Kubetest2

Spec sheet

What it does

Kubetest2 is a framework for deploying Kubernetes clusters and running end-to-end tests against them.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com

Purpose

Kubetest2 is a framework for deploying Kubernetes clusters and running end-to-end tests against them.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com

License

The GitHub repository identifies Apache-2.0 as its license.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com

Maker

The GitHub organization describes Kubernetes SIGs as an organization for Kubernetes SIG-related work.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com

Architecture

The system consists of a discovery and orchestration binary, deployer binaries that manage cluster lifecycles, and tester binaries that execute tests.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com

Artifact handling

The ARTIFACTS environment variable identifies where logs and other test outputs should be stored.Read 14 Oct 2026 · deepwiki.com

Cloud and local workflows

The e2e-framework documentation demonstrates both noop execution against an existing cluster and KinD cluster creation and teardown.Read 14 Oct 2026 · pkg.go.dev

Command syntax

The documented command form places deployer flags before a double dash and tester arguments after it.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com

Community ownership

The CNCF conformance working group says SIG Testing handles the mechanics of Kubernetes conformance tests while SIG Architecture owns the conformance definition.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com

Community support

The README directs users to Kubernetes community Slack and a mailing list to contact maintainers.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com

Compatibility policy

Maintainers aim to keep the tool and reference implementations working with the in-development Kubernetes version and currently supported releases.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com

Custom testers

Custom testers must follow the naming convention, accept configuration arguments, use supplied environment variables, and return meaningful exit codes.Read 14 Oct 2026 · deepwiki.com

Deployers

Reference deployers include GCE, GKE, kind, and noop, which can use an existing cluster.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com

Design goal

Its separation of deployers and testers is intended to reduce coupling, keep the core small, and enable out-of-tree implementations.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com

Documentation depth

pkg.go.dev exposes documented packages for application logic, deployers, testers, artifacts, build helpers, metadata, process execution, and shared types.Read 14 Oct 2026 · pkg.go.dev

E2E framework controls

That tester supports package selection, feature and assessment filters, dry runs, parallel execution, fail-fast behavior, kubeconfig selection, and Go test flags.Read 14 Oct 2026 · pkg.go.dev

E2E framework integration

The Kubernetes e2e-framework publishes a kubetest2 tester that can be installed with Go and placed on PATH.Read 14 Oct 2026 · pkg.go.dev

Extensibility

Its design aims to minimize coupling between deployers and testers and encourage out-of-tree implementations.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com

External implementations

The README lists external deployers for AKS, kOps, Terraform, and EC2, plus a kOps tester.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com

External integrations

The project lists external implementations for AKS, kOps, Terraform, EC2, and a kOps tester.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com

Go API

The public Go types package defines deployer interfaces for build, up, down, status, log dumping, kubeconfig, initialization, finalization, post-test handling, provider identification, and version reporting.Read 14 Oct 2026 · pkg.go.dev

Independent architecture description

A Kubernetes Day India presentation describes Kubetest2 as orchestrating cluster creation, Kubernetes builds, test execution, log collection, and cluster deletion.Read 14 Oct 2026 · static.sched.com

Independent kOps guidance

The kOps documentation recommends Kubetest2 as the preferred framework for Kubernetes end-to-end testing and says it downloads artifacts into ./_artifacts.Read 14 Oct 2026 · kops.sigs.k8s.io

Independent training coverage

Class Central lists a free, 40-minute Linux Foundation video covering cloud testing, architecture, log collection, disposal, and custom deployer development.Read 14 Oct 2026 · classcentral.com

Install

The README provides Go install commands for Kubetest2, reference deployers, and testers.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com

Installation

The project documents installing the core, reference deployers, and testers with Go's go install command.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com

Known compatibility gap

The Kubernetes CI migration proposal says some tests need client-server version-skew checking that Kubetest2 did not yet support.Read 14 Oct 2026 · kubernetes.dev

Known migration gap

The same proposal says substantial kOps cluster setup functionality still needed to be ported into a Kubetest2 kOps deployer.Read 14 Oct 2026 · kubernetes.dev

Limit: repeated-run metadata error

GitHub issue 176 reports that running conformance tests twice from the same path can fail because tester-version already exists in metadata.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com

Maker profile

LinkedIn presents Kubernetes as a nonprofit, open-source software project hosted by CNCF, founded in 2014, with a listed company size of one employee.Read 14 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com

Options API

The Go Options interface exposes lifecycle switches, run identifiers, artifact behavior, and pre-test or post-test commands.Read 14 Oct 2026 · pkg.go.dev

Project maturity

The CNCF 2021 Kubernetes annual report described Kubetest2 as feature-complete and stable.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cncf.io

Prow integration

A Kubernetes contributor proposal describes Kubetest2 deployers and testers being used for KIND, GCE, node, scale, and Ginkgo CI jobs.Read 14 Oct 2026 · kubernetes.dev

Rating on Class Central

0 out of 5 from 0 reviews (the page shows no submitted rating)Read 14 Oct 2026 · classcentral.com

Reference deployers

Reference deployers include GCE, GKE, KinD, and noop; noop is intended for an already-existing cluster.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com

Reference testers

Reference testers include ClusterLoader2, exec, Ginkgo, and node test runners.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com

Release status

The project README says Kubetest2 is currently unversioned and unreleased.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com

Run metadata

Kubetest2 supplies run-specific directory and identifier variables, including KUBETEST2_RUN_DIR and KUBETEST2_RUN_ID.Read 14 Oct 2026 · deepwiki.com

Security contact

The repository exposes a security policy entry and a SECURITY_CONTACTS file through GitHub.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com

Selective installation

Users can install an individual deployer or tester binary instead of the complete collection.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com

Support status

The project states that it is currently unversioned and unreleased and makes a best-effort attempt to work with in-development and supported Kubernetes releases.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com

Tester communication

Testers receive command-line arguments, environment variables, and exit-code handling from the orchestrator.Read 14 Oct 2026 · deepwiki.com

Tester modularity

DeepWiki reports that testers are standalone binaries discovered by the kubetest2-tester-name naming convention, allowing independent maintenance.Read 14 Oct 2026 · deepwiki.com

Testers

Reference testers include clusterloader2, exec, Ginkgo, and node e2e test runners.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

Every Kubetest2 plan and price →

Where Specifiction places it

• Infrastructure Testing Tools#6 of 288.2