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ApplicationSet Extension

Argo CD ApplicationSets are a powerful tool for automating the creation and management of Argo CD Applications across multiple clusters and environments. ApplicationSets do this by templating Application manifests, which enables GitOps at scale.

However, managing ApplicationSets, which is traditionally done via YAML manifests and command-line interfaces, often becomes cumbersome – especially during troubleshooting. Figuring out why expected Applications weren't generated requires manually checking of status fields, digging through controller logs, and inspecting Kubernetes events. There is no way to do this through the core Argo CD UI, making the process even more difficult.

The ApplicationSets extension provides users with ease-of-use and an intuitive interface for ApplicationSet management. Key capabilities including:

  • Full CRUD Management: Create, view, edit, and delete ApplicationSets.
  • Status Visualization: Easily view the aggregated sync and health status of generated Applications.
  • Live Previews: Instantly preview the applications an ApplicationSet will generate or modify before saving changes.

Enable ApplicationSet Extension​

  • Navigate to your Argo CD instance settings in Akuity Platform. Argo CD → your instance → Settings → Extensions.

  • Click on Install in ApplicationSet extension, and click Confirm to confirm the installation.

ApplicationSet extension on AKP

Manage ApplicationSets in the Argo CD UI​

The new ApplicationSet management capabilities include a dedicated ApplicationSets section on the Argo CD navigation in the Akuity Platform. From the UI, you can perform full CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations just like you would for regular Applications. This brings ApplicationSet management into the same intuitive workflow you already use for your Argo CD applications.

Create & Preview ApplicationSets in the UI​

You can create ApplicationSets by navigating to the ApplicationSets section, and click + CREATE.

Create ApplicationSet

Then define your ApplicationSet in the Manifest editor:

Define ApplicationSet

Before committing, click SAVE AND PREVIEW to see exactly which Applications your current definition will generate. This immediate feedback loop helps catch errors in generators or templates early, ensuring you deploy what you intend.

Preview ApplicationSet

View Generated Application Status​

Once your ApplicationSet is created, understanding the state of the applications it manages is simple. Select the ApplicationSet and go to the LIVE STATUS tab. This provides a consolidated view, showing the aggregated sync and health status of all generated applications.

View ApplicationSet Status

Modify, Preview, and Apply Changes in the UI​

If you want to modify the ApplicationSet, go to the EDIT AND PREVIEW tab. Here you can modify the manifest directly. For instance, let's change the spec.template.spec.source.path from guestbook to kustomize-guestbook, remove dev cluster and add stg cluster:

Modify ApplicationSet

After editing, click the SAVE AND PREVIEW sub-tab within EDIT AND PREVIEW. It instantly refreshes, showing the diff of applications that will be generated based on your modified manifest. This lets you confirm the change (like the updated path) has the desired effect before you apply it. Once confident, click APPLY to save the changes. The preview updates instantly, showing the 'path' change for the generated Applications before applying.

Show ApplicationSet Change