Kubernetes has many feature functionalities, and these features are generally associated with Kubernetes Enhancement Proposals (KEPs). Feature functionalities go through stages of development such as alpha, beta, GA (Generally Available), and deprecated. Alpha signifies an unstable phase, beta is relatively stable but may contain bugs, GA indicates full stability and usability, and deprecated means the feature is being phased out. The lifecycle of a feature typically involves the proposal of a KEP, alpha phase, beta phase, GA phase, and eventual deprecation. Features in the alpha phase are not enabled by default, while features in beta are enabled by default. For more information on feature gates, visit the Feature Gates documentation and KEP documentation.
Feature gates are used to control whether a specific feature is enabled or disabled. It’s important to note that GA features cannot be disabled. In this article, we’ll use the kubelet source code as an example to analyze how feature gates work.