What is intro-to-kubernetes-workshop?

This repository is a hands-on workshop that teaches you how to build and manage a Kubernetes cluster from scratch. Created by Kelsey Hightower, it walks you through the entire process of setting up the infrastructure, configuring security, and deploying applications using Kubernetes. The workshop is designed for people who want to understand what's happening behind the scenes when they use Kubernetes, rather than relying on managed services that hide the details. The course is structured as a series of labs that build on each other. You start by setting up compute instances on Google Cloud, then install Docker and configure networking. From there, you create security certificates, set up a controller node that manages the cluster, and configure worker nodes that actually run your applications. The final labs cover practical tasks like deploying apps, scaling them up or down, and performing rolling updates without downtime. This workshop is aimed at engineers and operators who want a deep understanding of how Kubernetes works under the hood. If you're someone who will be responsible for maintaining a cluster, troubleshooting issues, or making architectural decisions about your infrastructure, going through these labs will give you a solid foundation. It's less suited for someone who just wants to deploy apps to an existing cluster without worrying about how the cluster itself is put together. One thing worth noting is that this workshop targets Kubernetes version 1.0.4, which is quite old at this point. Kubernetes has evolved significantly since then, with many built-in tools and managed services that simplify what this workshop walks through manually. The concepts you learn here are still relevant, but some of the specific commands and approaches may have changed. Think of it as a valuable learning exercise for understanding the fundamentals rather than a guide you would follow step-by-step in a production environment today.