kr8s
A Kubernetes API library
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. kr8s is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, low install friction, and a permissive license. It solves a real problem—making Kubernetes automation accessible to Python developers without requiring deep API knowledge. The kubectl-inspired design and async support make it suitable for both simple scripts and production automation.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python >=3.9 and a running Kubernetes cluster or valid kubeconfig for authentication.
- Low friction: pure Python wheel with 11 runtime dependencies (httpx, pyyaml, cryptography, and others) all common and well-maintained.
- Active maintenance with a recent commit on 2026-08-12 and 963 repository stars.
License · maintenance · safety
BSD-3-Clause (permissive) — BSD-3-Clause is permissive; you can use this in commercial or proprietary projects with minimal restrictions, provided you include the license text.
last release 2026-01-16 (210 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-12 · 963 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 912,699 downloads/mo, #4,741 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install kr8s
import kr8s
for node in kr8s.get("nodes"):
print(node.name)- Whether sensible defaults for authentication work seamlessly in all common deployment environments (local, cloud, CI/CD).
- Performance characteristics when querying large clusters or handling high-frequency operations.
- Scope of kubectl-inspired utilities beyond the documented examples (pod operations, scaling, labeling).
What it is and what it does
kr8s is a Python client for Kubernetes designed to feel familiar to users of kubectl. Instead of wrestling with Swagger-generated code or low-level API calls, you work with human-readable objects and methods that mirror kubectl's command structure. It handles authentication with sensible defaults, reducing boilerplate setup.
The library provides both synchronous and asynchronous APIs (compatible with asyncio and trio), client-side caching to avoid redundant API calls, and batteries-included utilities for common tasks like pod execution, port forwarding, node cordoning, and deployment scaling. You can list resources with label selectors, generate objects from templates, and manipulate cluster state in a Pythonic way.
Use it for
- Automate cluster operations (scaling deployments, cordoning nodes, adding labels) in Python scripts or applications.
- Build monitoring or admin dashboards that query Kubernetes resources without learning the raw API.
- Execute commands in pods or set up port forwards programmatically for debugging or data transfer.
- Write integration tests that create, inspect, and clean up Kubernetes resources in a familiar syntax.
- Migrate kubectl workflows into Python-based CI/CD pipelines or infrastructure-as-code tools.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
kr8s is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, low install friction, and a permissive license. It solves a real problem—making Kubernetes automation accessible to Python developers without requiring deep API knowledge. The kubectl-inspired design and async support make it suitable for both simple scripts and production automation.
Install
kr8s on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction: pure Python wheel with 11 runtime dependencies (httpx, pyyaml, cryptography, and others) all common and well-maintained. Active maintenance with a recent commit on 2026-08-12 and 963 repository stars.
Requires Python >=3.9 and a running Kubernetes cluster or valid kubeconfig for authentication.
License in practice
BSD-3-Clause is permissive; you can use this in commercial or proprietary projects with minimal restrictions, provided you include the license text.
Quickstart
pip install kr8s
import kr8s
for node in kr8s.get("nodes"):
print(node.name)Verify before relying
- Whether sensible defaults for authentication work seamlessly in all common deployment environments (local, cloud, CI/CD).
- Performance characteristics when querying large clusters or handling high-frequency operations.
- Scope of kubectl-inspired utilities beyond the documented examples (pod operations, scaling, labeling).
Package facts
| License | BSD-3-Clause permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.9 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 11 packagesanyiocachetoolscryptographyexceptiongrouphttpx-wshttpxpackagingpython-boxpython-jsonpathpyyamltyping-extensions |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 210 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 912,699 / month, #4,741 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Programming Language :: Python :: 3 |
Evidence: kr8s-0.20.15-py3-none-any.whl
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See also k8s-agent-sandbox · kopf · openshift · portforward · pykube-ng · kubernetes-asyncio · duplocloud-client · kubernetes-typed · kubernetes · openshift-client