kubeflow · alokdangre · Dec 19, 2025
diff --git a/workspaces/backend/README.md b/workspaces/backend/README.md
@@ -93,7 +93,6 @@ curl -X POST http://localhost:4000/api/v1/workspaces/default \
         "name": "dora",
         "kind": "jupyterlab",
         "paused": false,
-        "deferUpdates": false,
         "podTemplate": {
             "podMetadata": {
                 "labels": {

diff --git a/workspaces/backend/api/suite_test.go b/workspaces/backend/api/suite_test.go
@@ -177,9 +177,8 @@ func NewExampleWorkspace(name string, namespace string, workspaceKind string) *k
 			Namespace: namespace,
 		},
 		Spec: kubefloworgv1beta1.WorkspaceSpec{
-			Paused:       ptr.To(false),
-			DeferUpdates: ptr.To(false),
-			Kind:         workspaceKind,
+			Paused: ptr.To(false),
+			Kind:   workspaceKind,
 			PodTemplate: kubefloworgv1beta1.WorkspacePodTemplate{
 				PodMetadata: &kubefloworgv1beta1.WorkspacePodMetadata{
 					Labels:      nil,

diff --git a/workspaces/backend/api/workspaces_handler_test.go b/workspaces/backend/api/workspaces_handler_test.go
@@ -696,10 +696,9 @@ var _ = Describe("Workspaces Handler", func() {
 
 			By("defining a WorkspaceCreate model")
 			workspaceCreate := &models.WorkspaceCreate{
-				Name:         workspaceName,
-				Kind:         workspaceKindName,
-				Paused:       false,
-				DeferUpdates: false,
+				Name:   workspaceName,
+				Kind:   workspaceKindName,
+				Paused: false,
 				PodTemplate: models.PodTemplateMutate{
 					PodMetadata: models.PodMetadataMutate{
 						Labels: map[string]string{
@@ -763,7 +762,6 @@ var _ = Describe("Workspaces Handler", func() {
 			Expect(createdWorkspace.ObjectMeta.Name).To(Equal(workspaceName))
 			Expect(createdWorkspace.Spec.Kind).To(Equal(workspaceKindName))
 			Expect(createdWorkspace.Spec.Paused).To(Equal(&workspaceCreate.Paused))
-			Expect(createdWorkspace.Spec.DeferUpdates).To(Equal(&workspaceCreate.DeferUpdates))
 			Expect(createdWorkspace.Spec.PodTemplate.PodMetadata.Labels).To(Equal(workspaceCreate.PodTemplate.PodMetadata.Labels))
 			Expect(createdWorkspace.Spec.PodTemplate.PodMetadata.Annotations).To(Equal(workspaceCreate.PodTemplate.PodMetadata.Annotations))
 			Expect(createdWorkspace.Spec.PodTemplate.Volumes.Home).To(Equal(workspaceCreate.PodTemplate.Volumes.Home))

diff --git a/workspaces/backend/internal/models/workspaces/funcs.go b/workspaces/backend/internal/models/workspaces/funcs.go
@@ -109,7 +109,6 @@ func NewWorkspaceListItemFromWorkspace(ws *kubefloworgv1beta1.Workspace, wsk *ku
 			Icon:    iconRef,
 			Logo:    logoRef,
 		},
-		DeferUpdates:   ptr.Deref(ws.Spec.DeferUpdates, false),
 		Paused:         ptr.Deref(ws.Spec.Paused, false),
 		PausedTime:     ws.Status.PauseTime,
 		PendingRestart: ws.Status.PendingRestart,

diff --git a/workspaces/backend/internal/models/workspaces/funcs_write.go b/workspaces/backend/internal/models/workspaces/funcs_write.go
@@ -28,21 +28,19 @@ import (
 // NewWorkspaceCreateModelFromWorkspace creates WorkspaceCreate model from a Workspace object.
 func NewWorkspaceCreateModelFromWorkspace(ws *kubefloworgv1beta1.Workspace) *WorkspaceCreate {
 	return &WorkspaceCreate{
-		Name:         ws.Name,
-		Kind:         ws.Spec.Kind,
-		Paused:       ptr.Deref(ws.Spec.Paused, false),
-		DeferUpdates: ptr.Deref(ws.Spec.DeferUpdates, false),
-		PodTemplate:  buildPodTemplateMutate(ws),
+		Name:        ws.Name,
+		Kind:        ws.Spec.Kind,
+		Paused:      ptr.Deref(ws.Spec.Paused, false),
+		PodTemplate: buildPodTemplateMutate(ws),
 	}
 }
 
