👨‍💻 Introduction

Hey, there, My name is Joel Oduyemi, and I'm a passionate DevOps practitioner embarking on a continuous learning journey in the world of technology. I'm currently undergoing a #10WeeksOfCloudOps challenge organized by Piyush Sachdeva, and building cloud solutions on Microsoft Azure has been an integral part of my learning experience. It has pushed me to explore the vast possibilities of cloud operations and expand my expertise in the Azure ecosystem. 🌟

Today, I will be walking you through the entire process of setting up a robust deployment pipeline that leverages ArgoCD for continuous delivery and Terraform to build our AKS cluster with best practices in mind. Azure Pipelines will be our trusted ally in orchestrating and automating various stages of the integration pipeline, providing a seamless and efficient workflow. This process is designed to enhance efficiency, reliability, and consistency in managing Kubernetes-based applications.

Whether you're a seasoned DevOps engineer looking to refine your skills or a developer aiming to simplify the deployment of your containerized applications on Kubernetes, this guide has something valuable for you.

🔔 Prerequisites

To follow along in this guide you would need the following:

Azure Account - If you don't have one, you can sign up for a free trial on the Azure website
Azure DevOps Account - Sign up for a free account on Azure DevOps Website
Git Version Control - A solid understanding of Git is essential
Docker Hub Account
Azure CLI and Basic Azure Knowledge
Foundational understanding of Linux commands, Docker, and Kubernetes

🖼️ Architecture

📃 List of Azure Services Used

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)
Azure Active Directory (Azure AD)
Azure KeyVault
Azure DevOps
Azure Pipelines
Azure Virtual Network (VNet)

🛠️ Implementation Workflow

At the core of this project are three distinct Git repositories, each serving a unique purpose:

Application Code Repository: This repository is where the developer creates and commits new features or updates to the application codebase.
Terraform Code Repository: Here, we will manage the infrastructure provisioning of the AKS cluster using Terraform. This repository ensures that our Kubernetes environment is consistent and reproducible.
Kubernetes Manifest Repository: This repository stores Kubernetes manifest files in YAML format. These files define how our application should run within the AKS cluster.

Automated CI Pipeline

This journey commences when a developer commits changes or introduces a new feature to the application code repository. Azure Pipelines, immediately detects these changes and springs into action. We will configure the pipeline to consist of four pivotal jobs or steps:

Test: This initial step involves rigorously testing the application code. The goal is to ensure its functionality and quality before proceeding further.
Build: The build step is where we package the application into a Docker image. This process encapsulates not only the application but also any required dependencies, guaranteeing consistency across different environments.
Push: With the Docker image built, it's time to send it to a registry. This registry serves as the central hub from which our application will be deployed onto the AKS cluster.
Update Manifest: This step automatically pulls the Kubernetes manifest repository and replaces the pre-written deployment manifest with a new build tag for the Docker image

Maintaining Kubernetes Manifests

As the pipeline completes its tasks, it leaves us with two crucial outcomes: a Docker image and an updated manifest file. This is where GitOps, powered by ArgoCD, comes into play. We will establish a seamless synchronization between ArgoCD and our Kubernetes manifest repository.

Any changes made to the manifest file in our repository trigger ArgoCD to take action. It swiftly acquires and implements the updated version of the manifest in the AKS cluster. This tight integration ensures that our cluster configuration remains aligned with the desired state.

Moreover, ArgoCD acts as a guardian, preventing any manual modifications to Kubernetes cluster objects. If someone attempts to alter configurations manually, ArgoCD promptly restores the previous state, reinforcing the manifest repository's status as the single source of truth.

📝 Step-by-Step Guide to Implementing the Project

To kick things off, I will guide you through implementing the architecture above. To ensure clarity, this guide is divided into four separate blog posts. You can access each part through the links provided below, making it easier to follow along effectively.

Part 1 (You are currently reading**)**

Part 2: How to Set Up and Provision Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) Cluster with Terraform

Our first step is to provision an Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) cluster using Terraform while adhering to security best practices. This foundational part of the guide will get your Kubernetes environment up and running.

Part 3: How to Setup a Seamless Integration Pipeline with Azure DevOps

In Part 3, we delve into configuring the continuous integration pipeline. This integration is vital for efficient version control and collaborative development.

Part 4: Installing ArgoCD on an AKS Cluster and Sync Cluster Status With a Kubernetes Manifest Repository

Moving forward to Part 4, I will guide you through the installation and synchronization of ArgoCD on your AKS cluster. ArgoCD is a key component for implementing GitOps practices in your deployment workflow.

Part 5: [Upcoming] - Monitoring and Observability using Prometheus and Grafana

Stay tuned for the fifth and final part of this guide, where I will cover monitoring and observability using Prometheus and Grafana to ensure the reliability and performance of Kubernetes-based applications.

🪴 Room for Growth

The path to mastery in cloud-native development is a journey of continuous learning and practice. As I reflect on this project and look forward to the future, there are several areas I'm excited to explore and embrace:

Advanced Kubernetes Features: I'm eager to delve into more advanced Kubernetes features like StatefulSets, Ingress Controllers, and Horizontal Pod Autoscaling. These features can enhance the scalability and resilience of my applications.
Multi-Cluster Deployments: Exploring multi-cluster deployments and hybrid cloud scenarios is on my horizon. This will enable me to manage applications across multiple Kubernetes clusters, on-premises, and in the cloud.
Kubernetes Security: Strengthening the security of my Kubernetes deployments is a priority. I plan to learn more about Kubernetes security best practices, including Pod Security Policies and Network Policies.
Serverless Architectures: Exploring serverless architectures using technologies like Azure Functions or AWS Lambda is an exciting prospect. This can optimize resource utilization and reduce operational overhead.
Machine Learning and AI Integration: Integrating machine learning and artificial intelligence into Kubernetes deployments to build intelligent applications is a fascinating area I intend to explore.

As I continue this journey of growth and discovery in the world of cloud-native development, I'm excited to see how these new skills and experiences will shape the way I architect, deploy, and manage applications in the future.

In conclusion, while this guide has provided you with a solid foundation for deploying applications on Kubernetes using GitOps and Azure DevOps, there's always room for growth and improvement. As you embark on your Kubernetes journey, remember that the world of cloud-native development is dynamic and ever-evolving. The possibilities are endless, and the path to mastery is an ongoing adventure.

Thank you for joining me on this journey towards effortless Kubernetes deployment. I look forward to sharing Part 5 with you, where I'll conclude this project with a focus on monitoring and observability. Until then, happy deploying!