K9S: The Fast, Keyboard-Driven Console for Kubernetes

K9S is the fast, keyboard-driven console for Kubernetes. It runs on top of kubectl, giving you an interactive view of your workloads without constant context switching. Instead of typing long commands or hunting YAML files, K9S renders Pods, Deployments, Services, ConfigMaps, and Events in a single pane. The interface updates live, so every change in your cluster is visible the moment it happens.

K9S connects using your existing kubectl configuration. You keep the same cluster contexts, namespaces, and credentials. When you start K9S, it follows your current context, but you can toggle namespaces or switch clusters instantly. The navigation is key-driven—no mouse and no wasted movements. You can drill into logs, restart pods, delete resources, or change scale in seconds.

K9S goes beyond plain kubectl get commands. You see container health, CPU and memory usage, rollouts in progress, and error events without running multiple commands or loading different tools. It supports custom views, resource filters, and shortcuts that make large clusters manageable. Every table, every log, every metric is updated in real time.

The tool is an overlay, not a replacement. Under the hood, it uses kubectl verbatim, respecting your RBAC roles and kubeconfig. This means every action in K9S is safe against your cluster’s security and permission model. You can view resources exactly as your account allows, but faster and with clearer visibility.

For engineers managing Kubernetes daily, K9S becomes the default terminal. It cuts wasted motion, reduces typo-prone commands, and unifies cluster exploration. Combined with scripting in kubectl and YAML editing in your IDE, K9S covers the monitoring and operational layer—where visual speed matters.

Install K9S in minutes with your package manager or a binary download. Point it to the same config as kubectl and the dashboard appears. No setup beyond what you already have for Kubernetes.

See K9S and kubectl working together with live cluster data. Try it now at hoop.dev and connect in minutes.