Understanding Kubernetes Through Real-World Phenomena and Analogies

Explore the fundamental design philosophies of Kubernetes and cloud native technologies through real-world analogies in this 36-minute conference talk. Discover how the Kubernetes controller model relates to a taxi driver, why Kubernetes differs from similar systems, and how the second law of thermodynamics and randomness theory have influenced its design. Learn about the shift from traditional server management to Kubernetes operators and its parallels to the Industrial Revolution. Gain insights into declarative vs. imperative approaches, abstraction layers, entropy, game theory, and control theory as they apply to Kubernetes. Understand the complexities of Kubernetes through accessible comparisons, helping to demystify its design and functionality for newcomers and experienced users alike.

Intro
What problem are we trying to solve?
Problems hiding in plain sight
Declarative vs Imperative
Imperative - Declarative examples
Abstraction Layers: Pluggable interfaces
Entropy: Putting order to chaos
Kubernetes: The dishwasher of servers
Game Theory: An Infinite Game against Chaos
Randomness is Unintuitive
Actuators, or reconcile loops, fulfil the claim(s)
Check out my thesis for more details!
Control Theory
Promise Theory