Interlink

Interlink is an open-source framework for (infrastructure orchestration) that connects heterogeneous cloud-native systems into cohesive, policy-driven workflows.

• Framework for composing and orchestrating cloud-native components across environments (infrastructure orchestration).
• Abstraction layer for integrating diverse platforms, services, and tools via a common model (integration framework).
• Policy-aware coordination of workloads and resources spanning clusters and infrastructures (policy orchestration).
• Extensible architecture for plugging in domain-specific modules and backends (platform extensibility).
• Supports cloud-native practices and CNCF-aligned ecosystems for multi-environment operations (cloud-native interoperability).

More About Interlink

Interlink is an open-source project under the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) that focuses on (infrastructure orchestration) and (integration framework) capabilities for cloud-native environments. It is designed to connect heterogeneous platforms, tools, and services using a unifying abstraction, enabling operators and platform teams to coordinate workflows and resources across multiple infrastructures. The project targets environments where applications and operational logic span clusters, clouds, or specialized platforms, and where a common orchestration layer is required.

At its core, Interlink provides a framework for composing cloud-native components into end-to-end workflows (infrastructure orchestration). It abstracts underlying platforms and exposes them through a consistent model so that higher-level logic, policies, and automation can be expressed without tight coupling to specific implementations. This allows platform engineers to define how workloads, data flows, and control flows traverse different environments while maintaining a single orchestration viewpoint.

The project emphasizes integration of heterogeneous systems (integration framework). Interlink is structured so that platform- or domain-specific functionality can be added through modular backends or plugins, enabling connection to different clouds, clusters, or service platforms. By using a common contract for these integrations, it supports scenarios where enterprise environments combine Kubernetes-based workloads with external services or legacy platforms, while still operating under shared control logic.

Policy-aware coordination is another focus area (policy orchestration). Interlink allows workflows and orchestration decisions to be guided by policies that can encode organizational rules, compliance requirements, or operational preferences. This enables consistent behavior when workloads cross boundaries between clusters or infrastructures. Policies can influence routing, placement, sequencing, and error handling, so that orchestration logic aligns with enterprise governance.

In enterprise and institutional settings, Interlink is relevant for platform teams building internal platforms, multi-cluster control planes, or cross-environment automation layers (platform engineering). It can be used to define higher-level services that depend on multiple underlying systems, such as combining compute clusters, data services, and external APIs under a unified orchestration surface. Because it is part of the CNCF landscape, it is intended to align with cloud-native practices such as declarative configuration, automation, and composable architectures.

From a directory and taxonomy perspective, Interlink fits within categories such as infrastructure orchestration, cloud-native integration frameworks, and policy-driven workflow coordination. Its extensible architecture and CNCF alignment position it as a framework for connecting and orchestrating distributed cloud-native systems where multiple platforms must operate under shared models and controls.