Question 1

ko vs Docker for building Go containers?

Accepted Answer

ko is faster and Dockerless, ideal for simple Go apps with minimal dependencies, but Docker offers more features for complex images with multi-stage builds or custom layers. ko simplifies the process by leveraging the Go toolchain directly.

Question 2

How to deploy a Go app to Kubernetes with ko?

Accepted Answer

Use ko's YAML templating to automatically replace image references in your Kubernetes manifests. This integrates with `ko apply` or similar commands to streamline build and deployment in one step.

Question 3

Does ko support ARM architecture builds?

Accepted Answer

Yes, ko has built-in multi-platform support, making it straightforward to build container images for ARM, x86, and other architectures without complex configuration, as noted in the features.

Question 4

Is ko production-ready for enterprise use?

Accepted Answer

Yes, ko is developed by Google and is applying to join the CNCF as a Sandbox project, indicating maturity and suitability for production environments, especially in cloud-native workflows.

Question 5

How does ko handle dependencies compared to Docker?

Accepted Answer

ko relies on the Go toolchain and modules for dependencies, so it's efficient for pure Go code, but it doesn't manage OS-level packages or system libraries like Docker can with base images.

Question 6

Can ko be used in CI/CD pipelines without Docker?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely, ko's lightweight nature and lack of Docker requirement make it well-suited for CI/CD, as highlighted in the features for simplified and fast container builds in automation.

ko

What is ko?

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