OpenShift started as a platform-as-a-service and evolved into a Kubernetes-based application platform. As container orchestration matured, OpenShift aligned with Kubernetes and added enterprise operational layers around upgrades, policy, and developer workflows.
The project now exists as both Red Hat OpenShift and the community-driven OKD distribution. This dual model has allowed a broad ecosystem of contributors while preserving a strong enterprise support path.
OpenShift’s history reflects the shift from early PaaS abstractions to operator-managed Kubernetes platforms with stronger lifecycle automation and security controls.