Top Kubernetes Projects to Sharpen Your Skills and Build Your Kubernetes Portfolio

Whether you are a DevOps engineer or a mobile application developer, knowing how to use Kubernetes is a highly sought-after skill in the tech industry. This article covers Kubernetes projects for beginners, intermediate, and advanced learners. We will also include the necessary skills to practice through these projects and ideas for compiling a digital portfolio. 

5 Skills That Kubernetes Projects Can Help You Practice

Kubernetes is an open-source platform that automates application deployment, monitoring, and scaling for developers and engineers. Below are relevant skills that will help you when completing a Kubernetes project. 

• Application deployment. Having application deployment skills including troubleshooting, app creation, and configuration is essential for projects on Kubernetes. 
• DevOps. Having DevOps skills like software development and knowledge of tech operations will help you with Kubernetes projects. 
• Application containerization. The primary feature of Kubernetes is that it offers application containerization. You will need to gain skills in OS virtualization, cluster creation, and management. 
• Cloud services. Kubernetes is used by several top cloud services including Google Cloud, AWS, Azure, and IBM cloud. Familiarizing yourself with these services will help you to complete projects with Kubernetes. 
• Data metrics monitoring. Mastering Prometheus, DaemonSet, and other cluster monitoring technologies for application data protection and metrics analysis are helpful with Kubernetes. 

Best Kubernetes Project Ideas for Beginners

The best Kubernetes project ideas for beginners should cover the environment and features of the open-source system. Below are beginner project ideas that will help you learn Kubernetes basics including creating pods, deploying cluster resources, creating replica sets, pulling base image registries, and creating Kubernetes services.

These projects apply to individual developers, app developers, DevOps engineers, and open-source project developers looking to get access to projects related to cloud applications and kickstart their Kubernetes careers. 

Setup a Kubernetes Cluster with Kubeadm on CentOS 7 

• Kubernetes Skills Practiced: DevOps, application containerization

To understand the basics of deploying applications in containers, you must first learn how containers operate using cluster or container architecture. In this project, you will set up Kubernetes and initialize a Kubernetes cluster with kubeadm which is used to set up clusters on the platform. 

You will need a system with t2 medium for the master node and t2 micro for the worker nodes to create a cluster. Before setting up Kubernetes, you will need to install Docker, execute Docker services, and disable firewall, SELinux, and swap on both the nodes. The next steps include installing Kubernetes, kubeadm, enabling the kubelet services, and initializing the clusters. 

Create a Kubernetes Pod with YAML

• Kubernetes Skills Practiced: DevOps, application containerization

Along with setting up the container application architectures, it is also crucial to understand and learn to create Kubernetes pods. A pod is an execution unit for containers that can hold single or multiple containers and run in a cluster’s node. 

To execute this project, you will need to create a YAML file using the editing software of your choice. You will then need to define the type of pod container, API server, and additional parameters for the pods. You will run the command-line tool on Kubectl using the appropriate syntax and operations to run the pod. 

Create a Kubernetes Secret using a Kubectl Command Line

• Kubernetes Skills Practiced: Cloud services, data metrics monitoring

Kubernetes offers the services to protect and secure sensitive application data that includes basic encryptions including usernames and passwords. The high-level app data is stored in pods following pod security policies. This is a foundational project for this orchestration platform where you will create a secret using a kubectl command line. 

Unlike high-level pod security, Kubernetes secrets are independent and carry less risk. You will run a command that includes the secret name, type, and data, and then specify the secret environment variables on kubectl. You can also create secrets from text files, and YAML files. 

Create a Nodeport Kubernetes Service on AWS Ubuntu

• Kubernetes Skills Practiced: Application deployment, cloud services 

Pods in a cluster are not permanent and have individual IP addresses. During deployment, front end and backend sets of pods need to communicate accurately. Kubernetes services connect the different sets of pods within a cluster by adding kubelet environment variables. 

This project will help you create a Nodeport type of Kubernetes service on AWS Ubuntu using a master node and two worker nodes. You will create a service by first creating a deployment on the Nginx server with three pods and replicas. You will then define a service and create a Nodeport service that connects and matches the above pods and replica sets.

Pull an Image from a Private Docker Registry

• Kubernetes Skills Practiced: DevOps, data metrics monitoring

Images on Kubernetes are essential components that contribute to the overall container architecture by encapsulating apps, software dependencies, and by executing software bundles. To successfully pull an image, you will need to learn Docker and have a working knowledge of clusters and the command line. 

In this project, you will pull an image from a private Docker repository by creating a secret and a pod using a Kubernetes playground. You will need to match your Docker credentials to the secret and run your configuration pod file to pull a base image. 

