As applications become more complex, managing them manually across multiple servers or environments becomes increasingly challenging. Kubernetes simplifies this process by making it easy to define and manage app deployments. However, on its own, Kubernetes only adds another layer of complexity and relies on tools like mirrord, Helm, and Kustomize to enhance development workflow, simplify configuration management, and extend its capabilities.
This article explores the top 5 Kubernetes development tools every developer should consider to boost productivity and streamline operations, as well as their key features and benefits. At the end of this article, you will learn the importance of the various Kubernetes development tools and why you should use them as a developer.
What are the Top 5 Kubernetes Development Tools?
Choosing the right tools can significantly improve your productivity and efficiency when working with Kubernetes. In this section, you will learn about the top 5 Kubernetes development tools you should consider integrating into your workflow. These tools offer powerful features and significant benefits to help you efficiently manage your Kubernetes environments.
They are as follows;
mirrord
mirrord is an open-source tool that allows you to run local processes in the context of their cloud environment.
It facilitates the development process and simplifies debugging and testing by allowing you to mirror incoming traffic from your cloud environment directly to your local development environment, steal incoming traffic, read and write files from the remote pod, etc.
This tool eliminates the need to go through the long Cl process of writing your code, testing locally, deploying to staging, and testing on the staging environment before finally deploying to your production environment.
Key features of mirrord
mirrord provides a means to run applications in an environment that resembles production without the associated cost and risk. Here are some of the key features:
Mirroring: Mirroring is a default feature of mirrord. It involves mirroring Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) traffic from your remote pod. This feature allows you to run your local process in the context of a cloud environment without disrupting incoming traffic for your remote pod.
Traffic stealing: Traffic Stealing is a feature that enables you to redirect a portion or all the live traffic from your remote pod to your local development environment. This feature allows you to see how real user interactions would affect your local application, providing a way to test changes and debug issues using real-world traffic.
Outgoing filter: An outgoing filter is a feature that lets your local app send outgoing network requests to cluster resources. If, for example, there’s a shared database that you do not wish to access, this feature will allow you to specify a list of the hostnames that you want to access locally. That way, you can run a local instance of your database and have your local process read and write to it while running all other operations against the cluster.
Environment variables: This feature significantly enhances the local development experience by loading all environment variables present in the remote pod into the local process. For example, if you want your local process to access a remote database, your local process can use the connection string configured in the remote pod’s environment.
Benefits of using mirrord
Accelerating the development process: mirrord accelerates the development process by allowing you to run the local process you’re working on in sync with your cloud environment. It reduces the setup and configuration time typically needed to replicate cloud conditions locally. By mirroring your cloud environment, you can ensure that your code interacts with actual services, data, and network conditions without needing to deploy every change to the cloud, significantly speeding up the development cycle of your application.
User-friendly: mirrord's setup and operation are straightforward and easy, reducing the entry barrier and allowing you to use it quickly without any extensive training or configuration.
Cost efficiency: Using mirrord saves cost by allowing all developers to use one environment concurrently rather than running a personal environment per developer.
Use cases for mirrord
Testing new features: Since mirrord mirrors incoming traffic from the remote pod, you can test new features as they run live. For example, if you are working on a new feature for an e-commerce app, you can test it against the production database and services without the risk of affecting real customers or data.
Reducing development overhead: mirrord saves you valuable time on environment setup. For example, if you want to set up a local environment that accurately mimics the cloud environment, you do not need to replicate the entire cloud environment locally. Instead, you can run parts of the application locally and mirror the rest from the cloud. This process will simplify your setup process and reduce the need for an extensive local configuration.
Troubleshooting and debugging: mirrord provides a way to troubleshoot and debug by bridging the gap between your development environments. For example, suppose your web application is experiencing performance issues after deploying to production. In that case, you can mirror the production environment on your local machine and monitor the application’s performance in real-time. Once you identify the issue, you can test potential solutions locally and ensure they work before deploying to production.
How to get started with mirrord
To get started with using mirrord, please ensure you have the following requirements:
MacOS (Intel, Silicon) and Linux (x86_64, arm64). Windows users can use mirrord using Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) or VSCode.
