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k0s - The Zero Friction Kubernetes

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Quick Overview

k0s is a lightweight, all-in-one Kubernetes distribution that aims to provide a simple, secure, and streamlined way to deploy and manage Kubernetes clusters. It is designed to be easy to install and maintain, with minimal dependencies and a small footprint.

Pros

  • Easy installation and setup process
  • Lightweight and resource-efficient
  • Supports various deployment scenarios (single-node, multi-node, air-gapped environments)
  • Regular updates and active community support

Cons

  • Limited advanced customization options compared to some other Kubernetes distributions
  • Relatively new project, which may lead to potential stability concerns
  • Less extensive documentation compared to more established Kubernetes distributions
  • May not be suitable for large-scale enterprise deployments with complex requirements

Getting Started

To get started with k0s, follow these steps:

  1. Download the k0s binary:
curl -sSLf https://get.k0s.sh | sh
  1. Install k0s as a service:
sudo k0s install controller --single
  1. Start the k0s service:
sudo k0s start
  1. Verify the installation:
sudo k0s status
  1. Access the cluster using kubectl:
sudo k0s kubectl get nodes

For more detailed instructions and advanced configurations, refer to the official k0s documentation.

Competitor Comparisons

kubernetes logo

kubernetes

109,710

Production-Grade Container Scheduling and Management

Pros of kubernetes

  • Extensive ecosystem with a wide range of tools and integrations
  • Highly customizable and flexible for complex deployments
  • Large community support and extensive documentation

Cons of kubernetes

  • Steeper learning curve and more complex setup
  • Higher resource requirements for running clusters
  • More challenging to manage and maintain for smaller teams

Code comparison

kubernetes:

apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  name: nginx-deployment
spec:
  replicas: 3
  selector:
    matchLabels:
      app: nginx

k0s:

apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  name: nginx-deployment
spec:
  replicas: 3
  selector:
    matchLabels:
      app: nginx

The code comparison shows that both kubernetes and k0s use similar YAML configurations for deployments. This is because k0s is built on top of kubernetes and maintains compatibility with standard kubernetes manifests.

k0s aims to simplify the kubernetes experience by providing a single binary distribution that includes all necessary components. It offers easier installation and management, especially for smaller deployments or edge computing scenarios. However, it may have limitations in terms of advanced features and customization options compared to the full kubernetes distribution.

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Pros of k3s

  • Lightweight and resource-efficient, ideal for edge computing and IoT devices
  • Backed by Rancher Labs, providing enterprise support and a larger community
  • Includes built-in storage and load balancing solutions

Cons of k3s

  • Less flexible in terms of customization compared to k0s
  • Requires more manual configuration for advanced networking scenarios
  • Limited multi-cluster management capabilities out of the box

Code Comparison

k3s configuration example:

apiVersion: helm.cattle.io/v1
kind: HelmChart
metadata:
  name: traefik
  namespace: kube-system
spec:
  chart: traefik
  repo: https://helm.traefik.io/traefik

k0s configuration example:

apiVersion: k0s.k0sproject.io/v1beta1
kind: ClusterConfig
metadata:
  name: k0s-cluster
spec:
  api:
    externalAddress: 1.2.3.4
  storage:
    type: etcd

Both k3s and k0s aim to provide lightweight Kubernetes distributions, but they differ in their approach and target use cases. k3s focuses on simplicity and ease of use for edge computing, while k0s offers more flexibility and customization options. The choice between the two depends on specific project requirements and deployment scenarios.

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Pros of Talos

  • Immutable and minimal Linux distribution, enhancing security and reducing attack surface
  • Built-in support for high availability and self-healing capabilities
  • Advanced networking features, including support for multiple CNIs

Cons of Talos

  • Steeper learning curve due to its unique architecture and design principles
  • Limited flexibility for customization compared to more traditional distributions
  • Requires specialized tools and processes for management and troubleshooting

Code Comparison

k0s:

apiVersion: k0s.k0sproject.io/v1beta1
kind: Cluster
metadata:
  name: k0s-cluster
spec:
  hosts:
    - ssh:
        address: 10.0.0.1
        user: ubuntu
        port: 22

Talos:

version: v1alpha1
machine:
  type: controlplane
  certSANs:
    - 10.0.0.1
  kubelet:
    extraArgs:
      node-labels: "node.kubernetes.io/control-plane=true"
cluster:
  controlPlane:
    endpoint: https://10.0.0.1:6443

Both k0s and Talos aim to simplify Kubernetes deployment and management, but they take different approaches. k0s focuses on being a single-binary distribution with minimal dependencies, while Talos provides a purpose-built, security-focused operating system for running Kubernetes. The choice between them depends on specific use cases, infrastructure requirements, and team expertise.

