Kubernetes Exit Codes Explained: 137, 139, 143 and How to Fix Them

The document provides a detailed exploration of exit codes in Kubernetes, focusing on the significance and troubleshooting of common exit codes like 137, 139, and 143, which correspond to process terminations due to out-of-memory conditions, segmentation faults, and SIGTERM signals, respectively. It explains how these codes are derived from POSIX standards and how Kubernetes surfaces them in pod status, emphasizing that an exit code above 128 indicates a process killed by an OS signal. The text also outlines the Exit Code Diagnostic Loop as a method for identifying and resolving issues, recommending steps to classify, fix, and prevent crashes by examining logs, events, and pod specifications. Additionally, it discusses the role of resource configurations in causing exit codes, particularly the structural nature of exit code 137 due to static memory limits, and suggests using tools like Kubernetes Vertical Pod Autoscaler or Cast AI’s Workload Autoscaler for dynamic resource allocation. The importance of handling signals correctly, especially with proper shutdown procedures and entrypoint configurations, is highlighted to avoid unexpected crashes and ensure smooth operations.

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