Kubectl
After checking that you meet the above requirements, you can use mirrord in any of the following ways.
- CLI tool
Run the command below to install the CLI;
brew install metalbear-co/mirrord/mirrord
Then run the following command to use mirrord to plug your local process into a pod/deployment in the cluster configured with kubectl;
mirrord exec --target <target-path> <command used to run the local process>
For example;
mirrord exec --target pod/app-pod-01 python main.py
- VS Code
To use mirrord in VS Code, search for 'mirrord' in your VS Code extension and click install. You can also download it from the marketplace.
After installation, click 'Enable.' This will make VSCode use mirrord the next time you run your application.
Kubernetes Lens
Kubernetes Lens, commonly known as Lens, is an integrated development environment (IDE) designed to visualize Kubernetes clusters. You can easily manage and visualize Kubernetes clusters through its graphical user interface (GUI)), making it more accessible.
Key features of Kubernetes lens
Some of the key features include.
Visualization: Lens offers real-time metrics for nodes and pods and visualizes resource relationships and dependencies through graphical diagrams.
Cluster management: Lens supports managing multiple clusters, allowing you to switch between different Kubernetes contexts and namespaces seamlessly. It also lets you view and edit cluster configurations.
Workload management: You can deploy, update, and scale applications directly from the interface, track pod statuses, and access logs for troubleshooting.
Benefits of using Kubernetes Lens
Enhanced visibility: Lens gives comprehensive insights into cluster performance by offering real-time metrics.
Simplified troubleshooting: Access to logs, events, and terminal commands in one place helps to resolve issues faster.
Improved productivity: The intuitive GUI helps to streamline management processes and save you time.
Use cases for Kubernetes Lens
Cluster management and visualization: Lens provides a graphical interface that makes managing and visualizing your clusters easier. Instead of using Kubectl commands in your terminal, you get a dashboard to see everything at a glance.
Resource management and editing: Lens provides a way to manage and edit Kubernetes resources efficiently. For example, if you need to create a new deployment, you can do it directly from the lens interface without manually writing YAML files from scratch.
How to get started with Kubernetes Lens
Follow the simple steps below to install the Kubernetes lens
Visit the official Kubernetes lens website.
Click ‘Download Lens’ and download the appropriate installer for your operating system (Linux, macOS, or Windows).
Follow the installation instructions specific to your operating system.
After installation, launch the lens application, and you can start exploring its interface.
Kustomize
Kustomize is an open-source tool designed to manage Kubernetes configuration. It operates through a concept called 'overlay' files, which makes it easy to manage and deploy Kubernetes applications across different environments by layering changes on top of a base configuration.
Key features of Kustomize
Overlay system: The concept of overlays allows you to customize configurations for different environments without duplicating YAML files and to define variations of your base configuration.
Declarative resource management: Kustomize uses a declarative approach to configuration management. This means that when you define the desired state of your resources, Kustomize ensures that the actual state matches the desired state.
No templating: Unlike Helm, Kustomize doesn't use templating languages. Instead, it builds on Kubernetes YAML, which makes it easier to understand and maintain.
Benefits of using Kustomize
Reduces duplication: The overlay system minimizes the need to duplicate YAML files for different environments, saving time and reducing errors and inconsistencies across your environments.
Transparency: Configurations are transparent and predictable because they use a declarative approach. This approach helps you understand the application's desired state and debug issues if/when they arise.
Simplifies configuration management: Since Kustomize does not use a templating language, it is easier for you and your team to understand and modify configurations without learning a new templating language.
Use cases for Kustomize
Customization without templates: Kustomize allows you to manage your Kubernetes configurations without dealing with templating languages. Instead of writing templates, you can define your base resources in plain YAML files and then use overlays to apply customizations.
Environment-specific configurations: Using overlays, Kustomize makes maintaining consistent configurations across environments simple. You can start with a base configuration that defines your application's shared resources. Then, create overlays for each environment that apply specific changes on top of the base.
How to get started with Kustomize
You can install Kustomize by visiting the official website.
