What problem does it solve?
Kustomize enables template-free customization of Kubernetes manifests by layering a base set of resources with environment-specific overlays, patches, and generators, reducing duplication and drift.
Core Features & Use Cases
- Layered manifests: organize base configurations and environment-specific overlays for dev, staging, and prod.
- Patch and transformation support: apply strategic or JSON patches, image/tag updates, label changes, and namespace remapping without editing originals.
- Generators: create ConfigMaps and Secrets from files and literals, enabling dynamic configuration during deployments.
- GitOps-friendly rendering: validate rendered YAML with kubectl kustomize or kubectl apply -k before deployment.
Quick Start
Create a kustomization.yaml root and run kubectl kustomize overlays/dev to render the final manifest.