 // NewWorkspaceUpdateModelFromWorkspace creates WorkspaceUpdate model from a Workspace object.
 func NewWorkspaceUpdateModelFromWorkspace(ws *kubefloworgv1beta1.Workspace) *WorkspaceUpdate {
 	return &WorkspaceUpdate{
-		Revision:     CalculateWorkspaceRevision(ws),
-		Paused:       ptr.Deref(ws.Spec.Paused, false),
-		DeferUpdates: ptr.Deref(ws.Spec.DeferUpdates, false),
-		PodTemplate:  buildPodTemplateMutate(ws),
+		Revision:    CalculateWorkspaceRevision(ws),
+		Paused:      ptr.Deref(ws.Spec.Paused, false),
+		PodTemplate: buildPodTemplateMutate(ws),
 	}
 }
 

diff --git a/workspaces/backend/internal/models/workspaces/types.go b/workspaces/backend/internal/models/workspaces/types.go
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ type WorkspaceListItem struct {
 	Name           string            `json:"name"`
 	Namespace      string            `json:"namespace"`
 	WorkspaceKind  WorkspaceKindInfo `json:"workspaceKind"`
-	DeferUpdates   bool              `json:"deferUpdates"`
 	Paused         bool              `json:"paused"`
 	PausedTime     int64             `json:"pausedTime"`
 	PendingRestart bool              `json:"pendingRestart"`

diff --git a/workspaces/backend/internal/models/workspaces/types_write.go b/workspaces/backend/internal/models/workspaces/types_write.go
@@ -24,11 +24,10 @@ import (
 
 // WorkspaceCreate is used to create a new workspace.
 type WorkspaceCreate struct {
-	Name         string            `json:"name"`
-	Kind         string            `json:"kind"`
-	Paused       bool              `json:"paused"`
-	DeferUpdates bool              `json:"deferUpdates"`
-	PodTemplate  PodTemplateMutate `json:"podTemplate"`
+	Name        string            `json:"name"`
+	Kind        string            `json:"kind"`
+	Paused      bool              `json:"paused"`
+	PodTemplate PodTemplateMutate `json:"podTemplate"`
 }
 
 // Validate validates the WorkspaceCreate struct.
@@ -61,9 +60,8 @@ type WorkspaceUpdate struct {
 	//   other than for equality, as the format is not guaranteed to be stable.
 	Revision string `json:"revision"`
 
-	Paused       bool              `json:"paused"`       // TODO: remove `paused` once we have an "actions" api for pausing workspaces
-	DeferUpdates bool              `json:"deferUpdates"` // TODO: remove `deferUpdates` once the controller is no longer applying redirects
-	PodTemplate  PodTemplateMutate `json:"podTemplate"`
+	Paused      bool              `json:"paused"` // TODO: remove `paused` once we have an "actions" api for pausing workspaces
+	PodTemplate PodTemplateMutate `json:"podTemplate"`
 }
 
 // Validate validates the WorkspaceUpdate struct.

diff --git a/workspaces/backend/internal/repositories/workspaces/repo.go b/workspaces/backend/internal/repositories/workspaces/repo.go
@@ -158,9 +158,8 @@ func (r *WorkspaceRepository) CreateWorkspace(ctx context.Context, workspaceCrea
 			Namespace: namespace,
 		},
 		Spec: kubefloworgv1beta1.WorkspaceSpec{
-			Paused:       &workspaceCreate.Paused,
-			DeferUpdates: &workspaceCreate.DeferUpdates,
-			Kind:         workspaceKindName,
+			Paused: &workspaceCreate.Paused,
+			Kind:   workspaceKindName,
 			PodTemplate: kubefloworgv1beta1.WorkspacePodTemplate{
 				PodMetadata: &kubefloworgv1beta1.WorkspacePodMetadata{
 					Labels:      workspaceCreate.PodTemplate.PodMetadata.Labels,

