GitOps is a paradigm or a set of practices that empowers developers to perform tasks which typically fall under the purview of IT operations. GitOps requires code to be in a version control system where it undergoes the usual processes of code review and automated testing. In the context of DevOps, GitOps is a model of infrastructure management and deployment, where Git is the single source of truth.
GitOps is a term coined by Weaveworks, the creators of a Kubernetes toolkit. The term is a combination of 'Git' and 'Operations', symbolizing the use of Git as the core tool in managing and orchestrating operational workflows. This article will delve into the intricacies of GitOps, its history, use cases, and specific examples to provide a comprehensive understanding of this DevOps concept.
Definition of GitOps
GitOps is a way of implementing Continuous Deployment for cloud native applications. It focuses on a developer-centric experience when operating infrastructure, by using tools developers are already familiar with, including Git and Continuous Deployment tools.
The core idea behind GitOps is that Git is the canonical source of truth for both code and infrastructure. This means that the state of your system is described declaratively and version controlled in Git. Changes to the system are made by pushing code changes to the Git repository and not by traditional system operations tasks.
Key Components of GitOps
GitOps consists of four key principles: Declarative Infrastructure, Version Control System, Automated Delivery, and Software Agents. Declarative Infrastructure means that the entire system is described declaratively. Version Control System is where the declarative descriptions are stored. Automated Delivery ensures that only valid changes can be pushed to the system. Software Agents ensure correctness and alert on divergence.
These principles work together to provide a framework where the entire production environment is mirrored and version controlled. It allows for easy rollbacks, quick error detection, and efficient team collaboration.
History of GitOps
The term GitOps was first coined by Alexis Richardson, the CEO of Weaveworks, in a blog post in 2017. The concept, however, has its roots in the practices of large scale web companies like Google, Netflix, and Facebook, who have been using version control systems to manage changes and deployments to their infrastructure for many years.
GitOps is a natural evolution of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and DevOps principles. It extends these concepts by using Git as a single source of truth for both application code and infrastructure code, and by automating the process of deployment using software agents.
Evolution of GitOps
GitOps evolved from the need to make operations more developer-friendly. With the rise of microservices and container orchestration tools like Kubernetes, managing operations became more complex. GitOps provides a way to manage this complexity by using familiar tools and practices.
Since its inception, GitOps has gained significant traction in the DevOps community. It is now widely used in industries ranging from finance to healthcare, and is supported by a growing number of tools and platforms.
Use Cases of GitOps
GitOps can be used in a variety of scenarios, ranging from managing cloud-native applications, to data management, to policy enforcement. It is particularly useful in environments where there is a need for speed, scale, and complexity.
One of the primary use cases of GitOps is in the management of Kubernetes clusters. With GitOps, you can manage your clusters in a declarative manner, and use Git as your single source of truth. This makes it easy to track changes, roll back if necessary, and collaborate with your team.
Examples of GitOps
Several companies have successfully implemented GitOps. For instance, State Street, a financial services company, uses GitOps to manage its Kubernetes clusters. They have found that GitOps helps them reduce deployment times, increase developer productivity, and improve system stability.
Weaveworks, the company that coined the term GitOps, uses it to manage their own Kubernetes infrastructure. They have found that GitOps helps them reduce operational overhead, improve visibility, and increase system reliability.
Conclusion
GitOps represents a significant shift in the way operations are managed. By using Git as a single source of truth and by automating deployments, GitOps brings a level of speed, reliability, and developer friendliness that is hard to achieve with traditional operations methods.
As more companies adopt cloud-native technologies and Kubernetes, the use of GitOps is likely to increase. Its benefits in terms of speed, reliability, and developer productivity make it a compelling choice for managing complex operational environments.