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k3d project preview
Developer ToolsAlternative to MinikubeAlternative to KindAlternative to Docker Desktop Kubernetes

k3d

Lightweight utility to run Rancher Lab’s k3s in Docker containers.

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LicenseMIT
GitHub stars5.6k
Last commit1 weeks ago
Tags6 topics
K3sKubernetesLocal DevelopmentDevopsContainersDocker
Overview

Why consider k3d?

k3d is a lightweight wrapper that runs k3s Kubernetes clusters inside Docker. It makes it fast and effortless to spin up single and multi-node Kubernetes clusters for local development and CI pipelines.

Guided learning

Learn k3d by building

Practical setup notes, real use cases, and copy-ready examples in one focused guide.

1 min read 2 sections
In this guide2 sections

Overview of k3d

k3d packages lightweight k3s Kubernetes clusters into Docker containers. Because nodes run as Docker containers, creating, scaling, and deleting multi-node clusters takes only a few seconds without heavy virtual machine overhead.

Creating a Multi-Node Cluster

Install k3d via the install script:

bash
1wget -q -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/k3d-io/k3d/main/install.sh | bash

Create a 3-node cluster with port mapping to localhost:

bash
1k3d cluster create mycluster --servers 1 --agents 2 -p "8080:80@loadbalancer"

Verify your cluster nodes:

bash
1kubectl get nodes

To stop and delete the cluster:

bash
1k3d cluster delete mycluster

k3d is released under the permissive MIT License.

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k3d FAQs

k3d is listed as a Developer Tools tool on TiloBox. Review the overview, features, and official documentation on this page to decide whether it solves your specific workflow.

Start with the project's GitHub repository and official website for supported installation and deployment instructions. Test the setup with representative data or a small project before rolling it out more widely.

k3d is listed under the MIT license. Read the complete license text and the project's notices before using, modifying, or distributing the software.

Production readiness depends on your requirements. Review maintenance activity, security practices, documentation, backup and upgrade procedures, and compatibility with your stack; then validate it in a non-production environment.

k3d is listed as an alternative to Minikube. Compare the core workflow, deployment model, integrations, and licensing against your must-have requirements before switching.