Kubernetes

Kubernetes is an open-source container orchestration platform designed to automate the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It was originally developed by Google and released in 2014. Now maintained by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), Kubernetes provides a robust framework for running distributed systems resiliently and is widely used for managing complex microservices architectures.

Kubernetes, often abbreviated as K8s, was invented by Google engineers who had previous experience running billions of containers a week internally through Google's Borg system. In June 2014, Google publicly announced Kubernetes, and in July of the same year, it was open-sourced. The platform aims to provide a "planet-scale" computing capability for everyone. At its core, Kubernetes allows for automated container deployment, continuous scaling, and operational tasks managing. The system operates by grouping containers into logical units referred to as "pods" that can be easily managed and discovered. Through these abstractions, Kubernetes can ensure optimal resource utilization and high availability by automatically placing containers based on their resource requirements and other constraints. The protocol behind Kubernetes ensures seamless networking, service discovery, and load balancing. It operates using APIs for its various components and can integrate with a range of networking solutions, including those provided by major cloud service providers. The architecture is modular and extensible, promoting a wide range of add-ons and customization options for users. In summary, Kubernetes streamlines the complexities associated with deploying and managing modern applications, making it an essential tool in the DevOps toolkit.