Click ‘Install kustomize’ and follow the instructions to install Kustomize for your operating system, or click ‘Use with kubectl’ to install it via ```kubectl```
Helm
Helm is a package manager for Kubernetes. It simplifies the management of Kubernetes applications by allowing you to define, install, and upgrade even the most complex ones. Helm uses a format called 'charts,' which are collections of files that describe a related set of Kubernetes resources.
Key features of Helm
Charts: Helm charts are pre-configured Kubernetes resources that simplify the deployment of applications and services. Each chart consists of YAML files and templates defining a Kubernetes application, making deploying complex apps with a single command easy.
Templating engine: The Helm chart uses a templating engine to generate Kubernetes manifests dynamically. This feature allows you to manage complex configurations and generate customized resource files dynamically.
Dependency management: Helm allows charts to declare dependencies on other charts. This means complex applications can be composed of simpler, reusable components, making them easier to manage and maintain.
Benefits of using Helm
Scalability: You can easily update Helm charts to scale applications by modifying configuration values or upgrading to a new chart version. This benefit makes helm an essential tool for dynamic cloud environments.
Simplified management: Helm abstracts the complexity of Kubernetes resources, making it easier to manage large and complex applications without needing deep Kubernetes expertise.
Version control and auditing: Helm records every change to your application, providing an audit trail of who did what and when. Therefore, it is essential for troubleshooting and compliance.
Use cases for Helm
Dependency management: Helm can manage dependencies in Kubernetes development. For example, if your web application depends on a database like MySQL or a caching system like Redis. You can define these dependencies within your Helm chart by specifying the name, version, and repository. You can also upgrade these dependencies using Helm, which will manage them and keep your application consistent.
Version management: Helm maintains a history of all your releases, so for example, if something goes wrong with your new version, you can easily roll back to the previous version using the ‘helm rollback’ command.
How to get started with Helm
Follow the simple steps below to install and get started with using Helm.
Visit the official Helm website.
You can install it with a package manager by clicking any available packages or clicking ‘download a binary’ and following the instructions to install it for your operating system (Linux, macOS, or Windows).
After installation, unpack the helm binary and add it to your PATH, and you can start exploring.
Minikube
This tool runs a single-node Kubernetes cluster locally on your computer. It is designed to allow you to experiment with Kubernetes without needing access to a full-scale cluster. Minikube supports various hypervisors, such as VirtualBox, VMware, and Docker, to create and manage the virtual machines required for running Kubernetes.
Key features of Minikube
Single-node kubernetes cluster: Using Minikube, you can set up a single-node Kubernetes cluster on your computer, giving you a lightweight and straightforward way to work with Kubernetes.
Support for multiple hypervisors: Minikube supports various hypervisors, such as VirtualBox, VMware Fusion, Hyper-V, KVM, and Docker. This feature gives you flexibility based on your preferences.
Add-ons: Minikube has several built-in add-ons, such as the Kubernetes Dashboard, Ingress controllers, and metrics server, allowing you to extend the functionality of your local cluster.
Benefits of using Minikube
Cost-effective: Since Minikube runs on your local machine, there will be no cloud infrastructural cost.
Resource management: Running a local Kubernetes cluster means you have better control over resource allocation and management.
Community and support: Minikube is supported by a large community and maintained as part of the Kubernetes project. Therefore, it receives regular updates, improvements, and community-driven support.
Use cases for Minikube
Local development: Minikube allows you to run a Kubernetes cluster on your machine. You can develop and test your applications without worrying about cloud costs and internet connectivity.
Application testing: Minikube provides a controlled and reproducible environment. If, for instance, you need to test a feature or fix a bug, you can create a new cluster and start from a clean slate each time.
How to get started with Minikube
To get started with minikube, please ensure you have the following prerequisites.
A Container or hypervisor such as Docker, VirtualBox, HyperKit, KVM, or Hyper-V.
Kubectl
After checking that you meet the above requirements, visit the official Minikube website and follow the installation instructions for your operating system (Linux, macOS, or Windows).
Conclusion
Kubernetes tools are essential because they help reduce the potential errors associated with manual configuration and deployment processes. This article provides detailed information on the top 5 Kubernetes tools for developers. Using them lets you focus more on writing codes than managing infrastructure.