In the standard Kubernetes model, a node’s suitability for workloads hinges on a single binary "Ready" condition. However, in modern Kubernetes environments, nodes require complex infrastructure dependencies—such as network agents, storage drivers, GPU firmware, or custom health checks—to be fully operational before they can reliably host pods. Today, on behalf of the Kubernetes project, I am announcing the Node Readiness Controller. This project introduces a declarative system for managing node taints, extending the readiness guardrails during node bootstrapping beyond standard conditions.