Five real Certified Kubernetes Application Developer projects mapped directly to CKAD exam objectives. Mark a step complete and HandsOnCert commits the evidence — Deployment manifests, ConfigMaps, observability configs — straight to your own GitHub repo. The portfolio employers actually click into.
$49 one-time · Project 1 free · No subscription
Every project maps to an official CKAD exam domain. Each one ends with evidence committed to your GitHub repo automatically.
Write a multi-container Pod with an init container, create a Deployment with rolling update strategy, and build a multi-stage Dockerfile for the application image. Commit your Pod/Deployment manifests and Dockerfile.
Application Design & Build — 20%Implement a blue-green or canary deployment using Deployments and Services, perform a rolling update with a defined strategy, and roll back a failed deployment. Commit your deployment manifests and rollout history evidence.
Application Deployment — 20%Configure liveness, readiness, and startup probes for a Deployment, set up a Horizontal Pod Autoscaler, and use kubectl to debug a CrashLoopBackOff pod. Commit your probe configurations and HPA manifest.
Application Observability & Maintenance — 15%Create ConfigMaps and Secrets and mount them into a Pod, configure a ServiceAccount with RBAC permissions for an application, and set resource quotas for a namespace. Commit your ConfigMap/Secret manifests and RBAC definitions.
Application Environment, Configuration & Security — 25%Expose a Deployment via a Service, configure an Ingress resource for path-based routing, and create a NetworkPolicy restricting traffic to your application. Commit your Service, Ingress, and NetworkPolicy manifests.
Services & Networking — 20%Every completed step auto-commits evidence to your own repo. No fake portfolio templates — real configs, real screenshots, real history.
No simulators. You work in the actual CNCF console and tools, the same ones you'll use on the job and in the CKAD exam.
Stuck on a step or an exam concept? Cert Buddy is trained on CKAD objectives and helps you debug and understand — not just copy-paste.
Every chargeable resource has a clear alert telling you exactly when to stop, deallocate, or delete — so a lab break doesn't become a surprise bill.
Get the full CKAD lab guide as a PDF — step-by-step instructions, screenshots to capture, and an exam quick-reference section.
$49 once. No subscription, no recurring charges. Or get All-Access to all 21 cert paths for $199.
Are the CKAD hands-on labs free?
Project 1 (Application Build) is completely free, including unlimited access to Cert Buddy for that project and the manual GitHub commit workflow. The remaining 4 projects unlock for a one-time payment of $49.
What environment do CKAD labs use?
HandsOnCert's CKAD labs use kind (Kubernetes in Docker) for fast, repeatable cluster environments — the same kubectl-based workflow as the actual performance-based exam.
How does the GitHub portfolio work for CKAD labs?
When you complete a lab step, HandsOnCert commits your actual Deployment manifests, ConfigMaps, probes, and networking configurations to your own GitHub repository — giving you real working application deployments in your portfolio.
How long does the CKAD path take to complete?
The 5 projects take approximately 10 hours total, covering application design/build, deployment strategies, observability/maintenance, configuration/security, and services/networking — the same domains tested on the CKAD exam.
Is CKAD good for application developers without ops experience?
Yes. CKAD is designed for developers who build and deploy applications on Kubernetes, without requiring the cluster administration depth of CKA. It's a strong fit for backend or full-stack developers working with containerized applications.
Should I take CKAD before or after CKA?
Neither requires the other — CKAD focuses on application development while CKA focuses on cluster operations. Choose based on your role first. If you plan to pursue CKS eventually, note that CKS requires an active CKA specifically (not CKAD).
Start Project 1 free — no credit card required. See exactly how the GitHub auto-commit works before you pay anything.
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