# kops **Repository Path**: AliyunContainerService/kops ## Basic Information - **Project Name**: kops - **Description**: kops helps you create, destroy, upgrade and maintain production-grade, highly available, Kubernetes clusters from the command line. - **Primary Language**: Go - **License**: Apache-2.0 - **Default Branch**: master - **Homepage**: None - **GVP Project**: No ## Statistics - **Stars**: 8 - **Forks**: 0 - **Created**: 2019-11-25 - **Last Updated**: 2025-08-04 ## Categories & Tags **Categories**: cloud **Tags**: None ## README kops logo # kops - Kubernetes Operations [![Build Status](https://travis-ci.org/kubernetes/kops.svg?branch=master)](https://travis-ci.org/kubernetes/kops) [![Go Report Card](https://goreportcard.com/badge/k8s.io/kops)](https://goreportcard.com/report/k8s.io/kops) [![GoDoc Widget]][GoDoc] [GoDoc]: https://godoc.org/k8s.io/kops [GoDoc Widget]: https://godoc.org/k8s.io/kops?status.svg The easiest way to get a production grade Kubernetes cluster up and running. ## What is kops? We like to think of it as `kubectl` for clusters. `kops` helps you create, destroy, upgrade and maintain production-grade, highly available, Kubernetes clusters from the command line. AWS (Amazon Web Services) is currently officially supported, with GCE in beta support , and VMware vSphere in alpha, and other platforms planned. ## Can I see it in action?

## Launching a Kubernetes cluster hosted on AWS, GCE or DigitalOcean To replicate the above demo, check out our [tutorial](/docs/aws.md) for launching a Kubernetes cluster hosted on AWS. To install a Kubernetes cluster on GCE please follow this [guide](/docs/tutorial/gce.md). To install a Kubernetes cluster on DigitalOcean, follow this [guide](/docs/tutorial/digitalocean.md). ## Features * Automates the provisioning of Kubernetes clusters in [AWS](/docs/aws.md) and [GCE](/docs/tutorial/gce.md) * Deploys Highly Available (HA) Kubernetes Masters * Built on a state-sync model for **dry-runs** and automatic **idempotency** * Ability to generate [Terraform](/docs/terraform.md) * Supports custom Kubernetes [add-ons](/docs/addons.md) * Command line [autocompletion](/docs/cli/kops_completion.md) * YAML Manifest Based API [Configuration](/docs/manifests_and_customizing_via_api.md) * [Templating](/docs/cluster_template.md) and dry-run modes for creating Manifests * Choose from eight different CNI [Networking](/docs/networking.md) providers out-of-the-box * Supports upgrading from [kube-up](/docs/upgrade_from_kubeup.md) * Capability to add containers, as hooks, and files to nodes via a [cluster manifest](/docs/cluster_spec.md) ## Documentation Documentation is in the `/docs` directory, [and the index is here.](docs/README.md) ## Kubernetes Release Compatibility ### Kubernetes Version Support kops is intended to be backward compatible. It is always recommended to use the latest version of kops with whatever version of Kubernetes you are using. Always use the latest version of kops. One exception, in regards to compatibility, kops supports the equivalent Kubernetes minor release number. A minor version is the second digit in the release number. kops version 1.8.0 has a minor version of 8. The numbering follows the semantic versioning specification, MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH. For example, kops 1.8.0 does not support Kubernetes 1.9.2, but kops 1.9.0 supports Kubernetes 1.9.2 and previous Kubernetes versions. Only when kops minor version matches, the Kubernetes minor version does kops officially support the Kubernetes release. kops does not stop a user from installing mismatching versions of K8s, but Kubernetes releases always require kops to install specific versions of components like docker, that tested against the particular Kubernetes version. #### Compatibility Matrix | kops version | k8s 1.5.x | k8s 1.6.x | k8s 1.7.x | k8s 1.8.x | k8s 1.9.x | |--------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------| | 1.9.x | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | | 1.8.x | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | | 1.7.x | Y | Y | Y | N | N | | 1.6.x | Y | Y | N | N | N | Use the latest version of kops for all releases of Kubernetes, with the caveat that higher versions of Kubernetes are not _officially_ supported by kops. ### kops Release Schedule This project does not follow the Kubernetes release schedule. `kops` aims to provide a reliable installation experience for kubernetes, and typically releases about a month after the corresponding Kubernetes release. This time allows for the Kubernetes project to resolve any issues introduced by the new version and ensures that we can support the latest features. kops will release alpha and beta pre-releases for people that are eager to try the latest Kubernetes release. Please only use pre-GA kops releases in environments that can tolerate the quirks of new releases, and please do report any issues encountered. ## Installing ### Prerequisite `kubectl` is required, see [here](http://kubernetes.io/docs/user-guide/prereqs/). ### OSX From Homebrew ```console brew update && brew install kops ``` The `kops` binary is also available via our [releases](https://github.com/kubernetes/kops/releases/latest). ### Linux ```console curl -LO https://github.com/kubernetes/kops/releases/download/$(curl -s https://api.github.com/repos/kubernetes/kops/releases/latest | grep tag_name | cut -d '"' -f 4)/kops-linux-amd64 chmod +x kops-linux-amd64 sudo mv kops-linux-amd64 /usr/local/bin/kops ``` ## Release History See the [releases](https://github.com/kubernetes/kops/releases) for more information on changes between releases. ## Getting Involved and Contributing Are you interested in contributing to kops? We, the maintainers and community, would love your suggestions, contributions, and help! We have a quick-start guide on [adding a feature](/docs/development/adding_a_feature.md). Also, the maintainers can be contacted at any time to learn more about how to get involved. In the interest of getting more new folks involved with kops, we are starting to tag issues with `good-starter-issue`. These are typically issues that have smaller scope but are good ways to start to get acquainted with the codebase. We also encourage ALL active community participants to act as if they are maintainers, even if you don't have "official" write permissions. This is a community effort, we are here to serve the Kubernetes community. If you have an active interest and you want to get involved, you have real power! Don't assume that the only people who can get things done around here are the "maintainers". We also would love to add more "official" maintainers, so show us what you can do! What this means: __Issues__ * Help read and triage issues, assist when possible. * Point out issues that are duplicates, out of date, etc. - Even if you don't have tagging permissions, make a note and tag maintainers (`/close`,`/dupe #127`). __Pull Requests__ * Read and review the code. Leave comments, questions, and critiques (`/lgtm` ). * Download, compile, and run the code and make sure the tests pass (make test). - Also verify that the new feature seems sane, follows best architectural patterns, and includes tests. This repository uses the Kubernetes bots. See a full list of the commands [here]( https://github.com/kubernetes/test-infra/blob/master/commands.md). ## Office Hours Kops maintainers set aside one hour every other week for **public** office hours. Office hours are hosted on a [zoom video chat](https://zoom.us/my/k8ssigaws) on Fridays at [12 noon (Eastern Time)/9 am (Pacific Time)](http://www.worldtimebuddy.com/?pl=1&lid=100,5,8,12), on odd week numbered weeks. We strive to get to know and help developers either working on `kops` or interested in getting to know more about the project. ### Open Office Hours Topics Include but not limited to: - Help and guide to those who attend, who are interested in contributing. - Discuss the current state of the kops project, including releases. - Strategize about how to move `kops` forward. - Collaborate about open and upcoming PRs. - Present demos. This time is focused on developers, although we will never turn a courteous participant away. Please swing by, even if you've never actually installed kops. We encourage you to reach out **beforehand** if you plan on attending. You're welcome to join any session, and please feel free to add an item to the [agenda](https://docs.google.com/document/d/12QkyL0FkNbWPcLFxxRGSPt_tNPBHbmni3YLY-lHny7E/edit) where we track notes from office hours. Office hours are hosted on [Zoom](https://zoom.us/my/k8ssigaws) video conference, held on Fridays at [12 noon (Eastern Time)/9 am (Pacific Time)](http://www.worldtimebuddy.com/?pl=1&lid=100,5,8,12) every other odd numbered week. You can check your week number using: ```bash date +%V ``` The maintainers and other community members are generally available on the [kubernetes slack](https://github.com/kubernetes/community/blob/master/communication.md#social-media) in [#kops-users](https://kubernetes.slack.com/messages/kops-users/), so come find and chat with us about how kops can be better for you! ## GitHub Issues ### Bugs If you think you have found a bug please follow the instructions below. - Please spend a small amount of time giving due diligence to the issue tracker. Your issue might be a duplicate. - Set `-v 10` command line option and save the log output. Please paste this into your issue. - Note the version of kops you are running (from `kops version`), and the command line options you are using. - Open a [new issue](https://github.com/kubernetes/kops/issues/new). - Remember users might be searching for your issue in the future, so please give it a meaningful title to helps others. - Feel free to reach out to the kops community on [kubernetes slack](https://github.com/kubernetes/community/blob/master/communication.md#social-media). ### Features We also use the issue tracker to track features. If you have an idea for a feature, or think you can help kops become even more awesome follow the steps below. - Open a [new issue](https://github.com/kubernetes/kops/issues/new). - Remember users might be searching for your issue in the future, so please give it a meaningful title to helps others. - Clearly define the use case, using concrete examples. EG: I type `this` and kops does `that`. - Some of our larger features will require some design. If you would like to include a technical design for your feature please include it in the issue. - After the new feature is well understood, and the design agreed upon we can start coding the feature. We would love for you to code it. So please open up a **WIP** *(work in progress)* pull request, and happy coding.