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In this guide, we’ll walk through deploying a MySQL database on Kubernetes using Flux’s GitRepository and Kustomization controllers along with Kustomize manifests. By following these steps, you will:
  1. Update the PHP application to connect to MySQL
  2. Define Kubernetes manifests for MySQL
  3. Use Flux GitRepository and Kustomization resources for GitOps deployment

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1. Update the PHP Application

On the 7-demo branch, the PHP app has been extended to store high scores in a MySQL database. The connection logic in highscore.php now looks like: 
<?php
$servername = "mysql.database.svc.cluster.local";
$username   = "root";
$password   = "mysql-password-0123456789";
$dbname     = "bricks";

// Create connection
$conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);
if ($conn->connect_error) {
    die("Connection failed: " . $conn->connect_error);
}

// Escape and use the posted high score
$highscore = mysqli_real_escape_string($conn, $_POST['highscore']);
// ... (insert logic)
Ensure you’re on the correct branch in your terminal: 
git checkout 7-demo
# root ~/bb-app-source 7-demo [?]

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2. Inspect the Infrastructure Branch

All MySQL manifests and namespace definitions reside in the infrastructure branch under the database/ directory: 
git checkout infrastructure
ls
# bitnami-sealed-secrets/  cert-manager/  database/  ingress-nginx/  block-buster-helm-app-7.7.1.tgz
Inside database/, you’ll find:
  • namespace.yaml
  • configmap.yaml
  • secret.yaml
  • deployment.yaml
  • service.yaml
  • PersistentVolume and PersistentVolumeClaim manifests
# database/secret.yaml
apiVersion: v1
kind: Secret
metadata:
  name: secret-mysql
  namespace: database
stringData:
  password: mysql-password-0123456789
Storing passwords in plain text is insecure. Use sealed-secrets or another secret management solution for production environments.

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3. Create a Flux GitRepository Source

Define a GitRepository resource in your Flux cluster repo (flux-clusters/dev-cluster) to track the infrastructure branch: 
# infra-source-git.yml
apiVersion: source.toolkit.fluxcd.io/v1beta2
kind: GitRepository
metadata:
  name: infra-source-git
  namespace: flux-system
spec:
  interval: 1m0s
  url: https://github.com/sidd-harth-2/bb-app-source
  ref:
    branch: infrastructure
Export it with the Flux CLI: 
cd ~/block-buster/flux-clusters/dev-cluster
flux create source git infra-source-git \
  --url https://github.com/sidd-harth-2/bb-app-source \
  --branch infrastructure \
  --timeout 10s \
  --export > infra-source-git.yml

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4. Create a Flux Kustomization

Use a Kustomization to apply resources under database/: 
# infra-database-kustomize-git-mysql.yml
apiVersion: kustomize.toolkit.fluxcd.io/v1beta2
kind: Kustomization
metadata:
  name: infra-database-kustomize-git-mysql
  namespace: flux-system
spec:
  interval: 1m40s
  path: ./database
  prune: true
  sourceRef:
    kind: GitRepository
    name: infra-source-git
  targetNamespace: database
Generate via: 
flux create kustomization infra-database-kustomize-git-mysql \
  --source GitRepository/infra-source-git \
  --path ./database \
  --prune true \
  --target-namespace database \
  --interval 100s \
  --export > infra-database-kustomize-git-mysql.yml
Commit and push both manifests: 
git add infra-source-git.yml infra-database-kustomize-git-mysql.yml
git commit -m "Add MySQL DB source and kustomization"
git push

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5. Reconcile and Verify

Force Flux to apply changes immediately: 
flux reconcile source git infra-source-git
flux reconcile kustomization infra-database-kustomize-git-mysql
Check that the database namespace is created: 
kubectl get ns
# NAME        STATUS   AGE
# database    Active   <age>
Inspect Flux sources and kustomizations: 
flux get sources git infra-source-git
flux get kustomizations infra-database-kustomize-git-mysql
Verify MySQL resources in database namespace: 
kubectl -n database get all,cm,secret
# NAME                                READY   STATUS    RESTARTS   AGE
# pod/mysql-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxx          1/1     Running   0          <age>
# service/mysql                       ClusterIP 10.96.x.x 3306/TCP    <age>
# deployment.apps/mysql               1/1       Available   0        <age>
#
# NAME                             AGE
# configmap/mysql-initdb-config    <age>
# secret/secret-mysql              <age>
The MySQL database is now up and running! Next, we’ll pull the PHP application image from an OCI registry and deploy it with Flux.

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Flux Resources Overview

Resource TypePurposeFlux CLI Example
GitRepositoryTrack changes in a Git repoflux create source git infra-source-git --url <repo> --branch infrastructure
KustomizationApply and manage manifests via Kustomizeflux create kustomization infra-database --source GitRepository/infra-source-git --path ./database --prune

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