Best Intermediate Kubernetes Project Ideas 

The best intermediate Kubernetes project ideas apply to cloud application developers, web application developers, and DevOps engineers looking to enhance their open-source project and containerization skills. 

Intermediate Kubernetes project ideas cover the foundations of complex application deployments, network policy creation, and application programming interface deployment for this cloud-native platform. 

Deploy and Run a Sample Application by Using Katacoda and Minibuke on Kubernetes 

• Kubernetes Skills Practiced: Application deployment, DevOps 

Minikube is a Kubernetes local engine and an open-source tool that is best for familiarizing yourself with the Kubernetes environment and features. Katacoda is an interactive learning platform that offers access to free in-browser Kubernetes tools and environments. This project allows you to practice the full cycle of deploying, running, and cleaning a sample application on Kubernetes. 

You will deploy a Kubernetes Pod that has one container, make the container available for outside networks by creating a Kubernetes Service, and install and enable add-ons that will extend the functionality of Kubernetes. Lastly, you will clean up the Kubernetes Cluster and delete the service and deployment nodes you created earlier. 

Create a Replica Set in Kubernetes on AWS Ubuntu 

• Kubernetes Skills Practiced: DevOps, cloud services, data metrics monitoring

Kubernetes offers task automation for administrative tasks, application configuration, and network configuration. To successfully deploy these automated tasks in clusters, the platform offers pod replication features. Replica sets help maintain a set number of pods, identify, run, and match pod replicas while adhering to pod security policies. 

In this project, you will create a replica set by first creating a YML file and defining the replica set. You will then create three pod replicas using the defined set with Nginx proxy and run it on kubectl to create a defined replica set. 

Create a Custom Kubernetes Namespace Using Kubectl and YAML File 

• Kubernetes Skills Practiced: DevOps, application containerization 

Namespaces in Kubernetes is a functionality feature that acts as a virtual wall, isolates group resources, and assists in pod-to-pod communication in a single cluster. Creating multiple namespaces is only required if the cluster has more than 10 users. 

In this project, you will create a custom namespace with node clusters and Kubernetes components. You will begin by creating and configuring one master virtual machine with two worker nodes. You will then list and execute the command for all the namespaces in kubectl. The next step involves creating a YAML file and executing the custom namespace command into the file. 

Declare Kubernetes Network Policy by Using Katacoda

• Kubernetes Skills Practiced: DevOps, application deployment 

Network policies on an orchestration platform set the communication routes and other governance factors between pods and network endpoints in the subclusters. You will need to understand command lines, pods, namespace configuration, network policy specifications, and traffic flow to do this project. 

You will begin by creating a Kubernetes cluster using Katacoda and deploying a service on the Nginx platform. This project requires specific network provider configurations, either Calico, Weave Net, or Antrea. After deploying a service, you will test and limit access to the service from another pod. You can then declare a network policy by assigning it to the service, defining it, and labeling it. 

Deploy a REST API in Kubernetes Using k3d

• Kubernetes Skills Practiced: DevOps, application deployment

An API acts as a control panel and communication facilitator between clusters, end-users, and other components of the Kubernetes platform. Adding an API also enhances the functionality of the platform, but it is only added if it benefits more than fifty percent of end-users as this addition is costly. 

To deploy a REST API in Kubernetes, you will need to set up a local cluster using k3d in Docker with two running containers. You will set up the project by creating an API using Express.js and adding the Docker file and image to it. The last steps are deploying an image in a namespace with a YAML file, creating a service, and deploying a REST API to a running backend pod. 

Advanced Kubernetes Project Ideas

The advanced Kubernetes project ideas apply to those who want to pursue a senior engineering or developer job in the computer software industry. You can become a software engineering manager, senior DevOps engineer, or a senior app developer with Kubernetes expertise. 

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Create an Application for Kubernetes Deployment using Docker File and Kubectl

• Kubernetes Skills Practiced: Application deployment, application containerization, DevOps

Smooth and automated application production and deployment is one of the primary features offered by Kubernetes. According to a 2019 survey conducted by Forbes and Aqua Security, 90 percent of survey respondents used Kubernetes during app production. 

In this project, you will create an application and prepare it for deployment on Kubernetes using a Docker file. You will need to have an excellent understanding of deployment configuration, clusters, application management, control plane, and app containerization. 

You will create the application on a Docker file, then execute an image command that will be converted into a container. You will deploy the application using the kubectl command-line where you will create Nginx with specified container image, template, and replicas. 

Auto Scaling on Amazon Elastics Kubernetes Cluster Service 

• Kubernetes Skills Practiced: Application deployment, DevOps, cloud services

Auto scaling is essential to the success of applications after launch because it tackles the increased traffic and overall speed and performance. Kubernetes offers auto scaling as one of its primary features that makes the application scalable by increasing and decreasing the required nodes. This feature is supported by AWS, Google Container Engine, and Google Cloud Engine. 

