set up blog (#263)

gen3/docs/blog/authors.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+authors:
+  qureshi:
+    name: Jawad Qureshi
+    description: Lead Platform Engineer
+    avatar: https://github.com/jawadqur.png
+
+# yangshun:
+#   name: Yangshun Tay
+#   title: Front End Engineer @ Facebook
+#   url: https://github.com/yangshun
+#   image_url: https://github.com/yangshun.png
+
+# slorber:
+#   name: Sébastien Lorber
+#   title: Docusaurus maintainer
+#   url: https://sebastienlorber.com
+#   image_url: https://github.com/slorber.png

gen3/docs/blog/index.md

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+# Blog

gen3/docs/blog/posts/gen3-laptop.md

@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+---
+draft: false
+authors:
+  - qureshi
+date: 2023-09-13
+slug: Gen3 on laptop
+categories:
+  - Operator
+tags:
+  - Kubernetes
+  - Minikube
+  - Kind
+  - K3s
+  - Local Development
+  - Lightweight Kubernetes
+  - Container Orchestration
+  - CI/CD
+  - Development Tools
+  - Docker
+  - Rancher Desktop
+  - Kubernetes Clusters
+  - DevOps
+  - Kubernetes Management
+  - Containerization
+  - Microservices
+  - Kubernetes Alternatives
+  - Kubernetes Learning
+  - Kubernetes Testing
+  - Resource Optimization
+
+---
+
+
+# Running K8s on Your Laptop: Exploring the Options
+
+
+Kubernetes (often abbreviated as "K8s") is an open-source platform designed to automate deploying, scaling, and managing containerized applications. Initially, Kubernetes might seem more fitting for large scale, cloud environments. However, for learning, development, and testing purposes, running Kubernetes locally on your laptop is incredibly beneficial. Let's dive into the various ways you can achieve this.
+
+## 1. Minikube
+
+**Pros:**
+
+- Officially supported by Kubernetes.
+- Provides a full-fledged K8s cluster with just one node.
+- Supports many Kubernetes features out-of-the-box.
+- Easy to install and use.
+
+**Cons:**
+
+- Can be resource-intensive.
+- Requires a virtual machine (VM) or a local container runtime.
+
+**Overview:**
+
+Minikube is essentially a tool that runs a single-node Kubernetes cluster locally inside a VM (by default). This makes it perfect for users looking to get a taste of Kubernetes without the complications of setting up a multi-node cluster.
+
+## 2. Docker Desktop
+
+**Pros:**
+
+- Comes integrated with Docker, a popular containerization tool.
+- Provides Kubernetes out-of-the-box, no additional installation required.
+- Does not require a VM for macOS and Windows.
+
+**Cons:**
+
+- Limited to a single node.
+- Might not support all K8s features.
+
+**Overview:**
+
+Docker Desktop, available for both Windows and macOS, offers a simple way to start a Kubernetes cluster. By simply checking a box in the settings, you get a single-node K8s cluster running alongside your Docker containers.
+
+## 3. Kind (Kubernetes IN Docker)
+
+**Pros:**
+
+- Runs K8s clusters using Docker containers as nodes.
+- Lightweight and fast.
+- Can simulate multi-node clusters.
+
+**Cons:**
+
+- Might be slightly more complex for beginners.
+- Intended primarily for testing Kubernetes itself.
+
+**Overview:**
+
+Kind is an innovative solution that allows you to run Kubernetes clusters where each node is a Docker container. It’s especially useful for CI/CD pipelines and testing Kubernetes itself.
+
+## 4. MicroK8s
+
+**Pros:**
+
+- Lightweight and fast.
+- Single command installation.
+- Offers various add-ons for enhanced functionality.
+
+**Cons:**
+
+- Limited to Linux.
+- Not as widely adopted as other solutions.
+
+**Overview:**
+
+MicroK8s is a minimal Kubernetes distribution aimed at developers and edge computing. It's a snap package, which makes it extremely simple to install on any Linux distribution.
+
+## 5. K3s
+
+**Pros:**
+
+- Extremely lightweight.
+- Simple to install and run.
+- Suitable for edge, IoT, and CI.
+
+**Cons:**
+
+- Strips out certain default K8s functionalities to remain light.
+
+**Overview:**
+
+K3s is a lightweight version of Kubernetes. It's designed for use cases where resources are a constraint or where you don't need the full feature set of standard Kubernetes.
+
+## 6. Rancher Desktop
+
+**Pros:**
+
+- Provides a user-friendly GUI for managing Kubernetes clusters.
+- Supports multi-node clusters.
+- Offers integration with Rancher for enhanced Kubernetes management.
+- Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
+
+**Cons:**
+
+- Requires additional setup compared to some other options.
+- May consume more resources for multi-node clusters.
+
+**Overview:**
+
+Rancher Desktop is a versatile tool that simplifies the management of Kubernetes clusters on your local machine. It offers a user-friendly graphical interface, making it an excellent choice for users who prefer a visual approach to Kubernetes cluster management. Rancher Desktop can set up and manage multi-node clusters, which can be valuable for testing and development scenarios. Additionally, it integrates seamlessly with Rancher, providing even more advanced Kubernetes management capabilities.
+
+## Conclusion
+
+Running Kubernetes on your laptop is feasible and offers a variety of methods, each catering to different use cases. Whether you’re a developer wanting to test out your applications, an enthusiast keen on learning Kubernetes, or even someone looking to set up CI/CD pipelines, there's an option for you.
+
+It's essential to weigh the pros and cons of each method, consider your resource limitations, and the scope of your projects. Regardless of the option you choose, diving into the world of Kubernetes is an enriching experience, offering a deep dive into modern cloud-native development and operations.

