Theory

Updated

October 30, 2026

Theory: ApplicationSets are Generators of Applications

An ApplicationSet template plus a generator (list, git, matrix, PR, cluster) produces many Application objects. App-of-apps is the same idea with a parent Application.

Invariants

  1. Generators must be deterministic enough to converge.
  2. One Application per cluster/tenant/branch is a naming policy.
  3. Build→registry→bump tag in Git is the promotion loop.
generator (list of clusters) × template  →  Application objects
parent app  →  child apps           (app of apps)

What can break

  • A generator that creates and destroys apps on every reconcile (flap).

How to read this chapter

ApplicationSets, app-of-apps, multi-branch, build-to-update.