I'm working on a project that resembles platforms like Heroku or Vercel, or even a CI/CD tool similar to CircleCI. I see two main paths I could take: 1) Write custom scripts using Linux commands to run containers, like "docker run...", or 2) Use Kubernetes or a comparable tool to help automate the deployment process. My goals are to manage multiple containers across different servers while also handling multiple containers on the same server. For example, I want to configure a main domain (example.com) to point to various containers spread across servers. Additionally, I need a system in place to monitor the status of these containers, restart any that crash, and ensure the reverse proxy updates to point to the new instances. I also plan to update the container code using rsync or git pull, depending on the project. While I'm familiar with running containers, I've never used Kubernetes before, and I'm unsure if it can accommodate the scenarios I have in mind. Is Kubernetes a good fit for my needs, or should I focus on writing custom scripts? What's the more practical approach for handling such complexity? Any suggestions or opinions would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
I definitely recommend Kubernetes over custom scripts. It seems to fit your needs perfectly, as it provides exactly the features you need for managing containers and automating deployments. Going with scripts might lead you down a rabbit hole of complexity when there are existing solutions that can simplify your work significantly.
Custom scripts aren't the answer here. While Kubernetes is a powerful option for what you're looking to do, it’s also essential to evaluate your skills and the project's scope. If you're relatively new to Kubernetes, consider starting simple—like using Podman with systemd files—for easier management, then transition to Kubernetes as your requirements grow. Also, rethink your strategy for code deployment; building your code into the containers might streamline your process.
Totally agree! Containerizing your apps right from the start can save a lot of headaches later on.