Packaging Applications and Services with Kubernetes Operators

Package applications and services for Kubernetes with the Operator framework.

Developing Operators

 

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Operators give you a convenient way to package, deploy, manage and distribute applications for Kubernetes. The method allows you to package configuration so that users can deploy operators from a simple catalog without having to engage administrators. You can distribute operators beyond your organization using OperatorHub.io which is open to all contributions or the Red Hat OpenShift OperatorHub using Red Hat's certification process.

Download Operator-SDK binary

Operator maturity model

Conceptually, an Operator takes human operational knowledge and encodes it into software that is more easily packaged and shared with consumers. How you approach and build your Operator is up to you. Advanced Operators are designed to handle upgrades seamlessly, react to failures automatically, and not take shortcuts, such as skipping a software backup process to save time.

A Kubernetes application is both deployed on Kubernetes and managed using the Kubernetes APIs and kubectl/oc tooling. You can think of Operators as the runtime that manages this type of application on Kubernetes.

Featured image for Operators topics.

Get started building your operator resources

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Feb 17, 2025
Chris Peters +1

Learn how to adapt the upstream Helm chart to securely deploy the GitHub...

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Michail Resvanis

This article demonstrates how image-based installation simplifies and...

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Hands-on operator labs

Interactive Tutorial

Demonstrate how ArgoCD with Red Hat ACM can manage different clusters and...

Interactive Tutorial

Learn how to create Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Edge images and deploy them...

Interactive Tutorial

The goal of this track is to explore the Red Hat OpenShift GitOps Operator...

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This track provides an introduction to cloud-native development with Node.js...

Interactive Tutorial

Discover the simplicity of containerizing your application with Buildah and...

Interactive Tutorial

Learn to deploy and control an already-defined container image.

Technology partners: Publish on OpenShift OperatorHub 

OpenShift OperatorHub

Red Hat Partner Connect is a program for technology partners—ISVs, SIs, and VARs—that provides software, tools, and other technical resources for your development work, and marketing resources for your marketing & sales colleagues.

When you publish, you get:

Seal of approval

  • Your Operator functionality is verified by Red Hat.

Promotion

  • Listed in Red Hat OpenShift OperatorHub and Red Hat Ecosystem Catalog for all customers to see and download.

Continuous certification

  • Using Red Hat Certification Build Service APIs means continuous security compliance—great for CI/CD.

Support coverage

  • Full Red Hat support for the foundation of Operators and their containers when used with Red Hat OpenShift.

Operator videos

State of Operators

OpenShift Commons Briefing with Daniel Messer: State of Operators

Operators Framework

OpenShift now includes operator framework to help organizations easily...

Operator Framework BoF

An Operator is a method of packaging, deploying and managing a Kubernetes...

New articles about Operators

Article Article
Feb 07, 2025
David Elie-Dit-Cosaque

Learn how to convert PGT to RHACM Policy Generator using the...

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Discover the advantages of OpenShift Virtualization as an alternative to VMware.

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This article presents a means of automatically deploying an open source...

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A guide for the new operator COO's practice.

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Red Hat officially supports the Cluster Observability Operator on OpenShift...

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Adventures Aboard the Kluster Kruise Ship

This story uses a series of metaphors to introduce the concept of Operators, explain how they aid in the automation of clusters, and provide a high-level overview of Operator Lifecycle Management in a way that anyone can understand. Readers will meet Kate the octopus, esteemed cruise ship director, who finds herself overwhelmed with the responsibilities associated with her position.

Interested in the operator community? OperatorHub is the community home for Kubernetes Operators. Find an existing operator, or list your own.