kubectx & kubens¶

# Installation
brew install kubectx                   # macOS (includes kubens)
# Or: sudo apt install kubectx kubens  # Debian/Ubuntu
# Manual: https://github.com/ahmetb/kubectx

# kubectx - Switch clusters
kubectx                                # List all contexts  # (1)!
kubectx dev-cluster                    # Switch to dev-cluster
kubectx -                              # Switch to previous context  # (2)!
kubectx -c                             # Show current context
kubectx new-name=old-name              # Rename context  # (3)!
kubectx -d dev-cluster                 # Delete context

# kubectx with fzf (interactive)
kubectx                                # Opens fuzzy finder  # (4)!
# Use arrow keys, type to filter, Enter to select

# kubens - Switch namespaces
kubens                                 # List all namespaces  # (5)!
kubens production                      # Switch to production namespace
kubens -                               # Switch to previous namespace
kubens -c                              # Show current namespace
kubens default                         # Switch back to default

# kubens with fzf (interactive)
kubens                                 # Opens fuzzy finder
# Type to search, Enter to switch

# Combined workflow examples
kubectx prod-cluster && kubens production  # (6)!
kubectx staging && kubens default

# Shell aliases (add to .bashrc/.zshrc)
alias kctx='kubectx'                   # (7)!
alias kns='kubens'
alias k='kubectl'

# Multi-cluster workflow
# Check production
kubectx production
kubens monitoring
kubectl get pods
kubectl logs -f prometheus-0

# Quick check dev
kubectx dev
kubectl get deployments

# Back to production
kubectx -  # Returns to production

# Dev workflow with namespace switching
kubectx minikube
kubens development
kubectl apply -f app.yaml

kubens testing
kubectl apply -f app.yaml

kubens -  # Back to development

# Scripting with kubectx/kubens
#!/bin/bash
# Save current context
ORIGINAL_CTX=$(kubectx -c)
ORIGINAL_NS=$(kubens -c)

# Do work in different cluster/namespace
kubectx prod-cluster
kubens production
kubectl apply -f deployment.yaml

# Restore original context
kubectx "$ORIGINAL_CTX"
kubens "$ORIGINAL_NS"

# Shell prompt integration
# Add to .bashrc or .zshrc
parse_kube_context() {
  kubectx -c 2>/dev/null || echo "none"
}

parse_kube_namespace() {
  kubens -c 2>/dev/null || echo "none"
}

# Bash PS1
export PS1='[\u@\h \W $(parse_kube_context):$(parse_kube_namespace)]\$ '

# Or use Starship prompt (better):
# https://starship.rs/config/#kubernetes
# Shows context and namespace automatically

# fzf integration for advanced filtering
# Requires fzf: brew install fzf

# kubectx automatically uses fzf if installed
kubectx  # Interactive fuzzy search

# Filter contexts by pattern
kubectx | grep prod  # Show only prod contexts

# Switch to context matching pattern (no fzf)
kubectx $(kubectx | grep -i prod | head -1)

# Custom fzf options
export FZF_DEFAULT_OPTS="--height 40% --reverse"
kubectx  # Uses custom fzf layout

# Kubeconfig organization for kubectx
# ~/.kube/config (multi-cluster setup)
apiVersion: v1
kind: Config
current-context: dev-cluster  # (1)!

clusters:
  - name: dev-cluster
    cluster:
      server: https://dev.example.com:6443

  - name: staging-cluster
    cluster:
      server: https://staging.example.com:6443

  - name: prod-cluster
    cluster:
      server: https://prod.example.com:6443

contexts:
  - name: dev-cluster  # (2)!
    context:
      cluster: dev-cluster
      user: dev-user
      namespace: default  # (3)!

  - name: staging  # (4)!
    context:
      cluster: staging-cluster
      user: staging-user
      namespace: default

  - name: prod
    context:
      cluster: prod-cluster
      user: prod-user
      namespace: production  # (5)!

users:
  - name: dev-user
    user:
      token: <token>

  - name: staging-user
    user:
      client-certificate-data: <cert>
      client-key-data: <key>

  - name: prod-user
    user:
      exec:  # (6)!
        apiVersion: client.authentication.k8s.io/v1beta1
        command: aws
        args:
          - eks
          - get-token
          - --cluster-name
          - prod-cluster