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feat(edge): k3s edge-worker + evolvable topology — Giant Swarm, reversed - #36

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feat(edge): k3s edge-worker + evolvable topology — Giant Swarm, reversed#36
mdheller merged 1 commit into
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feat/k3s-edge-worker

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@mdheller mdheller commented Aug 4, 2026

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Giant Swarm reversed — they run a cloud management cluster that provisions workload clusters top-down (k8s-on-k8s); we invert it: the sovereign edge agent-machine (lightweight single-master k3s) registers up into a cloud pool as a worker; the twin is a rendezvous, not a master. And the topology is evolvable — the same workload climbs k3s-edge → k3s-server → k8s-cloud; it shouldn't matter which rung.

  • compute_plane: k3s-edge is a first-class trusted, single-master backend (the right weight for an ephemeral dev node, residency: edge).
  • edge_worker.register_worker: the box joins a cloud pool as a worker — emits a mesh heartbeat (its CPU becomes placeable capacity) and shares its local TopoLVM flash as a cluster mount (compute and storage into the pool).
  • edge_worker.evolve: migrate a workload across the ladder; state follows via the TopoLVM inception mount.

docs/EDGE_WORKER.md — why this beats both models (sovereign edge and federate-up). 182 tools tests green (+5).

The user's model: Giant Swarm runs a cloud management cluster that provisions workload clusters
top-down; we REVERSE it — the sovereign edge agent-machine (lightweight single-master k3s) registers
UP into a cloud pool as a worker, the twin a rendezvous not a master. And the topology is EVOLVABLE:
the same workload climbs k3s-edge -> k3s-server -> k8s-cloud; it shouldn't matter which rung.

compute_plane: `k3s-edge` is now a first-class backend — trusted, single-master, residency:edge
(the right-sized weight for an ephemeral dev node, not a lesser k8s). Sensitive workloads may run on
the sovereign edge.

tools/edge_worker.py:
  - register_worker: the agent-machine joins a cloud pool as a worker; emits a mesh heartbeat so its
    CPU is real placeable capacity, and advertises its local TopoLVM flash as a shared cluster mount
    (compute AND storage into the pool).
  - shared_storage_mount: the local TopoLVM inception mount, cluster-accessible via a container mount.
  - evolve: migrate a workload across the ladder; state follows via the TopoLVM inception mount; no
    rung is special.

docs/EDGE_WORKER.md articulates the reversed-Giant-Swarm model + why it beats both (sovereign edge
AND federate-up). Tests: +5 = 182 tools tests green. compute-plane CapD linked.
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mdheller merged commit 8a72cfa into main Aug 4, 2026
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mdheller deleted the feat/k3s-edge-worker branch August 4, 2026 06:32
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