Rolling with Kubernetes: A Casual Guide to kubectl rollout

In modern application development, agility and stability must go hand-in-hand. Kubernetes helps achieve this balance through controlled and observable deployment mechanisms. One of the key tools in this process is the kubectl rollout command.

In this article, we’ll explore the features and capabilities of kubectl rollout, demonstrate its usage with practical examples, and explain how it contributes to safe and reliable application updates in a Kubernetes environment.

What Is kubectl rollout?

The kubectl rollout command provides a set of subcommands that allow users to monitor, pause, resume, undo, and inspect the rollout of Kubernetes workloads—primarily Deployments, DaemonSets, and StatefulSets.

These capabilities are essential for:

• Deploying new versions of applications

• Rolling back problematic changes

• Investigating deployment history

• Coordinating multi-step deployment strategies

Command:

1. kubectl rollout status deployment/<deployment-name>

2. kubectl rollout pause deployment/<deployment-name>

3. kubectl rollout resume deployment/<deployment-name>

4. kubectl rollout undo deployment/<deployment-name>

5. kubectl rollout history deployment/<deployment-name>

Conclusion

The kubectl rollout command is a fundamental tool for Kubernetes administrators and DevOps professionals. It provides essential capabilities to manage application rollouts with precision, enabling safe and effective continuous delivery practices.

Understanding how to leverage kubectl rollout effectively can significantly improve the reliability and maintainability of your Kubernetes-based applications.