Kubernetes has revolutionized application deployment and management. This open-source platform streamlines the configuration and automation of modern, containerized applications. While Docker popularized Linux containers, simplifying how organizations build, distribute, and deploy software, Kubernetes is now transforming the landscape of application management and orchestration at scale. It's a pivotal technology for both IT professionals and developers, and mastering it is crucial for capitalizing on the significant career opportunities it offers.

While building and managing your own (DIY) Kubernetes clusters is possible, managed Kubernetes services offered by providers such as Microsoft (Azure Kubernetes Service), Google (Google Kubernetes Engine), AWS (Elastic Kubernetes Service), DigitalOcean, and others, significantly simplify the process of provisioning and maintaining clusters for containerized workloads. Whether you choose a DIY or a managed approach, a consistent method for cluster management is available through the command line. The kubectl command-line tool interacts with the standard management API inherent in all Kubernetes clusters. This tool has become the preferred method for managing both clusters and their workloads.

This book, "Kubectl - A Cookbook," provides a practical collection of recipes, tips, and tricks designed to help you master command-line management using kubectl. Each chapter focuses on a specific aspect of Kubernetes management, building upon the knowledge introduced in previous chapters. Each chapter, and each recipe within it, provides an opportunity to learn not only about Kubernetes management best practices but also some of the finer points of shell scripting.