Contribute to the CNCF Ecosystem

Welcome! Are you interested in contributing to one of CNCF hosted projects? This repository should help you. It contains information and guidelines about contributions to CNCF projects.

CNCF offers multiple ways to start contributing to the CNCF ecosystem, including either foundation-wide and project-wide opportunities.

However, contributing to the CNCF ecosystem is not just about coding. There are many other ways to contribute to the CNCF ecosystem, including writing documentation, creating tutorials, bringing ideas to meetings, organizing meetups, and more.

Open Source Beginners

Are you new to open source? If so, we recommend checking out our comprehensive guide, “Start Contributing to Open Source”. This guide is filled with helpful tips and tricks to help you get started with contributing to open source projects. You’ll learn about communities and projects, how to find them, how to conform to community standards, and much more.

Unknown Terms?

If you encounter any unfamiliar terms in this document or on our website, we have a glossary available.

Contribution Opportunities

Mentorship Programs

The Cloud Native Computing Foundation participates in various mentoring programs, including:

If you are interested in participating in one of the programs, please check out the CNCF mentoring repository for more details.

Project Opportunities

The CNCF projects are always looking for new contributors. If you’re interested in contributing to a CNCF project, check out the following:

  • CNCF Landscape - a map of all CNCF projects, along with their maturity level and their category
  • CLOTributor - a tool that helps you find beginner-friendly tasks in CNCF projects
  • Projects section below lists all CNCF projects, with their primary language and brief information on contributing to them

Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs)

CNCF Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) are responsible for overseeing and coordinating the interests of end users and/or projects within a specific area of focus. These groups hold open meetings that are accessible to anyone without any obligations. You are welcome to participate in discussions or simply observe the group’s activities. If you are interested in contributing to a TAG, you can find more information in their respective repositories.

Although TAGs are designed to focus on specific areas, you can begin contributing through working groups (WGs) that operate under the TAGs with even more narrow scopes. WGs are community-driven groups that encourage ongoing collaboration in specific areas of interest.

Learn more about CNCF TAGs and view a list of the CNCF TAGs.

Community Groups

The Cloud Native Computing Foundation supports the worldwide community of the Cloud Native Community Groups (CNCGs). They are listed on community.cncf.io website. CNCF is currently working on expanding the Cloud Native community worldwide, and we are happy to accept any new local communities to join our network.

Are you passionate about Cloud Native technologies and interested in starting a community group in your area? Look no further than the CNCF Meetups program! Check out the CNCF Community Groups repository for more information about the program, including best practices for running successful CNCF Community Groups.

Ambassadors

Cloud Native Ambassadors (CNAs) are individuals who are passionate about Cloud Native Computing Foundation technology and projects, recognized for their expertise, and willing to help others learn about the framework and community.

Successful ambassadors are people such as bloggers, influencers, evangelists who are already engaged with a CNCF project in some way including contributing to forums, online groups, community events, etc.

Details on the Ambassadors program, as well as information on how to join CNCF as an Ambassador, are available at the Cloud Native Ambassadors repository.

Projects

The Cloud Native Computing Foundation projects are listed below with information on how to contribute.

Graduated Projects

Project NameFocusPrimary Language
ArgoContinuous Integration & DeliveryGo
CiliumCloud Native NetworkGo
CloudEventsStreaming & MessagingPython
containerdContainer RuntimeGo
CoreDNSCoordination & Service DiscoveryGo
CRI-OContainer RuntimeGo
EnvoyService ProxyC++
etcdCoordination & Service DiscoveryGo
FalcoSecurity & ComplianceC++
FluentdObservabilityRuby
FluxContinuous Integration & DeliveryGo
HarborContainer RegistryGo
HelmApplication Definition & Image BuildGo
IstioService MeshGo
JaegerObservabilityGo
KEDAScheduling & OrchestrationGo
KEDA (Serverless)Installable PlatformGo
KubernetesScheduling & OrchestrationGo
LinkerdService MeshGo
Open Policy Agent (OPA)Security & ComplianceGo
PrometheusObservabilityGo
RookCloud Native StorageGo
SPIFFEKey ManagementShell
SPIREKey ManagementGo
The Update Framework (TUF)Security & CompliancePython
TiKVDatabaseRust
VitessDatabaseGo

