Senior DevOps Architect
Raghu specializes in Kubernetes, cloud infrastructure, and automation.
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2Hyderabad was buzzing with Cloud Native energy last week. KubeCon + CloudNativeCon brought together developers, architects, and innovators from across the globe — and I was lucky enough to be part of it.
This blog is my attempt to capture not just the technical sessions I attended, but also the inspiration, connections, and reality checks I experienced.
1. Inspiration and Reality Check
I went in thinking I knew my way around Kubernetes fairly well… but the depth of talks and the skill of speakers (some with just 3–4 years of experience!) was both inspiring and humbling.
A standout was: Beyond the Start Button: The Hidden Life of Pod Termination in Kubernetes
- A deep dive into what really happens during pod termination — so much more complex than I had imagined.
2. AI in Unexpected Places
It was fascinating to see non-core-tech companies using AI in impactful ways, like PepsiCo’s strategy for deploying LLMs on Kubernetes to drive business outcomes.
3. Learning Without a Production-Grade Setup
We often complain about not having a “real” environment to experiment with. But:
- Effortless, Standardised Homelab Observability With eBPF
Showed how a Raspberry Pi + eBPF + OpenTelemetry can be enough to learn advanced observability concepts.
4. Kubernetes at Scale – Node Churn & GPU Optimization
Two technical deep dives that stood out:
- Handling Node Churn in Karpenter – Optimizing EKS clusters at scale with config tuning.
- Auto-instrumentation for GPU Performance Using eBPF – Addressing GPU underutilization in AI workloads.
5. Bridging Big Data and ML
The conference ended for me with:
- Bridging Big Data and Machine Learning Ecosystems Using Kubeflow
which explained very well why GPU utilization remains a challenge in AI/ML workloads on Kubernetes, a recurring theme I noticed in many talks at KubeCon.
6. The Fun Side – Capture the Flag
I squeezed in some time for the Kubernetes Capture the Flag by the ControlPlane team. Even 30 minutes was enough to learn security best practices and rekindle my interest in CTFs.
7. People & Conversations
Catching up with old friends and meeting so many passionate engineers was a highlight in itself. Even the audience Q&A sessions were full of insights from real-world challenges.
Closing Thoughts
KubeCon wasn’t just a conference for me — it was a mirror, a motivator, and a massive dose of inspiration. I’m walking away with new ideas, a refreshed perspective, and the urge to double down on learning.
If you get a chance to attend one, do it. The hallway conversations alone are worth it.
