Elastic Cloud on Kubernetes vs Glitch: What are the differences?

Introduction

Elastic Cloud on Kubernetes (ECK) and Glitch are both platform solutions that offer different functionalities and features. Here are the key differences between ECK and Glitch:

1. Deployment process: ECK is specifically designed for managing Elasticsearch and Kibana clusters on Kubernetes, providing a seamless deployment process for these applications. On the other hand, Glitch is a platform that allows users to create and deploy web applications effortlessly, focusing on simplifying the development process.

2. Focus on elasticity: Elastic Cloud on Kubernetes is specifically built to scale and manage Elasticsearch and Kibana clusters efficiently. It offers extensive features to automatically scale clusters based on workload, handle data resiliency, and manage indexes. In contrast, Glitch primarily focuses on providing an easy-to-use platform for web application development, mainly for static websites and simple web apps.

3. Extensibility: ECK is highly extensible, allowing users to customize and configure various aspects of the Elasticsearch and Kibana clusters running on Kubernetes. It provides flexibility in managing different configurations and integrating additional plugins or modules. On the other hand, while Glitch allows users to add additional functionalities through its platform, the level of customization and extensibility is limited compared to ECK's flexibility.

4. Supported services: Elastic Cloud on Kubernetes primarily focuses on providing managed Elasticsearch and Kibana services. It offers advanced features and capabilities specific to these applications, such as analytics, query capabilities, and search. Glitch, on the other hand, aims to simplify web application development in general, supporting various programming languages and frameworks, allowing users to build a broader range of web applications.

5. Integration with Kubernetes ecosystem: ECK is specifically designed to work seamlessly with Kubernetes, leveraging the Kubernetes ecosystem for container orchestration, resource management, and scalability. It can efficiently utilize Kubernetes features such as pod autoscaling, cluster monitoring, and other native capabilities. Meanwhile, Glitch is not tightly integrated with Kubernetes and does not leverage its ecosystem for the development and deployment process.

6. Managed service vs. self-hosted: Elastic Cloud on Kubernetes is a managed service offered by Elastic, the company behind Elasticsearch and Kibana. It provides a fully managed solution, taking care of operational aspects like monitoring, upgrades, and backups. Glitch, however, is more of a self-hosted platform, allowing users to deploy their applications on Glitch's infrastructure but requiring them to handle monitoring, maintenance, and backups themselves.

In summary, Elastic Cloud on Kubernetes (ECK) is specifically designed for managing Elasticsearch and Kibana clusters on Kubernetes, providing advanced features, extensibility, and tight integration with the Kubernetes ecosystem. Glitch, on the other hand, focuses on simplifying web application development in general, supporting various languages, and providing an easy-to-use platform for deploying web applications.