open-source project

Kubernetes

A large open-source container-orchestration project, with project and steering-committee governance and major cloud-infrastructure public value. Kubernetes scores well because ownership is comparatively aligned and the model leaves more value with stakeholders, and no current penalty outweighs that structure.

Why this matters: Critical software infrastructure can be open and collaborative while still depending on large corporate ecosystems.

Letter grade A Good Medium confidence (AI) Rubric gcd-rubric-v1 Last reviewed May 6, 2026

Final Score 57* A - Good

AGOOD57 pts

* Tentative scaffolding score. Not human-checked or final.

Base Material53

Bonus+4

Cap66No structure cap

After Cap57

Penalties0

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Evaluation Overview

A - Good

The score turns mainly on Ownership; no penalty currently dominates the evaluation.

Strengths

Ownership8/10
Extraction8/10
Governance7/10

Penalties

No penalties applied in this version.

Evidence state

ConfidenceMedium confidence (AI)
ThoroughnessPartial (AI)
Linked claims6
Direct axis claims6
Coverage5/11

Scoring Axes

Axis	Score	Why this score
Ownership ? Control rights: shareholder-dominated at 0, worker cooperative control at 10.	8 / 10	The linked record identifies Kubernetes as an open-source system for production-grade container orchestration. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 168 scored entries below, 32 tied, 26 above on Ownership. Linked evidence Kubernetes describes itself as an open-source system for production-grade container orchestration. [1] context The Kubernetes steering repository describes the Steering Committee as a seven-member body overseeing governance of the Kubernetes project. [2]
Governance ? Binding decision authority: centralized control at 0, democratic stakeholder control at 10.	7 / 10	The Kubernetes steering repository describes the Steering Committee as a seven-member body overseeing governance of the Kubernetes project. The Kubernetes steering repository describes the Steering Committee as a seven-member body overseeing governance of the Kubernetes project. That places Kubernetes in the middle of Governance: there are accountability mechanisms, but they stop short of broad democratic control. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 163 scored entries below, 28 tied, 35 above on Governance. Linked evidence context Kubernetes describes itself as an open-source system for production-grade container orchestration. [1] The Kubernetes steering repository describes the Steering Committee as a seven-member body overseeing governance of the Kubernetes project. [2] The Kubernetes Steering Committee repository describes a seven-member Steering Committee overseeing Kubernetes project governance, strengthening confidence in the project-governance score. [3]
Extraction ? Surplus allocation, wage share, CEO pay ratio, margins, and structured extraction judgment.	8 / 10	The linked record identifies Kubernetes as an open-source system for production-grade container orchestration. The linked record identifies Kubernetes as an open-source system for production-grade container orchestration. That places Kubernetes high on Extraction: surplus is structurally routed toward workers, producers, users, or public benefit instead of being primarily captured upward. A still-higher or maximum value requires stronger proof that this structure is durable, broad, and not merely discretionary. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 173 scored entries below, 34 tied, 19 above on Extraction. Linked evidence context Kubernetes describes itself as an open-source system for production-grade container orchestration. [1] context The Kubernetes steering repository describes the Steering Committee as a seven-member body overseeing governance of the Kubernetes project. [2]
Labor Sovereignty ? Worker power: coercive conditions at 0, co-determination or ownership at 7. Employee dissatisfaction matters only when source-backed evidence shows concrete limits on worker agency, such as coercive scheduling, retaliation, wage theft, harassment, unsafe conditions, suppression of worker voice, or extreme turnover.	5 / 7	The linked record identifies Kubernetes as an open-source system for production-grade container orchestration. The linked record identifies Kubernetes as an open-source system for production-grade container orchestration. That places Kubernetes in the middle of Labor Sovereignty: workers or participants have some protection or agency, but not enough binding power to control the relationship. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 152 scored entries below, 40 tied, 34 above on Labor Sovereignty. Linked evidence context Kubernetes describes itself as an open-source system for production-grade container orchestration. [1] context The Kubernetes steering repository describes the Steering Committee as a seven-member body overseeing governance of the Kubernetes project. [2]
Solidarity with the Unemployed ? Treatment of exits and nonworkers, including severance, redeployment, and non-competes.	5 / 7	The linked record identifies Kubernetes as an open-source system for production-grade container orchestration. The linked record identifies Kubernetes as an open-source system for production-grade container orchestration. That places Kubernetes in the middle of Solidarity with the Unemployed: some access, severance, retraining, openness, or mutual-aid value is present, but it is not central or durable. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 158 scored entries below, 38 tied, 30 above on Solidarity with the Unemployed. Linked evidence context Kubernetes describes itself as an open-source system for production-grade container orchestration. [1] context The Kubernetes steering repository describes the Steering Committee as a seven-member body overseeing governance of the Kubernetes project. [2]