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kubeedge

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Pros of KubeEdge

  • Designed specifically for edge computing scenarios, offering better support for IoT devices and edge nodes
  • Provides lightweight edge components, reducing resource consumption on edge devices
  • Supports autonomous edge operations, allowing edge nodes to function even when disconnected from the cloud

Cons of KubeEdge

  • More complex architecture compared to k0s, potentially requiring a steeper learning curve
  • Less focus on simplicity and ease of deployment, which k0s prioritizes
  • May have more overhead for non-edge use cases

Code Comparison

KubeEdge configuration example:

apiVersion: cloudcore.config.kubeedge.io/v1alpha1
kind: CloudCore
kubeAPIConfig:
  kubeConfig: "/root/.kube/config"
  master: ""

k0s configuration example:

apiVersion: k0s.k0sproject.io/v1beta1
kind: Cluster
metadata:
  name: k0s-cluster
spec:
  api:
    externalAddress: 10.0.0.1

Both projects aim to extend Kubernetes capabilities, but with different focuses. KubeEdge is tailored for edge computing scenarios, offering features specific to managing edge devices and networks. k0s, on the other hand, emphasizes simplicity and ease of use, providing a more streamlined Kubernetes distribution suitable for various environments. The choice between the two depends on the specific use case and deployment requirements.

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The self-managing, auto-upgrading, Kubernetes distribution for everyone

Pros of OKD

  • Full-featured enterprise-grade Kubernetes distribution based on OpenShift
  • Extensive ecosystem and community support
  • Integrated developer tools and CI/CD pipelines

Cons of OKD

  • Higher resource requirements and complexity
  • Steeper learning curve for newcomers
  • Less suitable for edge or IoT deployments

Code Comparison

OKD (OpenShift):

apiVersion: apps.openshift.io/v1
kind: DeploymentConfig
metadata:
  name: example-app
spec:
  replicas: 3
  template:
    spec:
      containers:
      - name: example-container
        image: example-image:latest

k0s:

apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  name: example-app
spec:
  replicas: 3
  template:
    spec:
      containers:
      - name: example-container
        image: example-image:latest

The code comparison shows that OKD uses OpenShift-specific resources like DeploymentConfig, while k0s uses standard Kubernetes resources. This highlights OKD's extended functionality and tighter integration with OpenShift features, whereas k0s maintains a more vanilla Kubernetes approach.

OKD offers a more comprehensive platform with additional features and tooling, making it suitable for large-scale enterprise deployments. k0s, on the other hand, focuses on simplicity and lightweight deployments, making it more appropriate for edge computing or smaller-scale Kubernetes clusters.

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README

k0s - The Zero Friction Kubernetes by Team Lens

Go build k0s network conformance Go Reference GitHub Repo stars Releases

GitHub release (latest by date) GitHub release (latest SemVer including pre-releases) GitHub commits since latest release (by date)

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What happened to Github stargazers?

In September 2022 we made a human error while creating some build automation scripts&tools for the repo. Our automation accidentally changed the repo to a private one for few minutes. That itself is not a big deal and everything was restored quickly. But the nasty side effect is that it also removed all the stargazers at that point. :(

Before that mishap we had 4776 stargazers, making k0s one of the most popular Kubernetes distro out there.

So if you are reading this, and have not yet starred this repo we would highly appreciate the :star: to get our numbers closer to what they used to be.

The Repository

This repository ("k0s") is where Team Lens develops the k0s product together with the community. It is backed by a number of Kubernetes and cloud native ecosystem pioneers. This source code is available to everyone under the Apache License 2.0.

