Cloud Deploy

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We use Fly Kubernetes (FKS) is a managed Kubernetes service offered by Fly.io, designed to allow us to leverage the Kubernetes API for deploying applications on the Fly.io platform.

Unlike traditional Kubernetes providers like EKS or GKE, FKS is built on top of Fly.io's unique infrastructure, which utilizes Firecracker micro VMs for running workloads, rather than directly running containers on a Kubernetes cluster.

Key aspects of Fly Kubernetes:

• Underlying Infrastructure: FKS runs on Fly.io's infrastructure, meaning compute is powered by Fly Machines (Firecracker-based VMs), volumes are handled by Fly Volumes (local NVMe drives), and networking utilizes Fly.io's internal WireGuard mesh.

• Kubernetes API Compatibility: FKS allows users to interact with the platform using familiar Kubernetes tools and concepts like kubectl, deployments, and services, even though the underlying execution model differs.

• Limitations and Focus: FKS is not a full-fledged Kubernetes implementation in the same vein as major cloud providers. It has specific limitations, such as initial restrictions on multi-container pods, Stateful Sets, network policies, and horizontal pod autoscaling, though some of these are being addressed in ongoing development. The primary focus is on providing a fast-launching VM experience through the Kubernetes API.

• Implementation Details: FKS leverages K3s, a lightweight Kubernetes distribution, and Virtual Kubelet, which enables Kubernetes nodes to run pods on external providers like Fly Machines.

• Use Case: It caters to our developers who prefer the Kubernetes API for orchestration but want to benefit from Fly.io's global distribution and cost-effective micro VM architecture.