Introducing the Kubernetes agent

Kubernetes is increasingly becoming the leading platform for hosting and running applications, and Octopus has introduced a new deployment target called the Kubernetes agent to enhance the experience of deploying to Kubernetes. This lightweight application, installed into a Kubernetes cluster, registers with the Octopus Server as a deployment target, simplifying deployments by eliminating the need for Workers, external credentials, or custom tools. Available as an early access preview in Octopus Cloud, the Kubernetes agent addresses limitations of the existing Kubernetes API deployment target by utilizing in-cluster authentication, reducing the need for custom tooling, and using polling communication to resolve network access issues. The agent, built on Octopus Tentacle, executes deployment scripts inside short-lived Kubernetes pods, allowing for scalable workload management. Installation is streamlined via a Helm chart, enabling easy setup and management, and switching from a Kubernetes API target to the agent requires minimal changes to deployment configurations.