Providing learning environments with HobbyFarm — an open source Kubernetes powered lab tool

HobbyFarm is an open source web-based training and simulation tool built on top of Kubernetes. It provides an easy-to-use lab environment for training and learning with minimal requirements for the end-user.

In this talk, Chris Kim and Eamon Bauman will walk the audience through the architecture and lessons learned while building a fully Kubernetes-based learning tool. As HobbyFarm extensively utilizes controllers, CRDs for data storage, and runs virtual machines within pods, it serves to be a great example of the potential of Kubernetes and demonstrates the flexibility of use for the Kubernetes project.

Learning cloud native technologies typically requires the installation and configuration of tools on a user's workstation or cloud provider. The steps to create an environment with which to learn a new technology can often bog the learner down in unnecessary complications. Barrier to entry for learning cloud native technologies should be as low as possible. HobbyFarm seeks to address some of these issues by providing a browser-based learning tool that places no special requirements on the user outside of an HTML5-compatible browser.

This talk will provide a concrete example of a tool built on/for/around Kubernetes, and help to illustrate the flexibility of Kubernetes and the various ecosystem projects that are utilized to make the project operate. A vast majority of CRD based controllers and projects are designed to enhance the Kubernetes cluster that they are run in -- HobbyFarm utilizes CRD’s in a non-conventional manner, providing end users the ability to perform cloud-native learning in an environment without necessarily being aware that they are indirectly interacting with a Kubernetes cluster.