Kustomize
Customization of kubernetes YAML configurations.
Overview
Kustomize is a standalone tool to customize Kubernetes objects through a file called kustomization.yaml. It allows you to manage application configuration in a template-free way. It is now built into kubectl. Argo CD has native support for Kustomize, allowing users to point to a directory with a kustomization.yaml to deploy an application.
✨ Key Features
- Template-free customization of YAML
- Overlay-based approach for managing environment-specific configurations
- Built into kubectl (kubectl apply -k)
- Generate resources like ConfigMaps and Secrets from other sources
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Template-free approach is simpler and less error-prone for many use cases
- Overlay mechanism is intuitive for managing environment differences
- Native integration within kubectl
Unique Value: Provides a declarative, template-free, and Kubernetes-native way to manage and customize application configurations, making them easier to maintain and reuse.
🎯 Use Cases (3)
✅ Best For
- Environment promotion workflows (e.g., promoting changes from staging to production by merging overlays)
- GitOps with Argo CD for configuration management
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Situations requiring complex logic or conditionals in configuration, where a templating engine like Helm might be better
- Managing non-Kubernetes configuration files
🏆 Alternatives
Offers a simpler, more structured approach to configuration customization than Helm, avoiding the complexities of templating languages. It is ideal for teams that prefer a purely declarative patching mechanism.
💻 Platforms
✅ Offline Mode Available
🔌 Integrations
🔒 Compliance & Security
💰 Pricing
Free tier: Fully-featured, open-source software.
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