podinfo
Podinfo is a lightweight Go-based microservice template designed to demonstrate Kubernetes best practices. It includes health checks, metrics, graceful shutdown, and fault injection capabilities, making it ideal for testing and learning cloud-native patterns.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | stefanprodan/podinfo |
| Owner | stefanprodan |
| Primary language | Go |
| License | Apache-2.0 — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 5.9k |
| Forks | 1.9k |
| Open issues | 30 |
| Latest release | 6.14.0 (2026-06-18) |
| Last updated | 2026-07-06 |
| Source | https://github.com/stefanprodan/podinfo |
What podinfo is
A Go web application exposing HTTP/gRPC APIs with Prometheus/OpenTelemetry instrumentation, structured logging via zap, and Kubernetes-native features (liveness/readiness probes, configmap/secret watchers). Ships with multi-architecture container images, SLSA provenance attestation, and CVE scanning via govulncheck.
Get the podinfo source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/stefanprodan/podinfo.gitcd podinfo# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Requires Kubernetes ≥v1.23; verify cluster version before deployment.
- Install via Helm, Kustomize, or Timoni—choose based on existing tooling. Helm repos available at both stefanprodan.github.io and ghcr.io.
- Configure Redis optionally for cache endpoints (`/cache/{key}`); omit if not needed for testing scenarios.
- Fault injection and panic endpoints are intentional for testing; restrict access in shared environments.
- Multi-architecture images available (Docker Pulls badge visible); confirm platform compatibility for ARM/x86 deployments.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Production Workload Replacement — Podinfo is a reference template, not production-grade middleware. Lacks advanced features (distributed tracing SDKs, rate limiting, caching strategies) needed for real services.
- Minimal Resource Environments — While lightweight, it requires Kubernetes ≥v1.23 and container orchestration. Not suitable for serverless, edge, or non-containerized deployments.
- Proprietary or Regulated Security Requirements — No explicit security audit or compliance claims documented. SLSA Level 2 and CVE scanning present, but not sufficient for HIPAA, PCI-DSS, or other regulated contexts.
- High-Performance Data Processing — Designed for demonstrating patterns, not throughput. Fault injection and deliberate latency endpoints suggest learning/testing focus rather than production performance.
License & commercial use
Licensed under Apache License 2.0, a permissive OSI-approved license permitting commercial use, modification, and distribution with proper attribution and liability disclaimer.
Apache 2.0 permits commercial use without restriction. However, podinfo is a template/reference implementation, not a vendorable dependency; use for learning or as a deployment scaffold, not as an embedded library. Review your specific use case to confirm compatibility with commercial terms.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Strong |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Low |
| DEV.co fit | Strong |
| Assessment confidence | High |
SLSA Level 2 provenance, container image signing with Sigstore cosign, and CVE scanning via govulncheck are present. Structured logging and health probes support observability. No explicit security audit documented. Fault injection and panic endpoints are intentional for testing; restrict network exposure in production-like environments. Review CVE scan results in CI workflows before adopting in regulated contexts.
Alternatives to consider
Kubernetes Sample Apps (e.g., microservices-demo/sock-shop)
More complex multi-service architecture for realistic e2e scenarios, but steeper learning curve and larger footprint.
Httpbin or Echo Server
Simpler HTTP-only services for basic API testing; lack Kubernetes-native features (probes, configmap watchers, gRPC).
CNCF Hello-world or Custom Go Template
Minimal stubs without out-of-the-box metrics, tracing, or Helm manifests; suitable only if you want to build from scratch.
Build on podinfo with DEV.co software developers
Deploy Podinfo on your cluster today using Helm, Kustomize, or Timoni. Explore health checks, fault injection, and progressive delivery scenarios with step-by-step guides.
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podinfo FAQ
Can I use Podinfo as a production microservice?
Does Podinfo support gRPC?
How do I inject faults for testing?
What are the licensing restrictions for commercial use?
Custom software development services
Need help beyond evaluating podinfo? DEV.co is a software development agency offering software development services and web development for teams of every size. Our software developers and web developers build custom software, web applications, APIs, and open-source testing integrations — and maintain them long-term.
Ready to Learn Kubernetes-Native Patterns?
Deploy Podinfo on your cluster today using Helm, Kustomize, or Timoni. Explore health checks, fault injection, and progressive delivery scenarios with step-by-step guides.