Exploring Istio by example

Matthew Casperson's blog post introduces a simplified sample application to explore Istio, a popular service mesh for Kubernetes. The example uses a minimalist Node.js proxy application to demonstrate how Istio can manipulate network requests, offering a clear view of its capabilities. Unlike the more complex Bookinfo application, this setup includes a basic Kubernetes deployment where a public-facing Node.js server proxies requests to internal and external web servers, allowing the examination of routing and network policies. The architecture involves multiple instances of web servers labeled with different versions, providing a basis for showcasing Istio's VirtualService and DestinationRule resources. This setup, while not reflecting a real-world scenario, serves as a foundational platform to add more advanced networking features in subsequent explorations of Istio.