Loss-Bearing Fidelity ? Willingness to absorb costs to preserve values, workers, users, and public obligations.	5 / 7	The linked record identifies Kubernetes as an open-source system for production-grade container orchestration. The linked record identifies Kubernetes as an open-source system for production-grade container orchestration. That places Kubernetes in the middle of Loss-Bearing Fidelity: there is some willingness to preserve obligations, but the record still leaves meaningful risk-shifting concerns. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 119 scored entries below, 43 tied, 64 above on Loss-Bearing Fidelity. Linked evidence context Kubernetes describes itself as an open-source system for production-grade container orchestration. [1] context The Kubernetes steering repository describes the Steering Committee as a seven-member body overseeing governance of the Kubernetes project. [2]
Market Conduct ? Pricing fairness, switching costs, lock-in, and rent extraction.	5 / 5	The linked record identifies Kubernetes as an open-source system for production-grade container orchestration. The linked record identifies Kubernetes as an open-source system for production-grade container orchestration. That places Kubernetes high on Market Conduct: pricing, access, switching, and bargaining practices show restraint compared with ordinary rent-seeking competitors. A still-higher or maximum value requires stronger proof that this structure is durable, broad, and not merely discretionary. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 180 scored entries below, 46 tied, 0 above on Market Conduct. Linked evidence context Kubernetes describes itself as an open-source system for production-grade container orchestration. [1] context The Kubernetes steering repository describes the Steering Committee as a seven-member body overseeing governance of the Kubernetes project. [2]
Product Integrity ? Preservation of quality rather than degradation for monetization.	5 / 5	Kubernetes is published as an open-source system for containerized workload orchestration with public project governance, strengthening product-integrity confidence for infrastructure software. Kubernetes is published as an open-source system for containerized workload orchestration with public project governance, strengthening product-integrity confidence for infrastructure software. That places Kubernetes high on Product Integrity: the core offering is genuinely useful and comparatively less dependent on traps, degradation, or harmful dependencies. A still-higher or maximum value requires stronger proof that this structure is durable, broad, and not merely discretionary. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 134 scored entries below, 92 tied, 0 above on Product Integrity. Linked evidence context Kubernetes describes itself as an open-source system for production-grade container orchestration. [1] context The Kubernetes steering repository describes the Steering Committee as a seven-member body overseeing governance of the Kubernetes project. [2] Kubernetes is published as an open-source system for containerized workload orchestration with public project governance, strengthening product-integrity confidence for infrastructure software. [4]
Scale Integrity ? Whether growth improves or degrades fairness and accountability.	5 / 5	The linked record identifies Kubernetes as an open-source system for production-grade container orchestration. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 191 scored entries below, 35 tied, 0 above on Scale Integrity. Linked evidence context Kubernetes describes itself as an open-source system for production-grade container orchestration. [1] context The Kubernetes steering repository describes the Steering Committee as a seven-member body overseeing governance of the Kubernetes project. [2]

Penalties

No penalties applied in this version.

Bonus Credits

Bonus	Credit	Why this credit
Openness to Dissent ? Credit for tolerating internal, user, customer, worker, and public dissent without retaliation, capture, or viewpoint laundering.	1 / 3	Kubernetes maintains public project governance through a Steering Committee repository and open-source project processes. Kubernetes maintains public project governance through a Steering Committee repository and open-source project processes. That supports partial Openness to Dissent credit because people can criticize, dissent, or challenge the institution without being managed into silence. The value remains partial because the linked record does not show the practice as comprehensive, durable, or central enough for full credit. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 188 scored entries below, 11 tied, 27 above on Openness to Dissent. Linked evidence Kubernetes maintains public project governance through a Steering Committee repository and open-source project processes. [5]
Good Deal ? Credit for unusually fair value: durable quality, fair pricing, low lock-in, and clear customer surplus.	3 / 3	Kubernetes is published as open-source infrastructure for production-grade container orchestration, creating high user and developer value without proprietary licensing fees. Kubernetes is published as open-source infrastructure for production-grade container orchestration, creating high user and developer value without proprietary licensing fees. That supports full Good Deal credit because ordinary users receive unusually fair value, durability, access, or surplus. Full credit is reserved for unusually clear, profile-specific evidence rather than ordinary compliance language. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 200 scored entries below, 26 tied, 0 above on Good Deal. Linked evidence Kubernetes is published as open-source infrastructure for production-grade container orchestration, creating high user and developer value without proprietary licensing fees. [6]

Confidence Basis

Confidence is computed from the evidence trail and review state, not typed into the profile by hand.