gen3/docs/blog/posts/k8s-for-dev.md

@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+---
+draft: false
+authors:
+  - qureshi
+date: 2023-08-13
+categories:
+  - Operator
+slug: k8s for development
+tags:
+  - Kubernetes
+  - Minikube
+  - Kind
+  - K3s
+  - Local Development
+  - Lightweight Kubernetes
+  - Container Orchestration
+  - CI/CD
+  - Development Tools
+  - Docker
+  - Rancher Desktop
+  - Kubernetes Clusters
+  - DevOps
+  - Kubernetes Management
+  - Containerization
+  - Microservices
+  - Kubernetes Alternatives
+  - Kubernetes Learning
+  - Kubernetes Testing
+  - Resource Optimization
+
+---
+
+# Choosing the Right Lightweight Kubernetes Tool for Local Development
+
+Kubernetes, the popular container orchestration platform, is a cornerstone of modern development and deployment. However, running Kubernetes locally for development and testing purposes requires efficient tools that don't consume excessive resources. In this article, we'll explore several lightweight Kubernetes tools for local development and discuss their pros and cons.
+
+Of course, getting every bell and whistle working (like that handy ingress feature that routes external traffic around the cluster) might need some extra tweaking on a basic laptop setup. But hey, half the fun is figuring out how to configure your local environment to really sing, right? As we look at tools for local dev, we'll hit on ways to tune things up for peak Gen3 performance.
+
+
+When it comes to local Kubernetes development, several solid options exist for standing up a dev cluster directly on your laptop. In this blog post, we will explore popular choices!
+
+Now, here's the cool part - Gen3 works on any Kubernetes cluster, whether you've just spun one up on your laptop or have a full-blown production cluster. That means you can kick the tires locally before taking it out for a spin in the real world.
+
+
+
+## Kind (Kubernetes IN Docker)
+
+**Overview:**
+Kind runs Kubernetes inside a Docker container, making it an excellent choice for local development and testing. It is also used by the Kubernetes team to test Kubernetes itself.
+
+**Pros:**
+- Fast cluster creation (around 20 seconds).
+- Robust and reliable, thanks to containerd usage.
+- Suitable for CI environments (e.g., TravisCI, CircleCI).
+
+**Cons:**
+- Ingress controllers needs to be deployed manually
+
+
+### Preferred for gen3
+In my experience, this is the most preferred method for running [Gen3 on a laptop](#) especially when paired up with [OrbStack](#) instead of [Docker](#)/[Rancher](#) desktop. I use this as my preffered K8s on my M1 Macbook.
+
+
+## Docker for Desktop
+
+**Overview:**
+Docker for Desktop is an accessible option for MacOS users. Enabling Kubernetes in the Docker For Mac preferences allows you to run Kubernetes locally.
+
+**Pros:**
+- Widely used and well-supported.
+- No additional installations required.
+- Built images are immediately available in-cluster.
+
+**Cons:**
+- Resource-intensive due to docker-shim usage.
+- Difficult to customize and troubleshoot.
+
+## MicroK8s
+
+**Overview:**
+MicroK8s is recommended for Ubuntu users. It is installed using Snap and includes useful plugins for easy configuration.
+
+**Pros:**
+- Minimal overhead on Linux (no VM).
+- Simplified configuration with plugins.
+- Supports a local image registry for fast image management.
+
+**Cons:**
+- Resetting the cluster is slow and can be error-prone.
+- Best optimized for Ubuntu, may be less stable on other platforms.
+
+## Rancher Desktop
+
+**Overview:**
+Rancher Desktop is an open-source alternative to Docker Desktop. It uses containerd by default and offers flexibility in choosing a container runtime.
+
+**Pros:**
+- Cross-platform (MacOS/Linux/Windows).
+- Utilizes k3s, known for its speed and resource efficiency.
+- Ingress with Traefik works out of the box
+
+**Cons:**
+- Rapidly evolving, not fully supported by all tools.
+
+## Minikube
+
+**Overview:**
+Minikube is a versatile option offering high fidelity and customization. It supports various Kubernetes versions, container runtimes, and more.
+
+**Pros:**
+- Feature-rich local Kubernetes solution.
+- Customizable with multiple options.
+- Supports a local image registry for efficient image handling.
+
+**Cons:**
+- Initial setup complexity, especially with VM drivers.
+- Some advanced options may require manual configuration.
+- Resource-intensive if using a VM.
+
+## k3d
+
+**Overview:**
+k3d runs k3s, a lightweight Kubernetes distribution, inside a Docker container. k3s removes optional and legacy features while maintaining compatibility with full Kubernetes.
+
+**Pros:**
+- Extremely fast startup (less than 5 seconds on most machines).
+- Built-in local registry optimized for Tilt.
+
+**Cons:**
+- Less widely used, leading to limited documentation.
+- Some tools may have slower adoption.
+
+In conclusion, choosing the right lightweight Kubernetes tool for your local development depends on your specific needs and preferences. Each tool offers a unique set of advantages and drawbacks, so consider your project requirements and platform compatibility when making your decision.
+
+Feel free to experiment with these tools and share your experiences in the Kubernetes development journey!