Key Differences Between Kubernetes and OpenShift

Here’s a comparison of Kubernetes and OpenShift’s CLI tools to give you a better understanding:

CLI Overview

• Kubernetes CLI (kubectl): kubectl is the command-line interface for Kubernetes, used to manage cluster resources like Pods, Deployments, Services, ConfigMaps, etc.
• OpenShift CLI (oc): oc is the CLI for OpenShift, which provides all the commands available in kubectl plus additional features that are specific to OpenShift, making it more developer-friendly and integrated into the OpenShift ecosystem.

Key Differences Between kubectl and oc

1. Basic Kubernetes Management:

   • kubectl: You use kubectl to perform the majority of administrative and operational tasks. Examples include:
     • Creating a pod:

kubectl run myapp --image=nginx

Listing pods:

kubectl get pods

oc: The oc command works in a very similar way and supports nearly all kubectl commands. It essentially inherits the entire Kubernetes functionality:

oc get pods

• • You can still run any Kubernetes-related tasks using oc, making it fully compatible with the Kubernetes ecosystem.

• Login to Cluster:

  • kubectl: To configure kubectl to access a Kubernetes cluster, you use a kubeconfig file:

kubectl config set-cluster mycluster --server=https://cluster-url
kubectl config set-context mycontext --cluster=mycluster

• oc: OpenShift simplifies the login with its own built-in command that also supports OAuth:

oc login https://openshift-cluster-url --token=<token>

• • The oc login command also allows you to use credentials (username and password) for authentication, making it easier to manage access, especially in enterprise environments.

• Developer Tools:

  • kubectl: There are no built-in commands specifically geared towards application development workflows.
  • oc: OpenShift comes with additional commands that cater to developers:
    • Source-to-Image (S2I) builds:

oc new-app https://github.com/some-repository.git

• • • This command automatically creates a build pipeline for your source code, making application deployment much faster.
    • oc new-app allows you to easily create a new application from source code, images, or templates in a more streamlined way than Kubernetes.

• Project Management:

  • kubectl: The concept of projects isn’t explicitly present. Kubernetes namespaces are used for logical isolation:

kubectl create namespace mynamespace
kubectl get namespaces

oc: OpenShift enhances the concept of namespaces by introducing “projects,” which are user-friendly wrappers around Kubernetes namespaces, offering additional controls and simplifying management:

oc new-project myproject
oc projects

• • Projects also have integrated access control, making it simpler to manage permissions between different development teams.

• Built-in Templates:

  • kubectl: Kubernetes doesn’t provide pre-built templates for common tasks; you need to define your resources in YAML or JSON files and then apply them:

kubectl apply -f deployment.yaml

oc: OpenShift has pre-built templates that make it easy to create common resources like databases, Jenkins pipelines, or application deployments:

oc new-app --template=postgresql-persistent

• • You can create and share your own templates, which helps in standardizing deployments across different teams.

Routing and Services:

• kubectl: Kubernetes uses Services for stable network endpoints and Ingress controllers to handle external access:

kubectl expose deployment myapp --type=LoadBalancer --port=8080

• The setup of Ingress or LoadBalancer is usually left to the operator, and requires a third-party Ingress controller.
• oc: OpenShift has a built-in concept called “Routes” that makes exposing services externally much simpler. It provides automated TLS support for public routes, making deployments faster:

oc expose svc myapp

• • The oc expose command automatically creates a route that you can use to access the application externally without dealing with Ingress configurations.

Summary Table

Conclusion

The oc CLI from OpenShift is essentially a supercharged version of kubectl, adding features and commands that simplify Kubernetes use for developers and administrators. OpenShift enhances Kubernetes by making workflows smoother, especially for enterprises needing developer-focused tooling, simpler project management, and out-of-the-box features like integrated security and routing.

For those comfortable with Kubernetes, using oc is an easy transition, as all kubectl commands will work with it, while adding more functionality for a seamless experience.

Great summary! 👏

I really like how you’ve highlighted the main features and considerations without overwhelming the reader—especially around security, user experience, and deployment options.

From my own experience, one of the biggest advantages of OpenShift in enterprise environments is that it takes away some of the initial setup complexity by bundling in those developer tools and security features right out of the box.

However, I agree that Kubernetes remains unbeatable for anyone looking for pure flexibility and customization. It’s amazing to see how each of these platforms has its own niche in the container ecosystem.