Incubating Projects

Project NameFocusPrimary Language
BackstageApplication Definition & Image BuildTypeScript
BuildpacksApplication Definition & Image BuildGo
cert-managerSecurity & ComplianceGo
Chaos MeshChaos EngineeringGo
Cloud CustodianAutomation & ConfigurationPython
Container Network Interface (CNI)Cloud Native NetworkGo
ContourService ProxyGo
CortexObservabilityGo
CrossplaneScheduling & OrchestrationGo
CubeFSCloud Native StorageGo
DaprApplication Definition & Image BuildGo
Dapr (Serverless)FrameworkGo
DragonflyContainer RegistryGo
Emissary-IngressAPI GatewayPython
gRPCRemote Procedure CallC++
in-totoSecurity & CompliancePython
KarmadaScheduling & OrchestrationGo
KeptnContinuous Integration & DeliveryGo
KeycloakSecurity & ComplianceJava
KnativeScheduling & OrchestrationGo
Knative (Serverless)Installable PlatformGo
KubeEdgeAutomation & ConfigurationGo
KubeflowScheduling & OrchestrationTypeScript
KubeVelaApplication Definition & Image BuildGo
KubeVirtApplication Definition & Image BuildGo
KyvernoSecurity & ComplianceGo
LitmusChaos EngineeringGo
LonghornCloud Native StorageShell
NATSStreaming & MessagingGo
NotarySecurity & ComplianceGo
OpenFeatureFeature FlaggingPython
OpenKruiseContinuous Integration & DeliveryGo
OpenMetricsObservabilityGo
OpenTelemetryObservability
Operator FrameworkApplication Definition & Image BuildGo
StrimziStreaming & MessagingJava
ThanosObservabilityGo
VolcanoScheduling & OrchestrationGo

