Red Hat OpenShift has become one of the most talked-about platforms in the world of container orchestration. Whether you’re a seasoned DevOps engineer or a curious developer diving into Kubernetes, OpenShift offers some incredible tools that can make your life a lot easier.
In this article, we’re diving into the top 10 Red Hat OpenShift features that every developer should know in 2025. We’ll cover the features that help boost productivity, streamline CI/CD, improve security, and make app deployment smoother than ever.
What is Red Hat OpenShift?
Before we dive into the features, let’s briefly go over what Red Hat OpenShift actually is.
Red Hat OpenShift is a Kubernetes-based container platform built for developers and IT operations teams to develop, deploy, and manage containerized applications. It provides a consistent hybrid cloud foundation for building and scaling applications.
1. Developer-Friendly Web Console
One of the most loved Red Hat OpenShift features is its sleek and intuitive developer web console. The console offers a visual interface that lets developers deploy applications, monitor them, and access logs—without needing to use the CLI for everything.
You can also manage projects, create builds, and monitor deployments all from one place. It’s perfect for developers who prefer visuals over commands.
2. Built-In CI/CD Pipelines
OpenShift comes with Tekton-based CI/CD pipelines that help automate your software delivery process. Developers can create pipelines that build, test, and deploy apps across environments.
This feature saves tons of manual effort and is a game-changer for continuous integration and continuous delivery workflows.
3. Seamless Kubernetes Integration
At its core, OpenShift is powered by Kubernetes—but with a lot of added goodies. It brings all the power of Kubernetes with added tools for developers, security, and governance.
You get all the flexibility of Kubernetes without the pain of setting it up and maintaining it manually.
4. Source-to-Image (S2I) Build Tool
The Source-to-Image (S2I) tool is another killer feature in OpenShift. It allows developers to turn source code directly into running containers without needing to write a Dockerfile.
All you have to do is push your code to OpenShift, and it will handle the build and deployment. Great for developers who want to focus on writing code, not infrastructure.
5. Integrated Monitoring and Logging
Monitoring and logging are built right into OpenShift. The platform integrates tools like Prometheus and Grafana for metrics, and Elasticsearch, Fluentd, and Kibana (EFK stack) for logging.
This means developers can easily monitor application performance and catch bugs faster, right within the same environment.
6. Secure by Default
Security is a major focus of Red Hat OpenShift. It comes with built-in features like role-based access control (RBAC), secure image registries, and compliance automation.
It’s trusted by enterprises around the world for a reason—it takes the complexity out of Kubernetes security and offers tools that developers and security teams love.
7. Self-Service Developer Portals
OpenShift lets developers create, manage, and delete projects on their own without depending on sysadmins. The self-service developer experience helps speed up development cycles and encourages experimentation.
Plus, built-in templates make it super easy to get started with common frameworks like Node.js, Python, or Java.
8. Multi-Cloud and Hybrid Cloud Ready
One of the most powerful Red Hat OpenShift features is its multi-cloud support. You can run OpenShift on AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, or even on-premises.
This flexibility is ideal for businesses embracing hybrid cloud environments, and developers don’t have to worry about vendor lock-in.
9. Red Hat OpenShift GitOps Integration
OpenShift includes native support for GitOps workflows, using tools like Argo CD. Developers can define infrastructure as code and manage deployments through Git repositories.
This helps maintain consistency across environments and gives a single source of truth for application states.
10. OpenShift Operator Framework
Operators are like smart applications that manage other applications. OpenShift includes a rich Operator Framework that automates deployment, upgrades, and management of complex workloads.
This lets developers run databases, caches, and even monitoring tools with minimal effort and maximum reliability.
Conclusion
There’s no doubt that Red Hat OpenShift is packed with powerful tools and features for modern developers. From integrated CI/CD pipelines to GitOps and multi-cloud support, it offers everything you need to build, deploy, and manage containerized applications at scale.
Whether you’re just starting with containers or already a pro with Kubernetes, exploring these top 10 Red Hat OpenShift features can take your development workflow to the next level. Incorporating OpenShift training into your development journey can ensure you make the most of the platform, speeding up your adoption and enabling your team to innovate and deliver solutions faster.
FAQs about Red Hat OpenShift
1. Is Red Hat OpenShift better than Kubernetes?
Red Hat OpenShift is built on Kubernetes, so it’s not a matter of “better” but “enhanced”. It adds tools for easier app development, security, monitoring, and CI/CD—making it more developer-friendly and enterprise-ready.
2. Can I run OpenShift on my local machine?
Yes! You can use Red Hat OpenShift Local (formerly CodeReady Containers) to run a single-node OpenShift cluster on your local machine for development and testing.
3. Is OpenShift free to use?
OpenShift has both community (OKD) and enterprise versions. OKD is the upstream open-source version, while Red Hat OpenShift offers commercial support and additional features.
4. What programming languages does OpenShift support?
OpenShift supports a wide range of programming languages including Java, Python, Node.js, Go, Ruby, .NET, and more. With the Source-to-Image feature, deploying apps in your favorite language is easy.
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