diff --git a/workspaces/backend/openapi/docs.go b/workspaces/backend/openapi/docs.go
@@ -2379,16 +2379,12 @@ const docTemplate = `{
         "workspaces.WorkspaceCreate": {
             "type": "object",
             "required": [
-                "deferUpdates",
                 "kind",
                 "name",
                 "paused",
                 "podTemplate"
             ],
             "properties": {
-                "deferUpdates": {
-                    "type": "boolean"
-                },
                 "kind": {
                     "type": "string"
                 },
@@ -2431,7 +2427,6 @@ const docTemplate = `{
             "required": [
                 "activity",
                 "audit",
-                "deferUpdates",
                 "name",
                 "namespace",
                 "paused",
@@ -2450,9 +2445,6 @@ const docTemplate = `{
                 "audit": {
                     "$ref": "#/definitions/common.Audit"
                 },
-                "deferUpdates": {
-                    "type": "boolean"
-                },
                 "name": {
                     "type": "string"
                 },
@@ -2510,16 +2502,11 @@ const docTemplate = `{
         "workspaces.WorkspaceUpdate": {
             "type": "object",
             "required": [
-                "deferUpdates",
                 "paused",
                 "podTemplate",
                 "revision"
             ],
             "properties": {
-                "deferUpdates": {
-                    "description": "TODO: remove ` + "`" + `deferUpdates` + "`" + ` once the controller is no longer applying redirects",
-                    "type": "boolean"
-                },
                 "paused": {
                     "description": "TODO: remove ` + "`" + `paused` + "`" + ` once we have an \"actions\" api for pausing workspaces",
                     "type": "boolean"

diff --git a/workspaces/backend/openapi/swagger.json b/workspaces/backend/openapi/swagger.json
@@ -2377,16 +2377,12 @@
         "workspaces.WorkspaceCreate": {
             "type": "object",
             "required": [
-                "deferUpdates",
                 "kind",
                 "name",
                 "paused",
                 "podTemplate"
             ],
             "properties": {
-                "deferUpdates": {
-                    "type": "boolean"
-                },
                 "kind": {
                     "type": "string"
                 },
@@ -2429,7 +2425,6 @@
             "required": [
                 "activity",
                 "audit",
-                "deferUpdates",
                 "name",
                 "namespace",
                 "paused",
@@ -2448,9 +2443,6 @@
                 "audit": {
                     "$ref": "#/definitions/common.Audit"
                 },
-                "deferUpdates": {
-                    "type": "boolean"
-                },
                 "name": {
                     "type": "string"
                 },
@@ -2508,16 +2500,11 @@
         "workspaces.WorkspaceUpdate": {
             "type": "object",
             "required": [
-                "deferUpdates",
                 "paused",
                 "podTemplate",
                 "revision"
             ],
             "properties": {
-                "deferUpdates": {
-                    "description": "TODO: remove `deferUpdates` once the controller is no longer applying redirects",
-                    "type": "boolean"
-                },
                 "paused": {
                     "description": "TODO: remove `paused` once we have an \"actions\" api for pausing workspaces",
                     "type": "boolean"

diff --git a/workspaces/controller/api/v1beta1/workspace_types.go b/workspaces/controller/api/v1beta1/workspace_types.go
@@ -36,12 +36,6 @@ type WorkspaceSpec struct {
 	// +kubebuilder:default=false
 	Paused *bool `json:"paused,omitempty"`
 
-	// if true, pending updates are NOT applied when the Workspace is paused
-	// if false, pending updates are applied when the Workspace is paused
-	// +kubebuilder:validation:Optional
-	// +kubebuilder:default=false
-	DeferUpdates *bool `json:"deferUpdates,omitempty"`
-
 	// the WorkspaceKind to use
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:MinLength:=2
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:MaxLength:=63

diff --git a/workspaces/controller/api/v1beta1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go b/workspaces/controller/api/v1beta1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
diff --git a/workspaces/controller/internal/controller/suite_test.go b/workspaces/controller/internal/controller/suite_test.go
@@ -164,9 +164,8 @@ func NewExampleWorkspace1(name string, namespace string, workspaceKind string) *
 			Namespace: namespace,
 		},
 		Spec: kubefloworgv1beta1.WorkspaceSpec{
-			Paused:       ptr.To(false),
-			DeferUpdates: ptr.To(false),
-			Kind:         workspaceKind,
+			Paused: ptr.To(false),
+			Kind:   workspaceKind,
 			PodTemplate: kubefloworgv1beta1.WorkspacePodTemplate{
 				PodMetadata: &kubefloworgv1beta1.WorkspacePodMetadata{
 					Labels:      nil,

diff --git a/workspaces/controller/internal/controller/workspace_controller.go b/workspaces/controller/internal/controller/workspace_controller.go
@@ -215,27 +215,6 @@ func (r *WorkspaceReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.Request) (
 	//       will result in a forced restart of all Workspaces using the WorkspaceKind.
 	//
 
