What is
ArgoCD
?
Most platform initiatives fail the same way: they start too big, get funded like projects instead of products, build for too long without testing with users, and confuse renaming an infrastructure team with building a platform team. Instead, start small, learn fast and scale deliberately.
At a glance
Fact | Value |
|---|---|
AEP branch | Tooling |
AEP category | Integration & Delivery |
AEP subcategory | CD / GitOps |
Primary use case | GitOps-based continuous delivery of applications to Kubernetes |
Deployment type | Self-hosted Kubernetes controller with web UI and CLI; headless Core installation available |
Pricing model | Free and open source under Apache 2.0; deployment infrastructure costs apply |
API compatibility | Kubernetes API, Git over HTTPS and SSH, Git webhooks |
Supported integrations | Kubernetes, Git, GitHub, GitHub Enterprise, GitLab, Red Hat OpenShift |
Source type | Open |
Cloud provider | Cloud Agnostic |
Required skills | Kubernetes, Git, GitOps practices, kubectl, kubeconfig configuration, Kubernetes manifests |
Profile
CD / GitOps is the most specific AEP level for ArgoCD, a Kubernetes controller for declarative continuous delivery. It monitors applications and compares the live cluster state with the desired state defined in Git. ArgoCD provides a web UI and CLI, with a headless Core installation also available.
Focus
ArgoCD is for teams responsible for delivering applications to Kubernetes. It addresses the task of keeping deployed application state aligned with configuration stored in Git, which serves as the source of truth.
Background
ArgoCD is free and open source under the Apache 2.0 license. Its source code is hosted in the argoproj/argo-cd GitHub repository. The available research does not provide further company or project history.
Features
Git as the source of truth
Git-based desired state makes application configuration the reference for deployment. ArgoCD reads the configured Git repository and compares its desired state with the live Kubernetes cluster state.
Continuous state monitoring
Monitoring detects differences between desired and live application state. ArgoCD continuously monitors running applications and compares their current state with the target state described in Git.
Git polling and webhooks
Polling checks repositories for manifest changes, while webhooks can notify ArgoCD of changes. The release-2.14 webhook documentation states that repositories are polled every three minutes; ArgoCD also supports Git webhook notifications.
Web UI, CLI, and headless Core
Multiple installation and access options support different operating modes. ArgoCD is available with a web UI and CLI, and Argo CD Core provides a headless installation.
Pros and cons
Pros
Uses Git repositories as the source of truth and compares desired application state with live Kubernetes state.
Offers a web UI and CLI, and a headless Core installation is available.
Supports Git over HTTPS and SSH, Git webhooks, and integrations including GitHub, GitHub Enterprise, GitLab, Kubernetes, and Red Hat OpenShift.
The software is free and open source under Apache 2.0.
Cons
Its stated primary use is delivering applications to Kubernetes; the supplied research does not identify support for deploying to non-Kubernetes targets.
Self-hosted operation requires deployment infrastructure, and associated infrastructure costs apply.
Without webhook notifications, the documented Git polling interval is every three minutes, so repository changes may not be detected until a subsequent poll.
FAQs
ArgoCD FAQ
How does ArgoCD detect changes in Git?
ArgoCD detects repository changes by polling configured Git repositories and accepting Git webhook notifications. The release-2.14 webhook documentation states that repositories are polled every three minutes.
Which Git and Kubernetes integrations does ArgoCD support?
ArgoCD supports Kubernetes, Git, GitHub, GitHub Enterprise, GitLab, and Red Hat OpenShift. ArgoCD supports Git over HTTPS and SSH and Git webhooks.
How much does ArgoCD cost?
ArgoCD is free and open source under Apache 2.0; deployment infrastructure costs apply.
What is required to run ArgoCD?
ArgoCD is a self-hosted Kubernetes controller with web UI and CLI; headless Core installation available. Required skills are Kubernetes, Git, GitOps practices, kubectl, kubeconfig configuration, Kubernetes manifests.
