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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsGitOps manages applications and infrastructure by storing a declarative description of the intended state in a versioned source, then using software agents to apply that state and keep checking the live system against it. Git is the common choice, but the defining idea is the controlled, auditable desired state and the continuing reconciliation—not a particular brand of repository or a one-time deployment command.
What GitOps means
In a GitOps workflow, configuration for a managed system is written as desired state: a description of what the system should look like, rather than only a sequence of commands to run. That declaration is kept in a versioned, access-controlled source. An agent retrieves it, applies it, and continues observing the system to detect differences.
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OpenGitOps describes four principles: desired state is declarative; it is stored with immutability, versioning, and a complete history; software agents automatically pull it; and agents continuously observe actual state and attempt to apply the desired state. These are the project’s standards-style principles, not guarantees that any product using the GitOps label satisfies them automatically. Read the OpenGitOps principles.
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Declarative configuration
A declaration states the intended result—for example, which application version should run and what configuration it needs. The system or controller determines how to make the live environment match it. This makes the declaration easier to review as a description of the target, though the actual behavior still depends on the tools interpreting and applying it.
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Versioned, immutable history
Desired-state changes should have a traceable history rather than being silently overwritten. Version history helps teams review who changed what, understand when a configuration changed, and identify a prior revision when investigating a problem. Immutability here means revisions are retained and protected from undetected rewriting; it does not mean the system can never be updated.
Automatic pull
Rather than relying only on an external pipeline to push a change into production, an agent retrieves the desired state from its source. The pull model can keep deployment credentials and control close to the environment being managed, but it does not eliminate the need to secure repository access, agent permissions, and artifacts.
Continuous reconciliation
An agent compares actual state with the declaration and attempts to correct divergence. “Continuous” means this process keeps happening; it does not promise an instantaneous response. A discrepancy can result from a new approved declaration or an unplanned live change, such as a manual edit.
Git, desired state, and drift
Git is a familiar place to keep desired state because it provides version history and supports review workflows. It is not an absolute requirement: the CNCF glossary describes GitOps in terms of desired state defined in a version-control system such as Git and recognizes other possible sources, including an operator or artifact storage. The important question is whether the chosen source and process provide the properties the team needs for versioning, immutability, access control, and auditing. See the CNCF and OpenGitOps glossary definition.
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Desired state is the declarative configuration sufficient to describe the managed system. Drift is a difference between that declaration and the live system. Reconciliation is the agent’s ongoing attempt to bring the two back into alignment. Teams should decide which changes are permitted to originate outside the declared workflow and how those changes will be detected or handled.
Desired-state configuration generally does not contain persistent application data such as database contents. A declaration may include credentials or recovery-tool configuration, but that is not a substitute for backing up and testing restoration of application data. Treat backup, retention, and recovery as separate operational responsibilities.
How GitOps fits with CI/CD
GitOps and CI/CD are complementary, not competing labels. A continuous integration (CI) system can build and test application code and produce an artifact. A GitOps agent can then use the desired-state declaration to deploy that artifact and continue reconciling the live environment. A push-based delivery pipeline may finish once it sends a deployment; an agent that keeps reconciling can also respond to later divergence. The exact division of work varies by team. CNCF’s workflow example explains how GitOps can work alongside existing CI tools.
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A typical GitOps workflow
- Change the declaration. An engineer edits the configuration describing the target application or infrastructure state.
- Review and check it. The change is proposed for review; teams can add policy or validation checks appropriate to their environment.
- Build and test code when needed. If application source changed, CI can build and test it, then produce an artifact. A configuration-only change may follow different checks.
- Merge the approved desired state. The authoritative source records the accepted revision.
- Let the agent pull and apply it. A GitOps agent retrieves the declaration and attempts to update the managed environment.
- Keep observing. The agent continues comparing live state with declared state and attempts to correct divergence according to its configuration.
This is an illustrative pattern, not a required branch strategy or promotion model. Teams still need to define how changes move between environments, how approval works, and what happens when reconciliation cannot succeed.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What GitOps does—and does not—solve
- Traceability: Versioned declarations can make configuration changes reviewable and auditable, provided source access and change controls are managed well.
- Consistency: Reconciliation can reduce the persistence of unintended live changes, but it cannot guarantee a successful correction in every situation.
- Security: GitOps does not automatically secure secrets, limit controller permissions, verify artifact provenance, or protect credentials. Those controls must be designed and operated separately.
- Recovery: Reverting a configuration revision is not the same as restoring lost or corrupted application data.
- Operational ownership: Teams must decide who can approve desired-state changes, who can make emergency live changes, and how the system records or resolves those exceptions.
Argo CD and Flux: choosing a Kubernetes-oriented tool
Argo CD and Flux are examples of tools used in Kubernetes-oriented GitOps workflows. A CNCF article dated December 27, 2022 reported that both projects had graduated from CNCF incubation. That article also reported historical adoption figures, which should not be treated as current usage measurements. Their shared association with GitOps is not enough to determine which fits a particular team, and the available evidence here does not establish a current feature-by-feature comparison.
When evaluating either project, check its current official documentation against your actual workflow. Compare the source and artifact formats you use, how deployments and reconciliation are organized, tenancy and access-control needs, integration with your Kubernetes configuration process, security controls, and ongoing operational fit. Avoid choosing from a generic “winner” claim: requirements and implementation details matter.
Security features are implementation-specific rather than properties guaranteed by GitOps itself. For example, a May 19, 2025 CNCF article from the Flux team describes Flux work involving signed builds, scoped controller permissions, OCI artifact support and verification, and workload identity. These are Flux-specific measures and work, not assurances that every GitOps controller provides them. Read the Flux team’s security discussion.
When GitOps is a good fit
GitOps is especially useful when a team wants infrastructure and application configuration changes to follow a consistent review trail and wants a controller to keep a declared state applied over time. It is less a shortcut around operations than a way to make the desired configuration and its change process explicit. Before adopting it, identify the systems to manage, the source of truth, the authority of the agent, the handling of secrets and artifacts, and the separate backup and recovery plan.
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