GitOps & Automation
GitOps brings infrastructure and application management into version control, enabling automated, declarative, and reproducible deployments on Kubernetes. Instead of pushing changes with kubectl or a pipeline, a controller continuously reconciles the cluster to match what is declared in Git.
This section covers GitOps principles, ArgoCD, Flux, repository patterns, and CI/CD integration—so you can move from “Git as config storage” to reliable, auditable continuous delivery.
Overview
GitOps is a set of practices that uses Git as the single source of truth for declarative infrastructure and applications. It provides:
- Version Control: All configuration is stored in Git with full history
- Automation: Continuous reconciliation between desired and actual state
- Reproducibility: Complete audit trail and easy rollbacks
- Collaboration: Standard Git workflows for infrastructure changes
CI builds and tests; Git records the desired state; ArgoCD or Flux applies it. Cluster drift is corrected by reconciliation, not by another ad-hoc apply.
Why GitOps for Kubernetes
Kubernetes is already declarative. GitOps extends that model so every deployable change is reviewable, reversible, and observable:
| Without GitOps | With GitOps |
|---|---|
Manual kubectl apply / pipeline push | Pull-based sync from Git |
| Limited audit of who changed what | Full Git history and PR review |
| Drift is easy to miss | Controllers detect and optionally self-heal |
| Rollbacks depend on runbooks | Revert a commit (or pin a revision) |
Use GitOps when you want infrastructure as code with continuous delivery, multi-environment promotion, and a clear split between build (CI) and deploy (CD).
ArgoCD vs Flux
Both tools implement pull-based Kubernetes GitOps. Choose based on how your teams operate—not on “which is more GitOps.”
| ArgoCD | Flux | |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | UI, Applications/Projects, multi-cluster visibility | Controller-native toolkit, strong Kustomize/Helm APIs |
| Fit | Teams that want a control-plane UI and app model | Teams that want everything defined as Kubernetes CRDs |
| Image updates | Often paired with external image tooling | Built-in image automation that commits back to Git |
| CNCF status | Graduated (Argo project) | Graduated (Flux / GitOps Toolkit) |
Still deciding on fundamentals? Start with GitOps Principles. Already committed to a tool? Jump to ArgoCD or Flux, then apply Patterns & Practices so the repo layout scales.
Topics
| Guide | What it covers |
|---|---|
| GitOps Principles | Core concepts and best practices: declarative config, Git as source of truth, pull-based reconciliation |
| ArgoCD | Declarative continuous delivery for Kubernetes: setup, Applications, sync policies |
| Flux | GitOps toolkit for continuous delivery: install, controllers, multi-tenancy |
| Patterns & Practices | Common GitOps patterns and repository structures, promotion, Helm |
| CI/CD Integration | Integrating GitOps with CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI) |
Suggested path
- Learn the model — Read GitOps Principles so pull-based CD and drift handling are clear before tooling.
- Pick a controller — Follow ArgoCD or Flux through install and a first successful sync.
- Structure the repo — Apply Patterns & Practices for layout, env promotion, and Helm.
- Wire CI correctly — Keep pipelines on build/test and Git updates via CI/CD Integration; leave cluster apply to the controller.
Related guides
- Helm vs Kustomize — packaging choices that feed GitOps manifests
- Helm addon patterns — chart delivery in cluster operations
- Kustomize — overlays commonly watched by GitOps controllers
- Supply chain scanning — keep images and configs trustworthy before sync
FAQ
What is Kubernetes GitOps?
GitOps for Kubernetes means storing desired cluster state in Git and using a controller (typically ArgoCD or Flux) to continuously reconcile the live cluster to that state. Changes go through Git; the controller handles apply, drift detection, and often rollback.
Do I still need CI/CD with GitOps?
Yes. CI still builds, tests, and publishes artifacts. GitOps replaces push-based deploy steps with a pull-based controller. See CI/CD Integration.
ArgoCD or Flux—which should I start with?
Start with the tool your team will operate day to day. Prefer ArgoCD if you want a strong UI and Application/Project model; prefer Flux if you want a CRD-first toolkit with image automation. Both are production-proven for Kubernetes continuous delivery.