kustomize
kustomize is an engineering AI skill with a core value of Customize Kubernetes manifests without templating using Kustomize. It
helps developers solve real-world problems in the engineering domain, boosting
efficiency, automating repetitive tasks, and optimizing workflows.
Customize Kubernetes manifests without templating using Kustomize.
Quick Facts
mkdir -p ./skills/kustomize && curl -sfL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sickn33/antigravity-awesome-skills/main/skills/kustomize/SKILL.md -o ./skills/kustomize/SKILL.mdRun in terminal / PowerShell. Requires curl (Unix) or PowerShell 5+ (Windows).
Skill Content
# Kustomize
Customize Kubernetes resources declaratively without templating.
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when:
- Managing Kubernetes configs across environments
- Patching existing manifests without modification
- Creating configuration variants from bases
- Customizing third-party manifests
- Preferring declarative over templating approach
Prerequisites
- kubectl 1.14+ (includes kustomize)
- Or standalone kustomize CLI
- Basic Kubernetes manifest knowledge
Directory Structure
myapp/
├── base/
│ ├── kustomization.yaml
│ ├── deployment.yaml
│ ├── service.yaml
│ └── configmap.yaml
└── overlays/
├── development/
│ ├── kustomization.yaml
│ └── replica-patch.yaml
├── staging/
│ ├── kustomization.yaml
│ └── namespace.yaml
└── production/
├── kustomization.yaml
├── replica-patch.yaml
└── resource-patch.yamlBase Configuration
kustomization.yaml
# base/kustomization.yaml
apiVersion: kustomize.config.k8s.io/v1beta1
kind: Kustomization
resources:
- deployment.yaml
- service.yaml
- configmap.yaml
commonLabels:
app: myapp
commonAnnotations:
managed-by: kustomizeBase Resources
# base/deployment.yaml
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
name: myapp
spec:
replicas: 1
selector:
matchLabels:
app: myapp
template:
metadata:
labels:
app: myapp
spec:
containers:
- name: myapp
image: myapp:latest
ports:
- containerPort: 8080
resources:
requests:
memory: "64Mi"
cpu: "100m"
limits:
memory: "128Mi"
cpu: "200m"Overlays
Development Overlay
# overlays/development/kustomization.yaml
apiVersion: kustomize.config.k8s.io/v1beta1
kind: Kustomization
resources:
- ../../base
namespace: myapp-dev
namePrefix: dev-
commonLabels:
environment: development
images:
- name: myapp
newTag: dev-latestProduction Overlay
# overlays/production/kustomization.yaml
apiVersion: kustomize.config.k8s.io/v1beta1
kind: Kustomization
resources:
- ../../base
namespace: myapp-prod
namePrefix: prod-
commonLabels:
environment: production
replicas:
- name: myapp
count: 5
images:
- name: myapp
newName: registry.example.com/myapp
newTag: v2.0.0
patches:
- path: resource-patch.yamlPatching
Strategic Merge Patch
# overlays/production/resource-patch.yaml
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
name: myapp
spec:
template:
spec:
containers:
- name: myapp
resources:
requests:
memory: "256Mi"
cpu: "500m"
limits:
memory: "512Mi"
cpu: "1000m"JSON Patch
# kustomization.yaml
patches:
- target:
kind: Deployment
name: myapp
patch: |-
- op: replace
path: /spec/replicas
value: 5
- op: add
path: /spec/template/spec/containers/0/env
value:
- name: LOG_LEVEL
value: infoInline Patches
# kustomization.yaml
patches:
- patch: |-
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
name: myapp
spec:
replicas: 3
target:
kind: Deployment
name: myappConfiguration Generation
ConfigMap Generator
# kustomization.yaml
configMapGenerator:
- name: myapp-config
literals:
- APP_ENV=production
- LOG_LEVEL=info
files:
- config.yaml
envs:
- config.env
options:
disableNameSuffixHash: falseSecret Generator
# kustomization.yaml
secretGenerator:
- name: myapp-secrets
literals:
- api-key=secret123
files:
- tls.crt
- tls.key
type: kubernetes.io/tlsImage Transformations
# kustomization.yaml
images:
# Chang🎯 Best For
- Claude users
- AI users
💡 Use Cases
- Using kustomize in daily workflow
- Automating repetitive engineering tasks
📖 How to Use This Skill
- 1
Install the Skill
Copy the install command from the Terminal tab and run it. The SKILL.md file downloads to your local skills directory.
- 2
Load into Your AI Assistant
Open Claude and reference the skill. Paste the SKILL.md content or use the system prompt tab.
- 3
Apply kustomize to Your Work
Provide context for your task — paste source material, describe your audience, or share existing work to guide the AI.
- 4
Review and Refine
Edit the AI output for accuracy, tone, and completeness. Add human insight where the AI lacks context.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How do I install kustomize?
Copy the install command from the Terminal tab and run it. The skill downloads to ./skills/kustomize/SKILL.md, ready to use.
Can I customize this skill for my team?
Absolutely. Edit the SKILL.md file to add team-specific instructions, examples, or workflows.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
Not reading the full skill
Skills contain important context and edge cases beyond the quick start.