ctlptl vs Kubeli

ctlptl is a free command-line tool for declaratively configuring local Kubernetes clusters with YAML. Its main commands show running clusters, create them, apply configuration, and delete clusters along with their state. The project lists Docker Desktop, KIND, Minikube, and K3D, with registry support for KIND, Minikube, and K3D. Configuration can allocate CPUs and set up local registries; Minikube supports per-cluster Kubernetes version selection. ctlptl can also create a cluster on a remote Docker host, a capability the project describes for CI environments. Installation options include Homebrew for macOS and Linux, Scoop for Windows, Go install, Docker, and prebuilt release binaries. A Docker image containing recent kind and ctlptl versions is offered for CI. The project supports macOS, Linux, and Windows and is licensed under Apache License 2.0. Its README calls it a work in progress and says it is not meant for remote clusters or remote development sandboxes. Usage statistics are anonymized, with an opt-out command available.

Kubeli is a native desktop application for managing Kubernetes clusters on macOS, Windows, and Linux. It connects to multiple clusters simultaneously and supports one-click context switching. A topology view nests namespaces, deployments, and pods so cluster structure can be inspected graphically. Pod logs stream with search, timestamps, and error highlighting, and can be passed to a locally running AI assistant. Kubeli maps local ports to pods or services and can open forwarded ports in a browser. Its listed AI integrations include Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, and Droid. An included MCP server lets VS Code, Cursor, or Claude Code query cluster state. HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS5 proxy support addresses clusters behind corporate firewalls. The site lists macOS 10.15+, Windows 10/11, and Linux x64 downloads. Kubeli is free and MIT open source, requires no account or telemetry, and says it does not transfer information to other networked systems unless requested. Support is provided through GitHub Discussions, feature requests, and bug reports.