Kubernetes architecture describes the structure and components that make up a Kubernetes system, including the control plane and worker nodes, and how they work together to manage containerised applications. Also known as K8s architecture, it defines how Kubernetes schedules, runs, and maintains workloads at scale.
Understanding Kubernetes architecture is essential for designing reliable, secure, and scalable clusters. A clear architectural understanding helps teams troubleshoot issues, plan capacity, implement security controls, and operate Kubernetes effectively in production environments.
Users interact with the Kubernetes API to declare the desired state of applications. The control plane continuously reconciles this desired state with the actual cluster state, scheduling pods onto nodes and managing scaling, healing, and updates automatically.
BuildPiper builds on Kubernetes architecture by orchestrating deployments, environments, and governance on top of the control plane. It leverages core Kubernetes primitives while adding higher-level automation, observability, and operational discipline for enterprise use.
The main components include the control plane (API server, scheduler, controller manager, etcd) and worker nodes that run pods and containers.
Kubernetes uses declarative configuration, where users define the desired state and Kubernetes continuously works to maintain it, rather than relying on imperative commands.
BuildPiper uses Kubernetes architecture as the foundation for its platform, integrating with the control plane to manage deployments, environments, and policies while providing enterprise-grade visibility and control.