C++ and Kubernetes: Developing Cloud Applications

The book "C++ and Kubernetes" is a practical guide for developers who want to master creating and deploying high-performance C++ applications in the Kubernetes ecosystem. Unlike typical guides focused on Java or Go, this book focuses on the specifics of C++: memory management, low-level optimization, and integration with Linux system calls.

The book is divided into three parts:

• Basics of Containerization for C++ — building minimal Docker images using multi-stage builds, static and dynamic linking, working with musl libc and Alpine Linux to reduce container size.
• Interacting with the Kubernetes API — using the cppkube library to create clients, working with Custom Resource Definitions (CRD), writing your own operators in C++.
• Performance and Debugging — profiling applications in pods, configuring CPU/RAM resource limits, working with gRPC and Protobuf for inter-service communication.

Who this book is for:

• C++ developers transitioning to DevOps and cloud development
• Systems programmers wanting to use Kubernetes for distributed computing
• Engineers working with high-load systems and real-time applications

What you will learn:

• How to create a C++ microservice from scratch and deploy it in Kubernetes
• Optimizing binary files for container environments (reducing size, eliminating dependencies)
• Writing custom controllers and operators in pure C++
• Integration with the Prometheus monitoring system via native C++ exporters
• Handling SIGTERM signals and graceful shutdown in a container environment
• Working with ConfigMap and Secrets via C++ file APIs

The book contains over 50 code examples ready for production use. All examples are tested on Kubernetes 1.28+ and are compatible with the latest versions of GCC and Clang. A separate chapter is dedicated to security: how to avoid memory leaks in long-lived pods and configure seccomp profiles for C++ applications.

"C++ and Kubernetes" is a bridge between classical systems programming and modern cloud architecture. The book is suitable for both experienced C++ developers and DevOps engineers familiar with the basics of C++.