Kanary

Summary

Kanary is an open-source tool for automating canary deployments on Kubernetes using a custom resource definition and controller. It can start a canary deployment and, after validation succeeds, move the template into the regular deployment. Traffic can come from the production service, a dedicated Kanary service, both, mirrored traffic, or no service traffic. Validation choices include manual status, label watching, and PromQL queries against Prometheus metrics. Canary instances can use a fixed replica count or a HorizontalPodAutoscaler. The project includes Istio examples that generate PromQL checks for response-time P99 and success rate. Its kubectl kanary plugin can create a KanaryDeployment artifact from an existing Deployment and retrieve Kanary deployments. Installation is documented through Helm or Kubernetes resource manifests. The controller cleans up related canary resources after success or failure, while preserving the original deployment history and classic rollback capability. Kanary is self-managed, MIT-licensed software for Kubernetes users configuring deployment scheduling, scaling, traffic, validation, and rollout. The repository states that it has no releases.

Who it is for

Kanary suits Kubernetes users who want to configure and automate canary deployment traffic, validation, and rollout. It requires a self-managed deployment.

Compared on progressive delivery software

Automated analysis

Yesgithub.com

Automatic rollback

Yesgithub.com

Rollout strategies

canarygithub.com

Kubernetes support

Yesgithub.com

Deployment model

self_hostedgithub.com

Facts

Purpose

Kanary automates canary deployments on Kubernetes through a custom resource definition and controller.github.com · 30 Sept 2026

Deployment flow

It can run a canary deployment and, after successful validation, roll the template into the regular deployment.github.com · 30 Sept 2026

Traffic routing

Traffic sources include the production service, a dedicated Kanary service, both, mirrored traffic, or no service traffic.github.com · 30 Sept 2026

Validation

Validation options include manual status, label watching, and PromQL queries against Prometheus metrics.github.com · 30 Sept 2026

Scaling

Canary instances can use a static replica count or a HorizontalPodAutoscaler.github.com · 30 Sept 2026

Istio integration

The README gives Istio examples that generate PromQL validations for response time P99 and success rate.github.com · 30 Sept 2026

CLI plugin

The kubectl kanary plugin can generate a KanaryDeployment artifact from an existing Deployment and retrieve Kanary deployments.github.com · 30 Sept 2026

Install

The project documents installation with Helm or by applying Kubernetes resource manifests.github.com · 30 Sept 2026

Cleanup and rollback

The controller cleans up related canary resources after success or failure, and the README says the original deployment history and classic rollback capability are preserved.github.com · 30 Sept 2026

License

The repository's license file specifies the MIT License and grants permission to use, copy, modify, distribute, sublicense, and sell copies of the software.github.com · 30 Sept 2026

Security reporting

The security policy asks users to report vulnerabilities at [email protected] and says there are no published security advisories.github.com · 30 Sept 2026

Releases

The repository's Releases page states that there are no releases.github.com · 30 Sept 2026

Intended users

The README describes a tool for Kubernetes users who want to configure and automate canary deployment scheduling, scaling, traffic, validation, and rollout.github.com · 30 Sept 2026

Where it ranks on Everything Xiaomi

• Best Progressive Delivery Software in 2026#15 of 24

Sources

• github.com/AmadeusITGroup/kanary· checked 30 Sept 2026
• github.com/AmadeusITGroup/kanary/blob/master/LICEN· checked 30 Sept 2026
• github.com/AmadeusITGroup/kanary/security· checked 30 Sept 2026
• github.com/AmadeusITGroup/kanary/releases· checked 30 Sept 2026