How to use the Kubernetes YAML Generator
- Enter the app name, namespace, container image (with a pinned tag), replicas and the port your app listens on.
- Tick the objects you need — Service, Ingress, ConfigMap, Secret, autoscaling — and fill in their options.
- Keep resource limits, probes and secure pod settings on for production; adjust the values to your app.
- Copy or download the YAML and run
kubectl apply -f. Check it first with the Kubernetes YAML Validator.
What the manifest contains
| Object | What it does |
|---|---|
| Deployment | Runs your container with the given replicas, a rolling-update strategy, labels that match the Service selector, resources and probes |
| Service | A stable address for the pods — ClusterIP inside the cluster, NodePort or LoadBalancer to expose it |
| Ingress | Routes a host name (and path) to the Service; with cert-manager it requests a Let’s Encrypt certificate automatically |
| ConfigMap / Secret | Environment variables loaded with envFrom; secrets use stringData placeholders you replace (or manage with Sealed Secrets / External Secrets) |
| HPA | Scales replicas between a minimum and maximum to keep average CPU near the target |
Secure pod settings
The security context runs the container as a non-root user, blocks privilege escalation, drops all Linux capabilities, uses the default seccomp profile and mounts the root filesystem read-only (with a writable /tmp). These are the settings the Kubernetes “restricted” Pod Security Standard expects. If your app must write elsewhere, mount an emptyDir there.
Related: Kubernetes YAML Validator, Docker Compose Generator, Dockerfile Generator, YAML Validator.
Also searched as: kubernetes deployment yaml, k8s manifest generator, kubernetes service yaml, kubernetes ingress yaml, k8s yaml generator, kubectl apply yaml, kubernetes hpa yaml.
Tools that pair well with the Kubernetes YAML Generator
- GitLab CI Generator — Pick your stack and get a working .gitlab-ci.yml: install with caching, lint and test jobs, a build with artifacts, a Docker image pushed to the GitLab registry, or a GitLab Pages deploy — with rules that run pipelines for merge requests and your default branch without duplicates.
- GitHub Actions Workflow Generator — Choose your stack, triggers and steps and get a commented .github/workflows/ci.yml — install, cache, lint, test, build, a version matrix and optional deploy to GitHub Pages, Vercel or a container registry.
- systemd Service Generator — Run your app as a proper Linux service that starts on boot and restarts when it crashes.
- Apache VirtualHost Generator — Get a complete Apache virtual host config for your domain: a static site, WordPress, PHP-FPM or a reverse proxy to a Node or Python app.
Frequently asked questions
How do I create a Kubernetes deployment YAML?
Enter the app name, image and port here and copy the Deployment. It includes labels, a selector, replicas, resources and probes — then apply it with kubectl apply -f.
Why do the Service selector and pod labels matter?
A Service sends traffic to pods whose labels match its selector. The generator uses the same app.kubernetes.io/name label in both, so they always match.
How do I get HTTPS on an Ingress?
Install cert-manager with a ClusterIssuer (for example letsencrypt-prod), tick TLS, and the Ingress annotation tells cert-manager to issue and renew the certificate.
Should I set resource limits?
Yes. Requests let the scheduler place pods sensibly and limits stop one pod from starving others. Autoscaling also needs CPU requests to calculate usage.
Can I install Kubernetes YAML Generator as a web app and use it offline?
Yes. Kubernetes YAML Generator is an installable web app (PWA) — installed from your browser, not downloaded from an app store. Click Install app at the top of this page in Chrome or Edge (Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS) or on Android, use Share → Add to Home Screen on iPhone and iPad, or File → Add to Dock in Safari 17+ on a Mac. It then opens in its own window with its own icon, and because it runs entirely in your browser it keeps working offline. Firefox on desktop can’t install web apps. How installing works.