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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

General Questions​

What is OpenChoreo?​

OpenChoreo is an open-source Internal Developer Platform (IDP) that simplifies cloud-native application development by providing developer-friendly abstractions over complex Kubernetes and cloud-native technologies.

How is OpenChoreo different from other platforms?​

OpenChoreo focuses on:

  • Developer Experience: Simple abstractions without losing Kubernetes power
  • Security by Default: Built-in security with cell-based architecture
  • CNCF Integration: Orchestrates best-in-class cloud-native tools
  • Open Source: Community-driven development with no vendor lock-in

What are the main benefits of using OpenChoreo?​

  • Faster Time to Market: Deploy applications in minutes instead of days
  • Reduced Complexity: Focus on business logic instead of infrastructure
  • Production Ready: Enterprise-grade capabilities from day one
  • Consistent Environments: Identical configurations across all stages

Getting Started​

What are the prerequisites for OpenChoreo?​

  • Kubernetes Cluster: Version 1.32 or later
  • kubectl: v1.32+ configured to access your cluster
  • Helm: Version 3.x (for installation)
  • Container Registry: For storing application images (required for CI workflows)

How do I install OpenChoreo?​

Choose your path:

Can I try OpenChoreo locally?​

Yes! The local setup guide lets you try OpenChoreo on your laptop with k3d.

What's the simplest way to deploy my first application?​

Follow Deploy and Explore

Architecture & Concepts​

What is a "Cell" in OpenChoreo?​

A Cell is OpenChoreo's security boundary that:

  • Isolates applications using Kubernetes namespaces
  • Enforces network policies with Cilium
  • Provides encrypted communication with mTLS
  • Implements identity-based access controls
  • Usually this is a Project in OpenChoreo

How does OpenChoreo handle multi-environment deployments?​

OpenChoreo uses Environment abstractions that:

  • Define deployment targets (dev, staging, prod)
  • Apply environment-specific configurations
  • Enforce resource quotas and policies
  • Enable promotion workflows between environments

What's the difference between a Project and a Component?​

  • Project: A logical grouping of related components (e.g., an e-commerce platform)
  • Component: An individual deployable unit (e.g., user-service, payment-api)

How does OpenChoreo integrate with existing CI/CD pipelines?​

OpenChoreo supports two approaches:

  • Built-in CI: Argo Workflows-based pipelines with Dockerfile and buildpack builders, configured by platform engineers and triggered by developers or Git webhooks (auto-build)
  • External CI: Use Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or other CI platforms to build images and call the OpenChoreo Workload API to create deployments
  • occ CLI: The OpenChoreo CLI can trigger builds, monitor workflow runs, and manage deployments from any CI system

Performance & Deployment​

What are the resource requirements for OpenChoreo?​

Control Plane (minimum):

  • CPU: 2 cores
  • Memory: 4 GB RAM (8 GB recommended with observability plane)
  • Storage: 20 GB

Can OpenChoreo work with multiple clusters?​

Yes, you can setup the following patterns

  • All in one cluster: Where all the planes are in a single cluster
  • Combined clusters: Where a combination of planes are together spread across multiple clusters e.g. control plane separate and others together, observability plane separate and others together
  • Totally separated clusters: Where each plane has its own cluster. Note that this is not usually for a local setup.

Licensing & Support​

What license does OpenChoreo use?​

OpenChoreo is licensed under the Apache 2.0 License, ensuring:

  • Free commercial use
  • No vendor lock-in
  • Community contributions welcome
  • Enterprise-friendly terms

Where can I get help?​

How can I contribute to OpenChoreo?​

  • Code Contributions: Submit pull requests on GitHub
  • Documentation: Improve guides and tutorials
  • Community Support: Help answer questions
  • Bug Reports: File issues with detailed information

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