Overview

k0s is an all-inclusive Kubernetes distribution, which is configured with all of the features needed to build a Kubernetes cluster and packaged as a single binary for ease of use.

k0s fits well in any cloud environment, but can also be used in IoT gateways, Edge and Bare metal deployments due to its simple design, flexible deployment options and modest system requirements.

Key Features

Getting Started

If you'd like to try k0s, please jump in to our:

  • Quick Start Guide - Create a full Kubernetes cluster with a single node that includes both the controller and the worker.
  • Install using k0sctl - Deploy and upgrade multi-node clusters with one command.
  • NanoDemo - Watch a .gif recording on how to create a k0s instance.
  • Run k0s in Docker - Run k0s controllers and workers in containers.
  • For docs, tutorials, and other k0s resources, see docs main page.

Join the Community

  • Lens Forums - Request for support and help from the Lens and k0s community.
  • GitHub Issues - Submit your issues and feature requests via GitHub.

We welcome your help in building k0s! If you are interested, we invite you to check out the Contributing Guide and the Code of Conduct.

Community hours

We will be holding regular community hours. Everyone in the community is welcome to drop by and ask questions, talk about projects, and chat.

We currently have a monthly office hours call on the last Tuesday of the month.

To see the call details in your local timezone, check out https://dateful.com/eventlink/2735919704.

Motivation

We have seen a gap between the host OS and Kubernetes that runs on top of it: How to ensure they work together as they are upgraded independent from each other? Who is responsible for vulnerabilities or performance issues originating from the host OS that affect the K8S on top?

→ k0s is fully self contained. It’s distributed as a single binary with no host OS deps besides the kernel. Any vulnerability or perf issues may be fixed in k0s Kubernetes.

We have seen K8S with partial FIPS security compliance: How to ensure security compliance for critical applications if only part of the system is FIPS compliant?

→ k0s core + all included host OS dependencies + components on top may be compiled and packaged as a 100% FIPS compliant distribution using a proper toolchain.

We have seen Kubernetes with cumbersome lifecycle management, high minimum system requirements, weird host OS and infra restrictions, and/or need to use different distros to meet different use cases.

→ k0s is designed to be lightweight at its core. It comes with a tool to automate cluster lifecycle management. It works on any host OS and infrastructure, and may be extended to work with any use cases such as edge, IoT, telco, public clouds, private data centers, and hybrid & hyper converged cloud applications without sacrificing the pure Kubernetes compliance or amazing developer experience.

Status

k0s is ready for production (starting from v1.21.0+k0s.0). Since the initial release of k0s back in November 2020, we have made numerous releases, improved stability, added new features, and most importantly, listened to our users and community in an effort to create the most modern Kubernetes product out there. The active development continues to make k0s even better.

Scope

While some Kubernetes distros package everything and the kitchen sink, k0s tries to minimize the amount of "add-ons" to bundle in. Instead, we aim to provide a robust and versatile "base" for running Kubernetes in various setups. Of course we will provide some ways to easily control and setup various "add-ons", but we will not bundle many of those into k0s itself. There are a couple of reasons why we think this is the correct way:

  • Many of the addons such as ingresses, service meshes, storage etc. are VERY opinionated. We try to build this base with fewer opinions. :D
  • Keeping up with the upstream releases with many external addons is very maintenance heavy. Shipping with old versions does not make much sense either.

With strong enough arguments we might take in new addons, but in general those should be something that are essential for the "core" of k0s.

Build

The requirements for building k0s from source are as follows:

  • GNU Make (v3.81 or newer)
  • coreutils
  • findutils
  • Docker

All of the compilation steps are performed inside Docker containers, no installation of Go is required.

The k0s binary can be built in two different ways:

The "k0s" way, self-contained, all binaries compiled from source, statically linked and embedded:

make

The "package maintainer" way, without any embedded binaries (requires that the required binaries are provided separately at runtime):

make EMBEDDED_BINS_BUILDMODE=none

The embedded binaries can be built on their own:

make -C embedded-bins

Builds can be done in parallel:

make -j$(nproc)

Smoke test

Additionally to the requirements for building k0s, the smoke tests do require a local Go installation. you can run ./vars.sh go_version in a terminal to find out the version that's being used to build k0s. It will print the corresponding Go version to stdout.

To run a basic smoke test after build:

make check-basic