# Devtron — Kubernetes Application Lifecycle Management

> An end-to-end platform for deploying, monitoring, and managing applications on Kubernetes. Devtron wraps CI/CD, GitOps, security scanning, and debugging in one dashboard.

## Install

Save in your project root:

# Devtron — Kubernetes Application Lifecycle Management

## Quick Use
```bash
helm repo add devtron https://helm.devtron.ai
helm install devtron devtron/devtron-operator 
  --namespace devtroncd --create-namespace
# Get the dashboard URL and admin password:
kubectl -n devtroncd get secret devtron-secret -o jsonpath='{.data.ADMIN_PASSWORD}' | base64 -d
```

## Introduction
Devtron is an open-source software delivery platform built on top of Argo CD and Kubernetes. It provides a web dashboard that unifies CI/CD pipelines, GitOps deployments, vulnerability scanning, debugging, and cost analysis, making Kubernetes accessible to teams that lack deep platform engineering expertise.

## What Devtron Does
- Provides a visual CI/CD pipeline builder with Docker build, test, and deploy stages
- Manages GitOps deployments via built-in Argo CD integration
- Scans container images for vulnerabilities using Trivy
- Offers a web-based terminal and log viewer for live pod debugging
- Supports multi-cluster and multi-environment application management

## Architecture Overview
Devtron runs as a set of microservices on Kubernetes. The orchestrator service manages CI/CD workflows, triggering builds in a Kubernetes-native CI runner and handing off deployments to an embedded Argo CD instance. A PostgreSQL database stores pipeline definitions, app metadata, and audit logs. The web dashboard communicates with the orchestrator via REST and WebSocket APIs.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Deploy using the official Helm chart into a dedicated namespace
- Access the dashboard via the LoadBalancer or Ingress created during install
- Connect Git repositories from GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket as application sources
- Configure container registries (Docker Hub, ECR, GCR, ACR) for image storage
- Add external clusters to manage multi-cluster deployments from a single dashboard

## Key Features
- Unified dashboard combining CI/CD, GitOps, security scanning, and debugging
- Built-in Argo CD engine for declarative application delivery
- Interactive web terminal for live pod access without kubectl
- Image vulnerability scanning integrated into the deployment pipeline
- Bulk Helm chart management for deploying third-party tools across clusters

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **Argo CD standalone** — GitOps-only; Devtron adds CI, security scanning, and a unified app management layer
- **Jenkins + plugins** — Flexible but requires heavy configuration; Devtron provides a batteries-included Kubernetes-native experience
- **Rancher** — Cluster management focused; Devtron focuses on application delivery workflows
- **Backstage** — Developer portal for service catalog; Devtron is an active deployment platform, not a catalog

## FAQ
**Q: Does Devtron replace Argo CD?**
A: Devtron embeds Argo CD as its GitOps engine. You get all of Argo CD's capabilities plus CI pipelines, security scanning, and a management dashboard on top.

**Q: Can I use Devtron for non-Kubernetes workloads?**
A: Devtron is designed specifically for Kubernetes. For VM or serverless workloads, you would need a separate tool.

**Q: Is Devtron suitable for production use?**
A: Yes. Devtron includes RBAC, audit logging, and SSO integration for enterprise deployments.

**Q: How does Devtron handle multi-cluster deployments?**
A: You register external clusters through the dashboard, then deploy the same application across environments with environment-specific overrides.

## Sources
- https://github.com/devtron-labs/devtron
- https://docs.devtron.ai

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/cb0788f9-3974-11f1-9bc6-00163e2b0d79
Author: AI Open Source