GitOps
GitOps
A development methodology that uses Git to manage a system's configuration and automate operations and settings.
In Simple Terms
GitOps is a methodology that automates the setup and operation of production environments based on a system's configuration stored in Git. When developers save their configuration files to Git, a dedicated tool continuously watches them and automatically keeps the actual servers or containers in sync with the latest version. It's used in workplaces where app development teams and infrastructure operations teams work from the same Git repository.
Behind the Name
"GitOps" combines "Git" — the tool used to track changes to code — with "Operations," referring to the work of running and maintaining a system. The name reflects the idea of managing a system's configuration in Git and using that as the foundation for automating operations.
Take a Closer Look!
GitOps is a development methodology where a system's configuration information and settings files are centrally managed in Git, and any changes are automatically applied to the live environment.
Think of it like keeping the complete blueprint for a website or app in Git — whenever that blueprint gets updated, an automated system reconfigures the production setup to match.
This means an accurate history of who changed what, and when, is always preserved.
In traditional operations, staff often had to manually change server settings or run commands themselves.
With GitOps, the configuration files in Git serve as the "source of truth," and a monitoring tool continuously compares the actual environment against what's defined in Git.
If any difference is found between the live environment and Git, the system automatically corrects it to match the Git state.
This approach is widely used in cloud environments that manage many containers together, as well as in web services that get updated frequently.
Even when something goes wrong, you can quickly restore the app or infrastructure to a previous working state just by rolling back the Git history.