Kubectx Guide: Easy Kubernetes Context Switching

Amaresh Pelleti

Hey folks! Today, I’m excited to share a tool that makes working with Kubernetes much easier. If you’re tired of typing long commands to switch between clusters, then this guide is for you!

What is Kubectx?

First of all, kubectx is a simple yet powerful tool that helps you switch between Kubernetes clusters (contexts) quickly. Moreover, it comes with kubens, which helps you switch between namespaces just as easily.

Why You Need Kubectx

Let me share a common problem. When working with multiple Kubernetes clusters, you normally have to type:

kubectl config use-context kubernetes-dev-cluster
# Then later...
kubectl config use-context kubernetes-prod-cluster

However, with kubectx, it becomes super simple:

kubectx dev
# or
kubectx prod

As you can see, this saves a lot of time and typing!

How to Install Kubectx

On Mac

First, make sure you have Homebrew. Then, simply run:

brew install kubectx

On Linux

For Ubuntu/Debian users:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install kubectx

Alternatively, you can install using Git:

git clone https://github.com/ahmetb/kubectx.git ~/.kubectx
mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
ln -s ~/.kubectx/kubectx ~/.local/bin/kubectx
ln -s ~/.kubectx/kubens ~/.local/bin/kubens

On Windows

Using Chocolatey package manager:

choco install kubectx

Daily Usage Examples

1. See All Your Contexts

First, check what clusters you have:

kubectx

2. Switch to a Different Cluster

Next, switch to any cluster easily:

kubectx my-cluster

3. Go Back to Previous Cluster

Similarly to how cd - works in Linux:

kubectx -

4. Create Short Names

Furthermore, you can make long names shorter:

kubectx dev=gke_project_zone_cluster-dev

The Namespace Helper: Kubens

In addition to context switching, you also get kubens for namespace management:

# First, list namespaces
kubens

# Then, switch to a namespace
kubens monitoring

# Finally, go back if needed
kubens -

Making It Even Better

Power Tips

  1. Set up shell completion in .bashrc or .zshrc
  2. Use short commands: kx=kubectx and kn=kubens
  3. Add fzf for better searching – check out the complete guide here

Using FZF Integration

When you add fzf, you get these great features:

  1. Quick searching
  2. Interactive menus
  3. Live previews
  4. Fast filtering

Common Problems and Solutions

If you run into issues, here are some fixes:

  1. Can’t find command? First, check your PATH
  2. Permission problems? Then, check your kubeconfig file
  3. Missing contexts? Therefore, verify your config file

Want to Learn More?

You can find all the details in the official kubectx repository. Additionally, you can:

  • Read the docs
  • Report bugs
  • Request features
  • Help improve the tool

Wrapping Up

To sum up, kubectx makes Kubernetes cluster management much easier. Once you start using it, you’ll wonder how you ever worked without it. Therefore, I highly recommend giving it a try!

Got questions? Drop them in the comments below! Happy Kubernetes managing! 🚀

References:

  1. Official kubectx GitHub Repository
  2. FZF – The Ultimate Command Line Fuzzy Finder Guide