---
name: azure-kubernetes-app-deploy
license: MIT
metadata:
  author: Microsoft
  version: "1.0.0"
description: "Use when deploying an existing web application or API to an already-running Azure Kubernetes Service cluster. Detects the framework, generates a Dockerfile and Kubernetes manifests, validates against AKS Deployment Safeguards, and deploys with verification. WHEN: deploy app to AKS, deploy to existing AKS cluster, containerize app for Kubernetes, generate K8s manifests for Azure, set up CI/CD for AKS, my AKS deployment is failing safeguard checks, I have a Django/Express/Spring Boot app to run on AKS. DO NOT USE FOR: creating or provisioning an AKS cluster (use azure-kubernetes), assessing migration to AKS Automatic (use azure-kubernetes-automatic-readiness), or deploying to non-AKS targets like Web Apps, Container Apps, or Functions."
---

# Deploy to AKS

**Use when:** deploying a web app/API to AKS; containerizing for Kubernetes; generating manifests; AKS CI/CD; DS001–DS013 failures.

**Not for:** provisioning clusters (`azure-kubernetes`), AKS Automatic readiness (`azure-kubernetes-automatic-readiness`), non-AKS targets.

## Workflow

Requires: existing AKS cluster, `az login`, `kubectl` configured. Follow `phases/quick-deploy.md`. On failure: `references/rollback.md`.

## References

- [detection.md](./references/detection.md) — framework/port/health detection
- [safeguards.md](./references/safeguards.md) — DS001-DS013 checklist
- [workload-identity.md](./references/workload-identity.md) — Workload Identity setup
- [rollback.md](./references/rollback.md) — recovery procedures
- [base-images.md](./references/base-images.md) — base image policy and `<LATEST_STABLE_*>` resolution

## Knowledge Packs

Load `knowledge-packs/frameworks/<framework>.md` per detected framework. Available: `spring-boot`, `express`, `nextjs`, `fastapi`, `django`, `nestjs`, `aspnet-core`, `go`, `flask`

## Templates

`templates/` (dockerfiles/, k8s/, github-actions/, mermaid/).