Working with multiple clusters is always a challenge. It’s too easy to run a command on the wrong cluster. Furthermore, if you switch clusters multiple times a day, it should be fast and convenient.
We will look at 3 tools that will make your life easier. We’ll evaluate them in the following categories.
Speed: How fast can you switch your Kubernetes context if you have many clusters to choose from? Do you remember the names of all the contexts you use?
Flexibility: Does the tool have advanced features like support for multiple config files?
Safety: Can you have multiple terminals open, each running its own cluster? Will switching the context in one terminal effect other terminals and increase the chance of errors?
1. Kubectx
Kubectx is the most popular tool for switching Kubernetes contexts, but it has the fewest features! It displays all the contexts in your Kubeconfig as a selectable list and lets you pick one. That’s it!
2. Kubie
Kubie is an alternative to kubectx. It’s fast, flexible, and leaves your Kubeconfig untouched.
3. Kubeswitch
Kubeswitch has the best features of both Kubectx and Kubie. It is the clear winner and the tool that we’ll be using ourselves in the future.