How to Create a Kubernetes Operator Using GoLang and Kubebuilder

Lefteris Vourgas
4 min readAug 23, 2024

Kubernetes has become the de facto standard for container orchestration, and with its growing adoption, the need for custom automation and management solutions has increased. Kubernetes Operators, a pattern for managing applications on Kubernetes, can simplify complex tasks by codifying operational knowledge into the cluster. In this article, I’ll guide you through the process of creating a Kubernetes Operator using GoLang and Kubebuilder.

What is a Kubernetes Operator?

A Kubernetes Operator is an application-specific controller that extends the Kubernetes API to create, configure, and manage instances of complex applications. Operators automate the entire lifecycle of the application, from deployment to scaling and updates, using Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs) and custom controllers.

Why Use GoLang and Kubebuilder?

  • GoLang is the language Kubernetes itself is written in, making it a natural choice for developing operators.
  • Kubebuilder is a powerful framework that simplifies the development of Kubernetes Operators by providing scaffolding, boilerplate code, and tools for testing.

Prerequisites

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Lefteris Vourgas

Senior Cloud Engineer and GoLang enthusiast, Specializing in building Kubernetes Operators and Cloud infrastructure. AWS | GO | K8s