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After setting up CI with GitHub Actions, the next step was automating deployments. I chose Argo CD, a GitOps controller for Kubernetes.

Argo CD monitors a Git repository and reconciles the cluster to match it—exactly what I wanted for CD.


Install Argo CD

kubectl create namespace argocd
kubectl apply -n argocd -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/argoproj/argo-cd/stable/manifests/install.yaml

Expose the Argo CD server:

kubectl patch svc argocd-server -n argocd \
  -p '{"spec": {"type": "LoadBalancer"}}'

Optionally forward a local port while testing:

kubectl port-forward svc/argocd-server -n argocd 8080:443

Check the service:

kubectl get service -n argocd

Visit the LoadBalancer IP (or https://localhost:8080 if port-forwarding). The default username is admin. Retrieve the initial password:

kubectl -n argocd get secret argocd-initial-admin-secret \
  -o jsonpath="{.data.password}" | base64 -d

Log in and change the password.


Connect a Git Repository

In the Argo CD UI, click the gear icon → Repositories → CONNECT REPO USING HTTPS. Provide the Git URL; for private repos, include credentials or deploy keys.


Create an Application

Click the stack icon → NEW APP. Fill in:

  • Application Name – any label.
  • Project – usually default unless you’ve created custom projects.
  • Repository URL / Revision / Path – which repo, branch/tag, and subdirectory to sync.
  • Cluster URL / Namespace – target cluster and namespace.
  • Sync Policy – I checked both options to enable automated sync/prune.


Define Kubernetes Manifests in Git

Add your deployment/service YAML to the repo (e.g., under an argo/ directory). Argo CD watches for changes and applies them.

Example manifests:

# deployment.yaml
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  name: semogong
spec:
  replicas: 3
  selector:
    matchLabels:
      app: web
  template:
    metadata:
      labels:
        app: web
    spec:
      containers:
      - name: semogong-container
        image: wjdqlsdlsp/semogong:1.0.11
        ports:
        - containerPort: 8080
        envFrom:
        - configMapRef:
            name: config-dev
# service.yaml
apiVersion: v1
kind: Service
metadata:
  name: semogong
spec:
  selector:
    app: web
  ports:
  - port: 80
    targetPort: 8080
    protocol: TCP
  sessionAffinity: ClientIP
  sessionAffinityConfig:
    clientIP:
      timeoutSeconds: 43200
  type: LoadBalancer

Adjust images, env vars, and config maps for your environment.


Once committed, Argo CD detects the change (default resync ~3 minutes), syncs the manifests, and keeps your cluster in the desired state. Git becomes the single source of truth—a clean GitOps workflow.