Medium 71/100

6 verified linked claims 6 direct axis claims 0 disputed claims 5/11 components covered

This confidence label measures the source-backed evidence trail. AI-scaffolded scores remain tentative until human review.

Claim confidence 18/20

6 verified linked claims

Source quality 10/18

Best source per verified claim, weighted by institutional reliability

Direct axis-specific claims 9/18

6 direct claims across 11 active components

Dispute load 12/12

0 disputed claims on this entity

Recency 10/10

Newest accepted timestamp: May 13, 2026

Reviewer status 7/12

Human-reviewed components score higher than AI scaffolding

Component coverage 5/10

5/11 evidence-bearing components have direct support

Evidence State

Profile stateAI draft / human-pending

VerificationUnverified

ConfidenceMedium confidence (AI)

ThoroughnessPartial (AI)

Correction routeUse “Challenge this rating” for factual errors, missing counterevidence, source problems, or calculation mistakes.

Company responseCompany representatives can submit source-backed corrections; payment never changes scores or reviewer authority.

Claims and Sources

Claims are the evidence record. Each claim needs a source link, axis category, status, confidence level, and timestamp before it can support a score.

* Tentative scaffolding score. Not human-checked or final.

1Kubernetes describes itself as an open-source system for production-grade container orchestration.

Ownership Verified High confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 5, 2026

AI scaffold

Kubernetes homepageGeneral web source · 58%

2The Kubernetes steering repository describes the Steering Committee as a seven-member body overseeing governance of the Kubernetes project.

Governance Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 5, 2026

AI scaffold

Kubernetes Steering CommitteeGeneral web source · 58%

3The Kubernetes Steering Committee repository describes a seven-member Steering Committee overseeing Kubernetes project governance, strengthening confidence in the project-governance score.

Governance Verified High confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 6, 2026

AI scaffold

Kubernetes Steering CommitteeGeneral web source · 58%

4Kubernetes is published as an open-source system for containerized workload orchestration with public project governance, strengthening product-integrity confidence for infrastructure software.

Product Integrity Verified High confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 6, 2026

AI scaffold

Kubernetes projectGeneral web source · 58%
Kubernetes Steering CommitteeGeneral web source · 58%

5Kubernetes maintains public project governance through a Steering Committee repository and open-source project processes.

Openness To Dissent Verified Medium confidence Human-reviewed May 7, 2026

Kubernetes Steering CommitteeGeneral web source · 58%

6Kubernetes is published as open-source infrastructure for production-grade container orchestration, creating high user and developer value without proprietary licensing fees.

Good Deal Verified High confidence Human-reviewed May 7, 2026

Kubernetes projectGeneral web source · 58%
Kubernetes Steering CommitteeGeneral web source · 58%

Alternatives

Competitors

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How This Page Is Maintained

Evidence comes in through contributors, is checked by verifiers, and is synthesized by reviewers. Founder authority remains narrow and visible; scores recalculate when verified claims or the rubric change.

Civic Note

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Audit Log

Recent public changes for this company or group. The full audit log is part of the Transparency record.

May 6, 2026 at 12:00 AM UTC ai-scaffolding toxic-products-assessment

Added tentative AI-generated Toxic Products penalty 0 and directory value for current toxic, addictive, pesticide, livestock, chemical, or consumer-safety product exposure.

May 6, 2026 at 12:00 AM UTC ai-scaffolding confidence-calibration

Rechecked evidence coverage and source quality during the evaluation-quality pass; confidence now reflects direct source coverage, complexity, and remaining uncertainty rather than score direction.

May 5, 2026 at 12:00 AM UTC ai-scaffolding score

Added tentative AI-generated claim-backed score 53 to improve representation for sparse Structure filter categories.

View Full Audit Log