Important Updates to OptScale build and deployment

[maxb-hystax]

Dear Community,

We are excited to announce several important updates and improvements to OptScale build and deployment base. These changes enhance performance, security, and flexibility across our platform. Below are the key points from the upcoming update:

🔹 Kubernetes Upgrade:
Upgraded Kubernetes to version 1.32, bringing improved stability and new features.

🔹 Container Runtime Transition:
We have migrated from Docker to containerd, offering a more lightweight and efficient container runtime.

🔹 Logging Service Upgrade:
Integrated Filebeat as our new logging service for better log management and observability.

🔹 Build Process Enhancements:
Switched to BuildKit for enhanced container image builds with improved caching and performance.
Added support for nerdctl as an alternative to Docker CLI.
Integrated python_on_whales instead of the traditional Docker client for better Python-based automation.

🔹 Security and Registry Improvements:
Added the --insecure flag to runkube.py, allowing the use of self-signed certificates for registries.

🔹 Deprecated Components:
Docker has been fully removed from our environment.
etcd-operator has been removed as part of our infrastructure optimization efforts.

🔹 Build Tool Selection:
The build.sh script now supports selecting the build tool of your choice (Docker or nerdctl) for greater flexibility.

We are planning to roll out these changes on 17th February 2025. Please ensure you review the changes and make any necessary adjustments to your workflows ahead of time to ensure a smooth transition.

We believe these updates will contribute to a more secure and efficient development environment. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to our team.

Best regards,
OptScale Team