---
title: "Kubernetes Operator — detection"
description: "Declares when the `k8s-operator` profile activates on a given set of files. Consumed by `klaude-plugin/skills/_shared/profile-detection.md`. Detection is additive: an operator project typically activates both `k8s-operator` (for controller code) and `k8s` (for the manifests it generates/deploys)."
type: skill
canonical_url: https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/detection-4
source: "Claudary"
difficulty: intermediate
author: "Claude Code Knowledge Pack"
date: 2026-07-10T11:18:24.710Z
license: CC-BY-4.0
attribution: "Kubernetes Operator — detection — Claudary (https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/detection-4)"
---

# Kubernetes Operator — detection
Declares when the `k8s-operator` profile activates on a given set of files. Consumed by `klaude-plugin/skills/_shared/profile-detection.md`. Detection is additive: an operator project typically activates both `k8s-operator` (for controller code) and `k8s` (for the manifests it generates/deploys).

## Overview

# Kubernetes Operator — detection

Declares when the `k8s-operator` profile activates on a given set of files. Consumed by `klaude-plugin/skills/_shared/profile-detection.md`. Detection is additive: an operator project typically activates both `k8s-operator` (for controller code) and `k8s` (for the manifests it generates/deploys).

Evaluation follows the shared cost-ordered procedure (path → filename → content). Authority runs filename ≈ content > path: filename or content signals activate the profile; path alone never does, it only promotes a file to a candidate.

## Path signals

Case-insensitive substring match anywhere in the file's path. Pre-filter only — a path hit alone does NOT activate the profile.

- `internal/controller/`
- `api/`
- `controllers/`

## Filename signals

Authoritative: any match activates the profile. Filename matches short-circuit content inspection for the matched file.

- `PROJECT` (exact) → kubebuilder project marker. This file is generated by `kubebuilder init` and contains the project's domain, layout, and plugin metadata. Its mere presence signals an operator project.
- Any file under `config/crd/` → CRD kustomize bases generated by `controller-gen`.
- Any file under `config/webhook/` → admission/conversion webhook kustomize configuration.

## Content signals

Authoritative for files not already caught by a filename signal. Inspection is bounded to the first ~16 KB per file.

- A `Makefile` containing the literal string `controller-gen` OR a target named `manifests` (line starting with `manifests:`) → kubebuilder/operator-sdk generated Makefile with CRD/RBAC generation targets.
- A Go source file (`.go` extension) containing an import of `sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime` → controller-runtime dependency, the standard library for writing Kubernetes controllers.

## Design signals

display_name: Kubernetes Operator
tokens:
  - operator
  - controller
  - kubebuilder
  - controller-runtime
  - CRD authoring
  - custom resource definition authoring
  - reconciliation loop

---

Source: [Claudary](https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/detection-4) · https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com