Hands On GitOps Workflows Using ArgoCD to Manage Infrastructure Changes

In the evolving world of cloud computing and DevOps, automation and reliability are more important than ever. As modern applications become more distributed and dynamic, traditional methods of managing infrastructure struggle to keep up. That’s where GitOps comes into play — a modern approach that leverages version control, continuous deployment, and automation to manage infrastructure in a more structured and auditable way.

In this blog, you’ll explore how GitOps works, how to use ArgoCD as a core tool for GitOps, and how to confidently manage infrastructure changes using these practices. Whether you’re preparing for a DevOps, Cloud, or SRE interview, this hands-on understanding will help you stand out.

What is GitOps?

GitOps is a set of practices that uses Git repositories as the single source of truth for declarative infrastructure and application configurations. Every change — whether it’s to the application code or to the infrastructure itself — is made through Git.

Instead of making manual changes in cloud consoles or using ad-hoc scripts, engineers commit their changes to a Git repository. Automation tools like ArgoCD then read those changes and apply them automatically to the live environment.

Why GitOps Matters

All infrastructure changes are version-controlled
Easy rollback by reverting Git commits
Strong alignment with DevOps and automation principles
Boosts collaboration and transparency
Reduces the chance of human error

For teams and engineers managing cloud-native systems like Kubernetes, GitOps offers a consistent, scalable, and secure way to deliver and operate software.

Understanding ArgoCD

ArgoCD is a declarative, GitOps continuous delivery tool for Kubernetes. It watches one or more Git repositories and ensures the running state in your Kubernetes cluster matches the desired state defined in Git.

Key Features of ArgoCD

Syncs changes from Git repositories to Kubernetes clusters
Supports multiple deployment strategies (automated, manual, pull-based)
Allows visual inspection of application states via a UI and CLI
Enables change management via Git workflows
Provides real-time drift detection between desired and live state

ArgoCD makes it easier to implement GitOps by acting as the bridge between your Git repository and your live infrastructure.

Setting Up GitOps with ArgoCD

To implement GitOps using ArgoCD, you’ll need a basic understanding of Kubernetes, Git, and declarative configurations (YAML files). Below is a simplified guide to set up your first GitOps workflow.

Install ArgoCD

You can install ArgoCD on any Kubernetes cluster using the following commands:

kubectl create namespace argocd

kubectl apply -n argocd -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/argoproj/argo-cd/stable/manifests/install.yaml

Once installed, access the ArgoCD dashboard and log in using the CLI or web UI.

Connect Your Git Repository

Create a Git repository that contains your Kubernetes manifests or Helm charts. This becomes your single source of truth. ArgoCD needs read access to this repository.

Then, register the application in ArgoCD:

apiVersion: argoproj.io/v1alpha1

kind: Application

metadata:

name: demo-app

namespace: argocd

spec:

destination:

namespace: default

server: https://kubernetes.default.svc

source:

repoURL: https://github.com/your-org/demo-app

targetRevision: HEAD

path: k8s

project: default

syncPolicy:

automated:

prune: true

selfHeal: true

Commit this file to your Git repository and let ArgoCD take over.

Enable Continuous Deployment

With ArgoCD’s automated sync enabled, every time you push a new commit with configuration changes, ArgoCD applies those changes to your Kubernetes cluster.

This is continuous deployment in action — changes move from Git to production without manual intervention.

How GitOps Enhances Change Management

Change management is a critical concern in any production environment. GitOps provides a clean, auditable record of every infrastructure change. Because all changes happen through Git:

You have a clear history of what changed and who made it
Rollbacks are simple — just revert a commit
Reviews happen through pull requests, improving quality control

From a job preparation point of view, understanding how GitOps enforces safe change management helps you explain your workflow during technical interviews.

Real-World Scenario: Updating a Kubernetes Deployment with GitOps

Situation: Your team needs to upgrade the backend service to a new version.

GitOps Workflow:

Developer changes the image tag in the Kubernetes deployment YAML file from v1.0.0 to v1.1.0.
A pull request is created and reviewed.
Once approved, the pull request is merged into the main branch.
ArgoCD detects the change and automatically updates the cluster.
If anything fails, logs are available, and the change can be reverted via Git.

This hands-on approach shows how version control and Git workflows help manage changes in a traceable, controlled manner.

Best Practices for GitOps with ArgoCD

Keep Configurations Declarative

Always define your infrastructure and application setup using YAML or Helm. Avoid using imperative commands or scripts for long-term management.

Use Branching Strategies

Use Git branches and pull requests to introduce and validate changes. This helps with collaboration and quality assurance.

Monitor Sync Status

Use ArgoCD’s UI or CLI to monitor the health and sync status of applications. It provides real-time feedback on drifts or failures.

Secure Access and Secrets

Store secrets using external tools like HashiCorp Vault, Sealed Secrets, or SOPS. Never commit sensitive data directly into Git.

Document Everything

Maintain README files, change logs, and deployment instructions in the repo. This is helpful for new team members and interview presentations.

GitOps in Job Interviews: What to Focus On

When you’re preparing for roles involving cloud infrastructure, DevOps, or platform engineering, it’s important to be ready to explain:

What GitOps is and why it matters
How you’ve used ArgoCD or similar tools
How version control plays a role in continuous deployment
How you approach change management using Git workflows

If you’ve worked on a project using ArgoCD, be ready to talk about how you structured your repositories, managed configurations, and handled production deployments.

If you’re just getting started, try building a demo project where you use GitOps to deploy a simple app. Walk into your interview ready to explain what you did and what you learned.

Conclusion

GitOps is changing the way infrastructure is managed by bringing the power of version control and automation to operations. With tools like ArgoCD, it’s now easier than ever to manage infrastructure changes through code, ensuring consistency, repeatability, and transparency.

Understanding how GitOps works and practicing hands-on workflows using ArgoCD is an excellent way to prepare for real-world job responsibilities. Whether you’re new to the field or aiming for a senior role, mastering GitOps principles will make your infrastructure workflows more efficient and reliable.

If you’re preparing for a technical interview, this knowledge demonstrates that you understand not only how to deploy systems but how to do it in a scalable and controlled manner.

ArgoCD automates the process of syncing Kubernetes clusters with configuration stored in Git repositories, enabling continuous deployment and infrastructure consistency.

Version control allows every change to be tracked, reviewed, and reverted if needed. It adds accountability and makes infrastructure easier to audit.

GitOps is most commonly used with Kubernetes, but the principles can be adapted to other systems where configuration is managed declaratively.

Changes are made through Git, reviewed via pull requests, and logged with commit history. This structured approach enhances traceability and control.

Focus on Kubernetes basics, Git workflows, writing YAML manifests, using ArgoCD, and understanding CI/CD pipelines. Hands-on projects are highly valuable.

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