This is a high-level project that requires a complete understanding of application creation, deployment, clusters, cloud solutions, IAM policy, network policy, nodes, and auto scaling on Kubernetes. You will begin by creating an IAM policy and an IAM role using eksctl. 

You will run a command in the node group with the auto scaling policy. The next step is to deploy the cluster auto scaler by downloading, modifying, and applying the YAML file to the cluster. You will need to take scaling, node optimization, accelerators, and configuration parameters into account while deploying the cluster auto scaler.

Access and Deploy Kubernetes Dashboard 

• Kubernetes Skills Practiced: Application deployment, DevOps, application containerization 

The Kubernetes dashboard offers a graphical and web-based user interface for creating and managing a cluster. The platform allows you to deploy containerized applications and configure and troubleshoot other resource metrics. You need to have an in-depth knowledge of DevOps, application deployment, containerization, and Kubernetes administration for this project. 

To access and deploy the Kubernetes dashboard, you will first set up a verified dashboard, then deploy it by running a single command on kubectl. The next steps involve creating an admin user and read-only user on a YAML file. 

Once you have deployed the users and the dashboard, you can access it by creating a proxy, establishing a Secure Shell Tunnel, and selecting an authentication method. You can use the dashboard for cluster navigation, administration, storage, and configuration.

Create and Perform a Rolling Update on DaemonSet 

• Kubernetes Skills Practiced: DevOps, application containerization

DaemonSet acts as a storage solution for nodes by creating a copy pod. A copy pod serves the cluster by monitoring node logs, storing node information, and sending deleted pods to garbage collection. To work on this project it is essential to know clusters, nodes, pods, YAML, and API. 

You will create a DaemonSet in a YAML file and input the API version, type, pod specifics, and metadata configuration of the set. You will then run the file and the DaemonSet controller will pair the pod with the appropriate nodes. 

To perform a rolling update on DaemonSet, you will first set the rolling update strategy and create a YAML file. You will then use the kubectl command line to update and configure the rolling update, template, and container image to complete the update. 

Kubernetes Monitoring Using Prometheus 

• Kubernetes Skills Practiced: DevOps, application containerization, application deployment, data metrics monitoring

Prometheus on Kubernetes is a massive data collection, monitoring, and analysis infrastructure framework that developers and engineers use to monitor application performance. This project requires you to know how to set up Prometheus monitoring and all of the Kubernetes application deployment and containerization features. 

To conduct Kubernetes monitoring using Prometheus you will start by installing Kube metrics for the cluster. You will also create a Nodeport service that provides the metrics access to the Prometheus server. 

In the next steps, you will define the Nodeport service on a YAML file and configure Prometheus in accordance with the metrics. Lastly, you will load the new configuration by restarting Prometheus and running queries to start monitoring the metric data. 

Kubernetes Starter Project Templates

Starter project templates for Kubernetes help application developers, cloud engineers, DevOps engineers, and software engineers looking to learn the features of the platforms. Using Kubernetes starter project templates you can create replica sets, clusters, and auto scale applications. 

• Kubernetes sample application template. This starter project offers a template with application criteria, configuration, logging, and testing. This will help Kubernetes novices execute an application on the platform. 
• Istio starter template for Helm. This template will help you learn about creating services, deployment, and configmap using Istio objects and Kubernetes. 
• Deploy a web server containerized app to Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE). This starter project on GKE will help you learn to create a cluster and deploy an application. 
• Deploy an Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) cluster using Azure Resource Manager (ARM). This template is for those looking to familiarize themselves with AKS. You will use the ARM template to deploy a cluster and run a multi-container application. 

Next Steps: Start Organizing Your Kubernetes Portfolio

A digital portfolio can be helpful for those looking to land a job in development, cloud tech, or DevOps with a Kubernetes specialization. Having an impressive portfolio in today’s tech market will not only showcase your competency and experience but also help you stand out in the candidate pool. Below are three tips you can use to organize your Kubernetes portfolio. 

Include projects that showcase your app containerization and deployment knowledge

This tip applies to everyone with an application engineering and development background. Add Kubernetes application containerization and deployment projects to your portfolio. You can use GitHub, AWS, Kubernetes, and Google Cloud pages to find project templates. These types of projects demonstrate your knowledge of basic Kubernetes skills.

Add projects related to cloud computing 

Along with application deployment, Kubernetes offers cloud solutions. You should include projects related to cloud computing that showcase your understanding of Google, Amazon, RedHat, and Azure cloud services. 

List your YAML file and editing skills

Kubernetes creates and deploys tons of its features via YAML files. You should master the languages used in these files and their editors to seamlessly deploy Kubernetes applications and programs. 

Kubernetes Projects FAQ