Kubernetes in Action, Second Edition

Deploying and managing containers and cloud-native applications

Marko Lukša, Kevin Conner

• Publisher: Manning
• Year: 2026
• Topic: Computer Science
• eBook ISBN:
  9781638350828
• Subtopic: Cloud Computing
• Index: Computer Science

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Tens of thousands of developers have learned how to develop and run a Kubernetes environment from Kubernetes in Action. This new second edition updates the definitive guide with new, in-depth coverage of the Kubernetes architecture, including the Kubernetes API, and then ins-and-outs of application deployment.

As more and more applications are created using cloud-native and container-based architectures, Kubernetes has become an essential tool for modern developers to master. This book lays out a complete introduction to container technologies and containerized applications along with practical tips for efficient deployment and operation. From building your first cluster, you’ll steadily expand your initial application, adding features and deepening your knowledge of Kubernetes architecture.

In this book, you’ll find:

• Up and running with Kubernetes
• Deploying containers across a cluster
• Securing clusters
• Updating applications with zero downtime

About the technology

Kubernetes is the de facto standard for deploying containerized distributed applications. This powerful platform acts as an operating system for containers and clusters, reducing the need to micro-manage network and server infrastructure. Used daily by millions of developers, administrators, and architects, Kubernetes is must-know enterprise software.

About the book

Kubernetes in Action, Second Edition is the definitive guide to developing and deploying software with Kubernetes. Built on the bestselling first edition, this end-to-end revision provides up-to-date coverage on structuring Kubernetes-based applications and taking advantage of the Kubernetes API. You’ll also discover other key topics like configuration, attaching storage, scaling, and zero-downtime maintenance.

What's inside

• Up and running with Kubernetes
• Deploying containers across a cluster
• Updating applications with zero downtime

About the reader

Written for intermediate software developers. No prior experience with Kubernetes or containers is required.

About the author

Marko Lukša is an independent software engineer specializing in cloud-native technologies. Kevin Conner is a Senior Principal Software Engineer at Red Hat, focussed on cloud technologies and software supply chain security.

Table of Contents

Part 1
1 Introducing Kubernetes
2 Understanding containers and containerized applications
3 Deploying your first application on Kubernetes
4 Navigating the Kubernetes API and object model
Part 2
5 Running applications with pods
6 Managing the pod life cycle and container health
7 Organizing pods and other resources using namespaces and labels
Part 3
8 Configuring applications with ConfigMaps and Secrets
9 Adding volumes for storage, configuration, and metadata
10 Persisting data with PersistentVolumes
Part 4
11 Exposing pods with services
12 Using Ingress to route traffic to services
13 Routing traffic using the Gateway API
Part 5
14 Scaling and maintaining pods with ReplicaSets
15 Automating application updates with Deployments
16 Handling stateful applications with StatefulSets
17 Deploying per-node workloads with DaemonSets
18 Batch processing with Jobs and CronJob

Table of contents

• Praise for the First Edition
• Kubernetes in Action, Second Edition
• copyright
• contents
• dedication
• preface
• acknowledgments
• about this book
• about the authors
• about the cover illustration
• Part 1 Getting started
• 1 Introducing Kubernetes
• 2 Understanding containers and containerized applications
• 3 Deploying your first application on Kubernetes
• 4 Navigating the Kubernetes API and object model
• Part 2 Running applications in Kubernetes
• 5 Running applications with pods
• 6 Managing the pod life cycle and container health
• 7 Organizing pods and other resources using namespaces and labels
• Part 3 Application configuration and storage
• 8 Configuring applications with ConfigMaps and Secrets
• 9 Adding volumes for storage, configuration, and metadata
• 10 Persisting data with PersistentVolumes
• Part 4 Connecting and exposing applications
• 11 Exposing pods with services
• 12 Using Ingress to route traffic to services
• 13 Routing traffic using the Gateway API
• Part 5 Managing applications at scale
• 14 Scaling and maintaining pods with ReplicaSets
• 15 Automating application updates with Deployments
• 16 Handling stateful applications with StatefulSets
• 17 Deploying per-node workloads with DaemonSets
• 18 Batch processing with Jobs and CronJobs