As the complexity of your Kubernetes environments grows, so does the complexity of debugging all that complexity. Developers face issues such as replicating the environments locally to test features and/or bugs properly. Developers also face the problem of debugging packages and package dependencies, as images are sometimes sourced from an entire Linux operating system like Ubuntu. Lastly, when multiple environments use non-essential components, tracking the root cause and debugging the configuration drift between environments becomes a nightmare. Not to mention storage and network bandwidth costs, which are notoriously high in cloud environments.

Minimalistic images enhance the development and operational aspects of software projects for developers. They enable more efficient, secure, and reliable software delivery, particularly in agile and DevOps environments where speed and security are paramount. Ephemeral containers are designed to be short-lived and are often used for specific tasks like debugging or running temporary jobs. When combined with minimalistic images, the result is a highly efficient, focused, and secure environment.

In this talk, we aim to identify the operational cost of using bloated images and offer a better path forward for increased efficiency, security, and maintenance in the context of debugging and error resolution. This ultimately leads to operational bliss, allowing the developer to focus on pushing features and increasing productivity.