K9s vs k3s: What are the differences?

Key Differences between K9s and k3s

Introduction

K9s and k3s are two popular tools in the Kubernetes ecosystem that offer different functionalities and features. Understanding their key differences can help in deciding which tool is suitable for specific use cases.

1. Architecture: K9s is a command-line interface (CLI) tool written in Golang that provides a terminal-based graphical user interface (GUI) for interacting with Kubernetes clusters. On the other hand, k3s is a lightweight Kubernetes distribution designed for resource-constrained environments such as edge computing, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and development environments.

2. Installation and Deployment: K9s can be easily installed on any system with a binary download and does not require much configuration. In contrast, k3s is a single-binary Kubernetes distribution that can either be installed directly on a host or using containerization technologies like Docker.

3. Resource Requirements: K9s requires a Kubernetes cluster to be up and running, and it interacts with the cluster's API server to fetch and display information. On the other hand, k3s is optimized for resource constraints and can even run on low-powered devices with as little as 512MB of RAM.

4. Feature Set and Extensibility: K9s provides a feature-rich interface with comprehensive functionalities for managing Kubernetes resources, accessing logs, and interacting with pods. It also supports custom plugins for extensibility. Conversely, k3s focuses on minimizing the Kubernetes footprint and only includes essential components, omitting features such as support for Network Policy or Third-Party Addons.

5. Performance and Scalability: K9s is designed for providing a user-friendly interface, which may introduce some overhead and can impact performance when dealing with large clusters or complex operations. Conversely, k3s aims to reduce resource consumption and improve scalability, making it an efficient choice for resource-limited environments.

6. Community and Support: K9s has a large and active community with frequent updates, bug fixes, and user support available through various channels such as GitHub, Slack, and forums. On the other hand, while k3s also has an active community, its focus on simplicity and lightweight deployments may result in relatively fewer third-party integrations and community resources compared to K9s.

In summary, K9s and k3s differ in their architecture, installation, resource requirements, feature set, performance, and community support. The choice between the two depends on the specific use case, system requirements, and individual preferences.