Kustomize

A standalone path through Kustomize, the built-in, template-free way to customize Kubernetes YAML. Beginner covers the overlay model, kustomization.yaml, bases and resources, and generators. Intermediate builds real structure: overlays per environment, strategic-merge and JSON6902 patches, images/replicas/names transformers, and components. Advanced goes deep: secret and config generation done safely, remote bases and supply chain, Helm-vs-Kustomize and combining them, and securing Kustomize in GitOps. Real YAML and kubectl output throughout; each level ends with a self-test feeding a rotating final exam.