Kubernetes as a platform vs. Kubernetes as an API

Introduction

What is Kubernetes? I have been working on this technology since the beginning and after 8 years, I’m still having a problem defining what it is. Some people define Kubernetes as a container orchestrator but does that definition capture the essence of Kubernetes? I don’t think so. In this post, I’d like to explore thinking about Kubernetes outside of how we conventionally think about it and where the technology can stretch.

Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (Amazon EKS), an AWS managed service that operationalizes Kubernetes upstream clusters on behalf of customers, has a very large and broad user base. The way these customers use Amazon EKS and the way they think about Amazon EKS varies greatly. For some, Kubernetes is their new platform, for others it’s a facade to interface AWS services. It’s the story of the large spectrum that exists between being in full control, on one end, and embracing a fully managed service approach on the other far end.

Let’s explore this …