Learn OPENSHIFT-TEMPLATES with Real Code Examples

Templates allow you to define reusable application definitions in OpenShift.

They can include multiple resources such as DeploymentConfigs, Services, Routes, ConfigMaps, and Secrets.

Parameters in templates enable customization at instantiation time.

Supports integration with OpenShift CLI (`oc`) and web console.

Facilitates consistent and repeatable deployments across environments.

Template objects describing application resources

Parameters for customization

Triggers for image changes

Annotations and labels for metadata

Integration with CLI, Web Console, and CI/CD pipelines

Template - a collection of OpenShift objects

Parameter - variable for dynamic values

Object - DeploymentConfig, Service, Route, ConfigMap, etc.

Instantiation - process of creating real objects from a template

Labels/Annotations - metadata for identification and management

templates/ - folder containing YAML/JSON templates

params/ - optional folder with parameter files

README.md - description of template usage

scripts/ - CLI helpers for template processing

CI/CD pipeline config - integrates template instantiation

Create template with all required OpenShift objects

Define parameters for customizable values

Validate template syntax with `oc process --parameters`

Instantiate template using `oc process | oc apply -f -`

Update and manage templates as code in Git repositories

Beginner: single microservice deployment

Intermediate: multi-component application with services/routes

Advanced: environment-specific parameterized deployments

Expert: integration with CI/CD pipelines and automated promotions

Enterprise: standardized deployment templates for multiple teams/clusters

OpenShift Templates vs Helm charts: OpenShift-native vs Kubernetes-native packaging

Templates vs Operators: declarative resource definition vs custom controller

Templates vs Kustomize: parameterized objects vs overlays

Templates vs Ansible playbooks: OpenShift objects vs broader system config

Templates vs raw YAML: reusable and parameterized vs static definitions

2011 - OpenShift initial release by Red Hat

2013 - Template support added for multi-resource deployments

2015 - Parameterization and CLI enhancements

2018 - Integration with OpenShift Web Console improved

2025 - Templates remain core for OpenShift deployment standardization

Template - collection of OpenShift objects

Parameter - variable used for customization

Instantiation - creation of objects from a template

DeploymentConfig - defines application deployment

Route - exposes application to external traffic