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Guide · Open source

How to use CKAD-exercises: clone, practise and find weak CKAD topics

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

CKAD-exercises is an MIT-licensed collection of practice exercises for the Certified Kubernetes Application Developer exam from the Cloud Native Computing Foundation. It is organised by exam domain, so you can practise one area at a time. This guide shows you how to get the repository, how the exercises are structured, and how to use them alongside the official Kubernetes documentation.

CKAD Exercisesdgkanatsios/CKAD-exercises · ★ 10.2k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Check that git is installed. The README lists no other prerequisites, but you need git to clone the repository.
  2. 2Clone the repository. Run the git clone command from the README to download the exercise files to your machine.
  3. 3Open the contents list. Start from the Contents section of the README and pick a domain, such as Core Concepts or Pod design.
  4. 4Read the official docs first. The README recommends reading the Kubernetes documentation for the domain before you try its exercises.
  5. 5Work through the exercises. Use the breadcrumb and Quick Reference box in each section to find the relevant kubernetes.io pages.
  6. 6Repeat your weakest domains. Note where you struggle and return to those exercises until they feel comfortable.

What is in the CKAD-exercises repository?

The repository is a set of exercise documents grouped by curriculum domain. The README lists these topics with the exam weight shown for each: Core Concepts (13%), Multi-container pods (10%), Pod design (20%), Configuration (18%), Observability (18%), Services and networking (13%), and State persistence (8%). It also has separate documents for helm and Custom Resource Definitions.

The author wrote that these exercises helped them prepare for the exam. The README also says they may serve as general practice for learning Kubernetes.

  • Core Concepts - 13%
  • Multi-container pods - 10%
  • Pod design - 20%
  • Configuration - 18%
  • Observability - 18%
  • Services and networking - 13%
  • State persistence - 8%
  • helm
  • Custom Resource Definitions

How do you get the CKAD-exercises files?

The README lists one install step: clone the repository with git. The README does not list any other prerequisites, so check that git is installed on your machine before you run the command.

git clone https://github.com/dgkanatsios/CKAD-exercises

How should you work through the exercises?

The README recommends reading the official Kubernetes documents before attempting the exercises in each section. Each exercise section starts with a breadcrumb. Note it, because it tells you where to find the matching document on kubernetes.io.

Keep the exam rules in mind while you practise. During the exam you may only refer to official documentation in a browser window within the exam VM. A Quick Reference box in each exercise section links to helpful pages.

  • Read the official docs for the topic first.
  • Note the breadcrumb at the top of the exercise section.
  • Attempt the exercises in the section.
  • Use the Quick Reference links to check your approach.
  • Move on to the next domain when you are comfortable.

How can you use it to find your weakest CKAD topics?

Because the exercises are grouped by domain, you can work through each one and notice where you struggle. Spend more time on the domains where you make the most mistakes. Pod design and Configuration carry the highest weights in the list above, so they may be worth extra attention.

  • Try the exercises for each domain without help first.
  • Record which domains take you longest.
  • Return to the official docs for the domains you find hardest.
  • Repeat the exercises in those domains until they feel routine.

How can you contribute or ask questions?

The README invites pull requests that fix errors, add alternative approaches, add extra questions or offer solutions. It asks contributors to stick to the existing format. Questions and feedback can be posted in the project's discussions section.

What people use it for

  • Practising the Pod design and Configuration domains before the CKAD exam
  • Learning Kubernetes by working through exercises after reading the official docs
  • Checking which CKAD domains you are weakest in
  • Practising helm and Custom Resource Definitions exercises separately from the core domains

Frequently asked questions

Is CKAD-exercises free?

The repository is licensed under MIT, as shown in its README. The README does not mention any fees for using the exercises. The author invites donations through a Buy Me a Coffee link, but this is optional.

How do I install CKAD-exercises?

Clone the repository with git clone https://github.com/dgkanatsios/CKAD-exercises. The README lists no other install steps or prerequisites.

Do I need prior Kubernetes experience to use it?

The README recommends reading the official Kubernetes documents before attempting the exercises. It is best suited to people who already know basic containers and the command line. Complete beginners may want a course first.

Does CKAD-exercises cover the current exam syllabus?

The README does not say how closely the exercises follow the current exam. Check the official CNCF certification page for the current syllabus and compare it with the domains listed in the repository.

What are the alternatives to CKAD-exercises?

The README does not compare itself with other tools. Projects often mentioned alongside it include kubernetes/examples, killer.sh and kubernetes-sigs/kind. Kind is a tool for running local Kubernetes clusters rather than a set of exercises, so it is a different kind of resource.

What should I do if an exercise or solution seems wrong?

The README says you can open a pull request to fix errors or offer an alternative solution. You can also post questions in the project's discussions section.

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Our verdict

CKAD-exercises suits people preparing for the CKAD exam who want hands-on practice by domain and who have already read the official Kubernetes docs. It is not a course, and the README does not say how closely it tracks the current exam, so people who need a full course or guaranteed up-to-date content should look elsewhere.

Install options & downloads