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Kubernetes YAML tips every developer should know

Avoid footguns in manifests—indentation, multi-doc files, and JSON conversions.

2026-05-20 · 6 min read · Rahul Chitturi

  • kubernetes
  • devops

Kubernetes speaks YAML; your brain speaks JSON. Converting between them is routine when debugging Helm output or building CI generators.

Indentation is syntax

Tabs break YAML. Use spaces consistently—two spaces is the de facto standard. A formatter that validates structure saves apply-time mysteries.

Multi-document files

Separate resources with --- on its own line. When converting to JSON, confirm whether you need an array of documents or a single object.

Secrets still belong in secret stores

Base64 in a Secret manifest is encoding, not encryption. Never commit real credentials. Use sealed secrets or cloud secret managers in production.

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