KCNA Cloud Native Architecture Practice Question
Which of the following best describes the GitOps pattern?
⚠ Common exam trap
CNCF often tests the misconception that GitOps is simply about storing YAML files in Git or using Git as a trigger for CI/CD, when the defining characteristic is the automated reconciliation loop that enforces the desired state from Git.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Declarative configuration stored in Git, with automated deployment via a controller
GitOps is a pattern where the entire system's desired state is declared in a Git repository, and an automated controller (such as Argo CD or Flux) continuously reconciles the live cluster state with that declarative configuration. This ensures that Git is the single source of truth, and any drift from the declared state is automatically corrected without manual intervention.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Imperative commands applied to the cluster and tracked in Git
Why it's wrong here
GitOps is declarative, not imperative.
- ✗
Using Git as a backup for Kubernetes manifests
Why it's wrong here
GitOps uses Git as the source of truth, not just backup.
- ✗
Using Git hooks to trigger CI/CD pipelines
Why it's wrong here
That is a CI/CD practice, not GitOps.
- ✓
Declarative configuration stored in Git, with automated deployment via a controller
Why this is correct
GitOps relies on a Git repository and an operator like ArgoCD.
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