Running Kubernetes locally gives you a safe environment to learn and experiment. You can set up and tear down clusters without worrying about costs or affecting production systems.
kind (Kubernetes IN Docker) runs Kubernetes clusters using Docker containers as nodes. It is lightweight and designed specifically for testing Kubernetes itself, but works great for learning too.
minikube runs a single-node Kubernetes cluster on your local machine. It supports multiple container runtimes and works on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
🛇 This item links to a third party project or product that is not part of Kubernetes itself.
There are several third-party tools that can also run Kubernetes locally. Kubernetes does not provide support for these tools, but they may work well for your learning needs:
Docker Desktop can run a local Kubernetes cluster
Podman Desktop can run a local Kubernetes cluster
Rancher Desktop provides Kubernetes on your desktop
MicroK8s runs a lightweight Kubernetes cluster
Red Hat CodeReady Containers (CRC) runs a minimal OpenShift cluster locally (OpenShift is Kubernetes-conformant)
Refer to each tool's documentation for setup instructions and support.
🛇 This item links to a third party project or product that is not part of Kubernetes itself.
Online Kubernetes playgrounds let you try Kubernetes without installing anything on your computer. These environments run in your web browser:
Killercoda provides interactive Kubernetes scenarios and a playground environment
Play with Kubernetes gives you a temporary Kubernetes cluster in your browser
These platforms are useful for quick experiments and following tutorials without local setup.
