ctlptl vs MicroShift

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.

MicroShift is a small-footprint OpenShift Kubernetes platform designed for edge computing. It aims to conserve CPU, memory, network, and storage resources and tolerate severe networking constraints. It runs as a single systemd service with a minimal OpenShift control plane and worker node. Included infrastructure services are DNS, an ingress router, service CA, OVN-Kubernetes CNI, and LVMS storage; optional components such as OLM, Gateway API, cert-manager, and SR-IOV come as separate RPM packages. The upstream build is for development and testing and runs without Red Hat subscriptions or pull secrets. Its listed operating-system options include CentOS 9 and 10, Fedora, Ubuntu, and macOS, with macOS using Podman machine in rootful mode. Minimum requirements include x86_64 or aarch64, Red Hat Enterprise Linux with Extended Update Support, 2 CPU cores, 2GB RAM, and 2GB free root storage. Production deployment can use bare metal or hypervisors supported and certified for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9. The upstream build is free; pricing for other use is on request.