Sandbox Projects

Project NameFocusPrimary Language
Aeraki MeshService MeshGo
AkriAutomation & ConfigurationRust
AntreaCloud Native NetworkGo
ArmadaScheduling & OrchestrationGo
Artifact HubApplication Definition & Image BuildTypeScript
AthenzKey ManagementJava
BFEService ProxyGo
CapsuleScheduling & OrchestrationGo
CarinaCloud Native StorageGo
CarvelApplication Definition & Image BuildGo
CDK for Kubernetes (CDK8s)Automation & ConfigurationJavaScript
ChaosbladeChaos EngineeringGo
ClusternetScheduling & OrchestrationGo
ClusterpediaScheduling & OrchestrationGo
CNI-GenieCloud Native NetworkGo
Confidential ContainersSecurity & Compliance
ContainerSSHSecurity & ComplianceGo
CopaSecurity & ComplianceGo
CuriefenseSecurity & ComplianceRust
CurveCloud Native StorageC++
DevfileApplication Definition & Image BuildGo
DevSpaceApplication Definition & Image BuildGo
DevStreamAutomation & ConfigurationGo
DexSecurity & ComplianceGo
DistributionContainer RegistryGo
EasegressAPI GatewayGo
EraserScheduling & OrchestrationGo
external-secretsSecurity & ComplianceGo
FabEdgeCloud Native NetworkGo
FluidScheduling & OrchestrationGo
HeadlampObservabilityTypeScript
HexaSecurity & ComplianceGo
HwameiStorCloud Native StorageGo
Inclavare ContainersContainer RuntimeC
Inspektor GadgetObservabilityC
k3sCertified Kubernetes - DistributionGo
k8gbCoordination & Service DiscoveryGo
K8sGPTObservabilityGo
K8upCloud Native StorageGo
KanisterCloud Native StorageGo
KCLAutomation & ConfigurationRust
kcpScheduling & OrchestrationGo
KeplerObservabilityC
KeylimeSecurity & CompliancePython
koApplication Definition & Image BuildGo
KonveyorApplication Definition & Image BuildJinja
kptAutomation & ConfigurationGo
KrknChaos EngineeringPython
KrustletContainer RuntimeRust
Krustlet (Wasm)RuntimesRust
KuasarContainer RuntimeRust
Kube-burnerContinuous Integration & DeliveryGo
Kube-OVNCloud Native NetworkGo
kube-rsScheduling & OrchestrationRust
kube-vipCloud Native NetworkGo
KubeArmorSecurity & ComplianceGo
KubeClipperCertified Kubernetes - InstallerGo
KubeDLAutomation & ConfigurationGo
KuberhealthyObservabilityGo
KubescapeSecurity & ComplianceGo
KubeStellarScheduling & OrchestrationGo
KubewardenSecurity & ComplianceGo
Kubewarden (Wasm)Embedded FunctionsGo
KUDOApplication Definition & Image BuildGo
KumaService MeshGo
KuredScheduling & OrchestrationGo
LimaContainer RuntimeGo
Logging Operator (Kube Logging)ObservabilityGo
MerbridgeService MeshGo
MesheryAutomation & ConfigurationJavaScript
MetalLBService ProxyGo
Metal³Automation & ConfigurationGo
MicrocksApplication Definition & Image BuildJava
Network Service MeshCloud Native NetworkGo
NocalhostApplication Definition & Image BuildGo
Open Cluster ManagementScheduling & OrchestrationGo
Open Policy ContainersSecurity & ComplianceGo
OpenCostContinuous OptimizationGo
OpenELBService ProxyGo
OpenFGASecurity & ComplianceGo
OpenFunctionScheduling & OrchestrationGo
OpenFunction (Serverless)Installable PlatformGo
OpenFunction (Wasm)Embedded FunctionsGo
OpenGitOpsContinuous Integration & Delivery
OpenYurtAutomation & ConfigurationGo
ORASCloud Native StorageGo
ParalusSecurity & ComplianceGo
ParsecSecurity & ComplianceRust
PipeCDContinuous Integration & DeliveryGo
Piraeus DatastoreCloud Native StorageGo
PixieObservabilityC++
PorterApplication Definition & Image BuildGo
PravegaStreaming & MessagingJava
SchemaHeroDatabaseGo
sealerApplication Definition & Image BuildGo
Serverless DevsScheduling & OrchestrationTypeScript
Serverless Devs (Serverless)Tools
Serverless WorkflowApplication Definition & Image BuildTypeScript
Service Mesh PerformanceService MeshMakefile
SkoonerObservabilityJavaScript
SlimToolkitSecurity & ComplianceGo
SOPSSecurity & ComplianceGo
SpiderpoolCloud Native NetworkGo
SubmarinerCloud Native NetworkGo
SuperEdgeAutomation & ConfigurationGo
TelepresenceApplication Definition & Image BuildGo
TellerKey ManagementGo
TinkerbellAutomation & ConfigurationGo
TremorStreaming & MessagingRust
TricksterObservabilityGo
VineyardCloud Native StorageC++
Virtual KubeletContainer RuntimeGo
Virtual Kubelet (Serverless)Installable Platform
Visual Studio Code Kubernetes ToolsApplication Definition & Image BuildTypeScript
wasmCloudScheduling & OrchestrationRust
WasmEdge (Wasm)RuntimesC++
WasmEdge RuntimeContainer RuntimeC++
werfContinuous Integration & DeliveryGo
XlineCoordination & Service DiscoveryRust
zotContainer RegistryGo

Non-code Projects

Project NameFocusPrimary Language
Cloud Native GlossaryDefinitionsMarkdown