# `kubectx` + `kubens`: Power tools for kubectl
[/badge.svg)](https://github.com/ahmetb/kubectx/actions?query=workflow%3A"Go+implementation+(CI)")
This repository provides both `kubectx` and `kubens` tools.
[Install →](#installation)
## What are `kubectx` and `kubens`?
**kubectx** is a tool to switch between contexts (clusters) on kubectl
faster.
**kubens** is a tool to switch between Kubernetes namespaces (and
configure them for kubectl) easily.
Here's a **`kubectx`** demo:
...and here's a **`kubens`** demo:
### Examples
```sh
# switch to another cluster that's in kubeconfig
$ kubectx minikube
Switched to context "minikube".
# switch back to previous cluster
$ kubectx -
Switched to context "oregon".
# start an "isolated shell" that only has a single context
$ kubectx -s minikube
# rename context
$ kubectx dublin=gke_ahmetb_europe-west1-b_dublin
Context "gke_ahmetb_europe-west1-b_dublin" renamed to "dublin".
# change the active namespace on kubectl
$ kubens kube-system
Context "test" set.
Active namespace is "kube-system".
# go back to the previous namespace
$ kubens -
Context "test" set.
Active namespace is "default".
# change the active namespace even if it doesn't exist
$ kubens not-found-namespace --force
Context "test" set.
Active namespace is "not-found-namespace".
---
$ kubens not-found-namespace -f
Context "test" set.
Active namespace is "not-found-namespace".
```
If you have [`fzf`](https://github.com/junegunn/fzf) installed, you can also
**interactively** select a context or cluster, or fuzzy-search by typing a few
characters. To learn more, read [interactive mode →](#interactive-mode)
Both `kubectx` and `kubens` support Tab completion on bash/zsh/fish
shells to help with long context names. You don't have to remember full context
names anymore.
-----
## Installation
| Package manager | Command |
|---|---|
| [Homebrew](https://brew.sh/) (macOS & Linux) | `brew install kubectx` |
| [MacPorts](https://www.macports.org) (macOS) | `sudo port install kubectx` |
| apt (Debian/Ubuntu) | `sudo apt install kubectx` |
| pacman (Arch Linux) | `sudo pacman -S kubectx` |
| [Chocolatey](https://chocolatey.org/) (Windows) | `choco install kubens kubectx` |
| [Scoop](https://scoop.sh/) (Windows) | `scoop bucket add main && scoop install main/kubens main/kubectx` |
| [winget](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/package-manager/) (Windows) | `winget install --id ahmetb.kubectx && winget install --id ahmetb.kubens` |
| [Krew](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/krew/) (kubectl plugin) | `kubectl krew install ctx && kubectl krew install ns` |
Alternatively, download binaries from the [**Releases page →**](https://github.com/ahmetb/kubectx/releases) and add them to somewhere in your `PATH`.
Shell completion scripts
#### zsh (with [antibody](https://getantibody.github.io))
Add this line to your [Plugins File](https://getantibody.github.io/usage/) (e.g.
`~/.zsh_plugins.txt`):
```
ahmetb/kubectx path:completion kind:fpath
```
Depending on your setup, you might or might not need to call `compinit` or
`autoload -U compinit && compinit` in your `~/.zshrc` after you load the Plugins
file. If you use [oh-my-zsh](https://github.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh), load the
completions before you load `oh-my-zsh` because `oh-my-zsh` will call
`compinit`.
#### zsh (plain)
The completion scripts have to be in a path that belongs to `$fpath`. Either
link or copy them to an existing folder.
Example with [`oh-my-zsh`](https://github.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh):
```bash
mkdir -p ~/.oh-my-zsh/custom/completions
chmod -R 755 ~/.oh-my-zsh/custom/completions
ln -s /opt/kubectx/completion/_kubectx.zsh ~/.oh-my-zsh/custom/completions/_kubectx.zsh
ln -s /opt/kubectx/completion/_kubens.zsh ~/.oh-my-zsh/custom/completions/_kubens.zsh
echo "fpath=($ZSH/custom/completions $fpath)" >> ~/.zshrc
```
If completion doesn't work, add `autoload -U compinit && compinit` to your
`.zshrc` (similar to
[`zsh-completions`](https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-completions/blob/master/README.md#oh-my-zsh)).
If you are not using [`oh-my-zsh`](https://github.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh), you
could link to `/usr/share/zsh/functions/Completion` (might require sudo),
depending on the `$fpath` of your zsh installation.
In case of errors, calling `compaudit` might help.
#### bash
```bash
git clone https://github.com/ahmetb/kubectx.git ~/.kubectx
COMPDIR=$(pkg-config --variable=completionsdir bash-completion)
ln -sf ~/.kubectx/completion/kubens.bash $COMPDIR/kubens
ln -sf ~/.kubectx/completion/kubectx.bash $COMPDIR/kubectx
cat << EOF >> ~/.bashrc
#kubectx and kubens
export PATH=~/.kubectx:\$PATH
EOF
```
#### fish
```fish
mkdir -p ~/.config/fish/completions
ln -s /opt/kubectx/completion/kubectx.fish ~/.config/fish/completions/
ln -s /opt/kubectx/completion/kubens.fish ~/.config/fish/completions/
```
> [!NOTE]
> Tip: Show context/namespace in your shell prompt with [oh-my-posh](https://ohmyposh.dev/) or
> simply with [kube-ps1](https://github.com/jonmosco/kube-ps1).
-----
### Interactive mode
If you want `kubectx` and `kubens` commands to present you an interactive menu
with fuzzy searching, you just need to [install
`fzf`](https://github.com/junegunn/fzf) in your `$PATH`.
Caveats:
- If you have `fzf` installed, but want to opt out of using this feature, set the
environment variable `KUBECTX_IGNORE_FZF=1`.
- If you want to keep `fzf` interactive mode but need the default behavior of the
command, you can do it by piping the output to another command (e.g. `kubectx |
cat `).
-----
### Customizing colors
If you like to customize the colors indicating the current namespace or context,
set the environment variables `KUBECTX_CURRENT_FGCOLOR` and
`KUBECTX_CURRENT_BGCOLOR` (refer color codes
[here](https://linux.101hacks.com/ps1-examples/prompt-color-using-tput/)):
```sh
export KUBECTX_CURRENT_FGCOLOR=$(tput setaf 6) # blue text
export KUBECTX_CURRENT_BGCOLOR=$(tput setab 7) # white background
```
Colors in the output can be disabled by setting the
[`NO_COLOR`](https://no-color.org/) environment variable.
-----
If you liked `kubectx`, you may like my
[`kubectl-aliases`](https://github.com/ahmetb/kubectl-aliases) project, too. I
recommend pairing kubectx and kubens with [fzf](#interactive-mode) and
[kube-ps1](https://github.com/jonmosco/kube-ps1).
#### Stargazers over time
[](https://starchart.cc/ahmetb/kubectx)
