k3d ☆
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Description:
Little helper to run CNCF's k3s in Docker
Type: Formula  |  Latest Version: 5.8.3@0  |  Tracked Since: Dec 25, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  @k3d_io  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Devops
Tags: kubernetes docker k3s devops container local-development
Install: brew install k3d
About:
k3d is a lightweight wrapper that runs k3s (CNCF's certified Kubernetes distribution) in Docker. It creates single or multi-node k3s clusters quickly, simplifying local Kubernetes development and testing. The tool abstracts Docker container management, making cluster provisioning as simple as running a single command.
Key Features:
  • Creates k3s clusters in Docker containers within seconds
  • Supports multi-node clusters, HA setups, and cluster imports
  • Integrates with kubectl and local registries out of the box
  • Provides port forwarding and load balancing for containerized services
Use Cases:
  • Local Kubernetes development and testing environments
  • CI/CD pipeline integration for Kubernetes application testing
  • Evaluating Kubernetes features without cloud provider dependencies
Alternatives:
  • kind – kind runs Kubernetes-in-Docker using upstream k8s images, while k3d uses the lightweight k3s distribution for faster startup and lower resource usage
  • minikube – minikube can run in Docker or VMs with full k8s, but k3d is Docker-only and leverages k3s for significantly faster cluster creation
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Dec 25, 2025 7:57pm 5.8.3 0 VERSION_BUMP f4936a24
Oct 10, 2025 1:03am 0 VERSION_BUMP 382a612d
Sep 12, 2025 3:15pm 0 VERSION_BUMP a138ba76
Nov 26, 2024 6:00pm 0 VERSION_BUMP e9ff1f3f
Nov 26, 2024 5:07pm 0 VERSION_BUMP db5b687c
Sep 12, 2024 3:23pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 32376bf3
Sep 12, 2024 1:35pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 0f8d9860
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