kind

Create a local Kubernetes cluster

$ kind create cluster --name [cluster_name]

$ kind delete clusters [cluster_name]

$ kind get [clusters|nodes|kubeconfig]

$ kind export [kubeconfig|logs]

kind [command]

create cluster
    Creates a new Kubernetes cluster.

get clusters
    Lists existing Kubernetes clusters created by kind.

delete cluster
    Deletes a Kubernetes cluster.

export kubeconfig
    Exports the kubeconfig file for a specified cluster.

load docker-image
    Loads a Docker image into the nodes of a kind cluster.

version
    Prints the version of kind.

completion
    Generates shell completion scripts.

get nodes
    Lists the nodes of a kind cluster.

--name string
    Name of the Kubernetes cluster to create/operate on.

--config string
    Path to a kind configuration file.

--image string
    The image to use for the control plane node.

--wait duration
    Wait duration for nodes to be ready.

The kind command is a tool for running local Kubernetes clusters using Docker container 'nodes'. kind was primarily designed for testing Kubernetes itself, but may be used for local development or CI. It allows you to quickly create, manage, and destroy Kubernetes clusters on your local machine. kind uses Docker to run each Kubernetes node as a container, making it lightweight and efficient.

With kind, you can test changes to Kubernetes itself without needing to deploy to a remote cluster. It also provides a convenient way to prototype applications and test Kubernetes configurations locally, speeding up development workflows. The command supports various Kubernetes versions and configurations, offering flexibility for different testing or development scenarios. Creating a cluster is as simple as running kind create cluster, and configurations can be customized through YAML files.

kind requires Docker to be installed and running on the system. Cluster creation and deletion can take some time, depending on the system's resources. Remember to cleanup clusters that are no longer needed, or it will consume docker resources.

kind can be configured using YAML files that define the cluster topology, Kubernetes version, and other settings. This allows you to create clusters with specific configurations tailored to your testing or development needs.

By default, kind sets up a simple Docker network for the cluster. You can also configure more advanced networking options, such as exposing services via NodePort or LoadBalancer, using standard Kubernetes networking features.

kind was created as a sandbox project in the Kubernetes org, driven by the need for a lightweight way to test Kubernetes changes quickly. It has evolved into a stable and widely used tool for local Kubernetes development and testing within the Kubernetes community. First commit on Github: November 7, 2017.

kubectl(1)