cncf / tag-app-delivery

Maintaining application infrastructure requires many repetitive human activities that are devoid of lasting value. Computers are the preferred method of performing precise tasks, verifying the state of an object and therefore enabling the infrastructure requirements to be codified. An operator provides a way to encapsulate the required activities, checks and statement management of an application.

These operator components allow for the automation of common processes as well as reactive applications that can continually adapt to their environment. This in turn allows for more rapid development with fewer errors, lower mean-time-to-recovery, and increased engineering autonomy.

Given the rising popularity of the operator pattern, it has become incumbent for there to be a reference paper that helps both novice and expert alike to learn from the community endorsed best practices for achieving their goals. In this document we outline not only the taxonomy of an operator but the recommended configuration, implementation and use cases for an operator application management system.

This white paper defines Operators in a wider context than Kubernetes. It describes their characteristics and components, gives an overview of common patterns currently in use and explains how they differ from Kubernetes controllers.

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