kind

Create cluster

$ kind create cluster

$ kind create cluster --name [my-cluster]

$ kind create cluster --config [kind-config.yaml]

$ kind get clusters

$ kind delete cluster --name [my-cluster]

$ kind load docker-image [myimage:tag] --name [my-cluster]

kind command [options]

kind (Kubernetes IN Docker) creates and manages local Kubernetes clusters using Docker containers as nodes. Each cluster node runs as a separate Docker container with systemd, kubelet, and containerd inside it, providing a lightweight alternative to virtual machine-based solutions like minikube for local development and CI/CD testing.
The tool supports multi-node clusters including multiple control plane nodes for testing high-availability configurations, and accepts YAML configuration files to customize node counts, port mappings, mounted volumes, and Kubernetes feature gates. Local Docker images can be loaded directly into the cluster without pushing to a registry, which accelerates the inner development loop.
kind was created by the Kubernetes SIG Testing team and is used extensively in the Kubernetes project's own CI pipelines. It is optimized for fast cluster creation and teardown, making it well-suited for automated testing workflows, but is not intended for production use.

create cluster

Create new cluster.

Delete cluster.

List clusters.

List cluster nodes.

Load image to cluster.

Cluster name.

Configuration file.

Display help information.

Requires Docker. Development focused. Not for production.

kind (Kubernetes IN Docker) was created by the Kubernetes SIG Testing as a tool for testing Kubernetes itself.

kubectl(1), k3d(1), minikube(1), docker(1)