-	// if a restart is pending and the Workspace is paused, update the Workspace with the new options
-	if workspace.Status.PendingRestart && *workspace.Spec.Paused && !*workspace.Spec.DeferUpdates {
-
-		// update the Workspace with the new options
-		workspace.Spec.PodTemplate.Options.ImageConfig = workspace.Status.PodTemplateOptions.ImageConfig.Desired
-		workspace.Spec.PodTemplate.Options.PodConfig = workspace.Status.PodTemplateOptions.PodConfig.Desired
-
-		// update the Workspace
-		if err := r.Update(ctx, workspace); err != nil {
-			if apierrors.IsConflict(err) {
-				log.V(2).Info("update conflict while updating Workspace, will requeue")
-				return ctrl.Result{Requeue: true}, nil
-			}
-			log.Error(err, "unable to update Workspace")
-			return ctrl.Result{}, err
-		}
-
-		// return and requeue to pick up the changes
-		return ctrl.Result{Requeue: true}, nil
-	}
-
 	// generate StatefulSet
 	statefulSet, err := generateStatefulSet(workspace, workspaceKind, currentImageConfig.Spec, currentPodConfig.Spec)
 	if err != nil {

diff --git a/workspaces/controller/internal/controller/workspace_controller_test.go b/workspaces/controller/internal/controller/workspace_controller_test.go
@@ -216,8 +216,7 @@ var _ = Describe("Workspace Controller", func() {
 			//        - when adding a redirect to the currently selected `imageConfig` or `podConfig`
 			//            - if the workspace is NOT paused, NO resource changes are made except setting `status.pendingRestart`
 			//              and `status.podTemplateOptions` (`desired` along with `redirectChain`)
-			//            - if the workspace IS paused, but `deferUpdates` is true, the same as above
-			//            - if the workspace IS paused and `deferUpdates` is false:
+			//            - if the workspace IS paused:
 			//                - the selected options (under `spec`) should be changed to the redirect
 			//                  and `status.pendingRestart` should become false, and `podTemplateOptions` should be empty
 			//                - the new options should be applied to the StatefulSet

diff --git a/workspaces/controller/manifests/kustomize/base/crd/kubeflow.org_workspaces.yaml b/workspaces/controller/manifests/kustomize/base/crd/kubeflow.org_workspaces.yaml
@@ -44,12 +44,6 @@ spec:
           spec:
             description: WorkspaceSpec defines the desired state of Workspace
             properties:
-              deferUpdates:
-                default: false
-                description: |-
-                  if true, pending updates are NOT applied when the Workspace is paused
-                  if false, pending updates are applied when the Workspace is paused
-                type: boolean
               kind:
                 description: the WorkspaceKind to use
                 example: jupyterlab

diff --git a/workspaces/controller/manifests/kustomize/samples/jupyterlab_v1beta1_workspace.yaml b/workspaces/controller/manifests/kustomize/samples/jupyterlab_v1beta1_workspace.yaml
@@ -6,10 +6,6 @@ spec:
   ## if the workspace is paused (no pods running)
   paused: false
 
-  ## if true, pending updates are NOT applied when the Workspace is paused
-  ## if false, pending updates are applied when the Workspace is paused
-  deferUpdates: false
-
   ## the WorkspaceKind to use
   kind: "jupyterlab"
 

diff --git a/workspaces/controller/manifests/kustomize/samples/jupyterlab_v1beta1_workspacekind.yaml b/workspaces/controller/manifests/kustomize/samples/jupyterlab_v1beta1_workspacekind.yaml
@@ -241,8 +241,8 @@ spec:
       ##     - hidden options are still available to the controller and manually created Workspace resources
       ##  - options may be "redirected" by setting `redirect.to` to another option:
       ##     - redirected options are NOT shown in the Spawner UI
-      ##     - redirected options are like an HTTP 302 redirect, the controller will use the target option
-      ##       without actually changing the `spec.podTemplate.options` field of the Workspace
+      ##     - redirected options are computed by the controller and shown in status fields
+      ##     - users must explicitly update their Workspace via the API to apply redirects
       ##     - the Spawner UI will warn users about Workspaces with pending restarts
       ##