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ArgoCD › GitOps Principles

What belongs in Git and what should not in a GitOps setup?

Intermediate

Answer

Git holds declarative desired state: Kubernetes manifests, Helm charts/values, Kustomize overlays, and config. It should not hold plaintext secrets. Sensitive data is handled via sealed secrets, external secret operators, or SOPS-encrypted files so Git stays the source of truth without exposing credentials.
Real-world example Manifests and Helm values live in Git, while database passwords are pulled at runtime from a secrets manager via the External Secrets Operator.

Common follow-ups: How are secrets managed in GitOps? | Should generated artifacts be committed?