t worry; we’ll look at the best 20 extensions and tools to help you get the most out of your Kubernetes experience today.
What is Kubernetes?
Let me briefly describe Kubernetes before we delve into the fascinating realm of Kubernetes tools and extensions. Created by Google, Kubernetes—often shortened to K8s—is an open-source container orchestration technology. It facilitates the effective management of large-scale container deployments by automating containerised applications’ deployment, scaling, and management.
With our foundational knowledge now established, let’s look at some amazing tools and extensions that can improve your Kubernetes experience.
- 1. Kubectl: The official command-line tool for communicating with Kubernetes clusters is called Kubectl. Regarding Kubernetes operations, Kubectl is your Swiss Army knife—it can be used for resource management, application deployment, and defect detection.
- 2. Helm: Helm is a Kubernetes package manager that makes application deployment and management easier. Helm charts simplify intricate Kubernetes applications’ package, version, and distribution.
- 3. Kubernetes Dashboard: The Kubernetes Dashboard provides a web-based user interface to interact with your cluster visually. It’s a useful tool for easily controlling your cluster, keeping an eye on resource utilisation, and diagnosing problems.
- 4. Prometheus: Prometheus is a Kubernetes-integrable open-source monitoring and alerting toolkit. Gathering and analysing metrics from your cluster may teach you how well it is doing.
- 5. Grafana: Grafana is a well-liked monitoring and visualisation tool that works flawlessly with Prometheus. It makes visualising and analysing your Kubernetes data simple with its beautiful dashboards and alerting features.
- 6. K9s: K9s is a Kubernetes terminal-based user interface. This is a lifesaver for anyone who would rather work with their clusters through a user-friendly interface but still prefers the command line.
- 7. Kubeconfig: A configuration file containing details about your Kubernetes cluster, including authentication credentials, is called Kubeconfig. It is necessary to grasp Kubeconfig management and usage to obtain Kubernetes certification.
- 8. Kube-Prometheus Stack: The Kube-Prometheus Stack is a comprehensive set of Kubernetes manifests, Grafana dashboards, and Prometheus rules for monitoring your Kubernetes cluster. It makes putting up a monitoring system that is ready for production easier.
- 9. Kustomize: Kubernetes setups can be customised with the help of the tool Kustomize. It manages and optimises your application in several settings, freeing you from file duplication.
- 10. Kubeapps: Installing and maintaining apps in your Kubernetes cluster is made easier with Kubeapps, a web-based system. It provides a comparable search function and experience to other app shops.
- 11. Istio: Modern network security features are added to your Kubernetes applications with Istio, an open-source service network. It’s a useful tool for traffic management and reliability assurance. It also acts as a safeguard for communication.
- 12. Linkard: Another small service network made specifically for Kubernetes is called Linkard. This is a fantastic choice if you want to put simplicity and performance first.
- 13. Rancher: Rancher involves managing and deploying Kubernetes clusters with ease. It is a feature-rich container management tool. It offers a simple interface for cluster provisioning and monitoring.
- 14. KOps: Kubernetes cluster creation and maintenance across several cloud providers can be efficiently managed with kOps, according to KOps. You require it if you are responsible for maintaining and upgrading your cluster infrastructure.
- 15. Velero: Velero is a backup and recovery solution for Kubernetes. It guarantees that you are ready for crises and data loss by assisting with the protection of your cluster settings and data.
- 16. Skaffold: A development tool called Skaffold makes the Kubernetes development process more efficient. By forcing the construction of your apps to be automated, it increases and speeds up development efficiency.
- 17. Octant: Octant is a web interface for Kubernetes that is focused on developers. It gives developers immediate insight into your cluster and facilitates effective troubleshooting.
- 18. Kubeval: Kubeval is a tool for validating your Kubernetes manifests against Kubernetes API schemas. It guarantees that your setups are correct and work with the version of your cluster.
- 19. Lens: Lens makes cluster management easy with its intelligent IDE for Kubernetes. It gives a centralized location for administering multiple groups and debugging real-time information.
- 20. Kubernetes Operators: To automate difficult application management tasks Kubernetes Operators are custom controllers that extend the Kubernetes API. They are an effective method for managing and deploying apps on Kubernetes.
Conclusion
Although Kubernetes is a very flexible platform, what sets it apart is the add-ons and tools. The top 20 tools and extensions listed here will be your greatest allies in navigating the Kubernetes ecosystem, regardless of whether you’re just getting started with it or hoping to earn a Kubernetes certification. So get ready, investigate, and maximise Kubernetes to enhance your experience with container orchestration!
