Simple definition
GitOps treats version-controlled declarative configuration as the source of truth, with controllers reconciling the live environment.
Purpose and use
GitOps drives a system from declarative desired state that is versioned and retrieved by reconciliation mechanisms.
How does it work?
A controller observes differences between approved definitions and the environment, then attempts correction according to its permissions and configuration.
Example and verification
After a change, verify both the approved revision and deployed synchronization and health status.
Points to watch
Keeping files in Git alone is insufficient for GitOps. A manual fix can also be overwritten by subsequent reconciliation.
In short
The repository and controller form a change path requiring access, secret and validation controls.