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1 | 1 | --- |
2 | 2 | title: Learning environment |
3 | 3 | weight: 20 |
| 4 | +description: Tools to try out Kubernetes locally |
| 5 | +no_list: true |
4 | 6 | --- |
| 7 | +<!-- overview --> |
5 | 8 |
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| 9 | +This page outlines some tools that you can use to set up a local Kubernetes cluster to try out Kubernetes concepts and features. |
| 10 | +Before diving into setup, it's highly recommended to familiarize yourself with core Kubernetes concepts. You can find these in the [Concepts](/docs/concepts) section. |
10 | 11 |
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14 | | -<!-- |
15 | | -## kind |
16 | 12 |
|
17 | | -[`kind`](https://kind.sigs.k8s.io/docs/) lets you run Kubernetes on |
18 | | -your local computer. This tool requires that you have |
19 | | -[Docker](https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/) installed and configured. |
| 13 | +<!-- body --> |
20 | 14 |
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21 | | -The kind [Quick Start](https://kind.sigs.k8s.io/docs/user/quick-start/) page |
22 | | -shows you what you need to do to get up and running with kind. |
| 15 | +## How to communicate with a Kubernetes cluster? |
| 16 | +When working with Kubernetes, you need a way to interact with and manage your cluster. This involves tasks such as deploying applications, inspecting resources, and debugging issues. The `kubectl` command-line tool serves as the primary interface for communicating with a configured Kubernetes cluster, allowing you to send commands and receive responses to and from the cluster's API server. |
23 | 17 |
|
24 | | -## minikube |
| 18 | +For more information including a complete list of kubectl operations, see the [`kubectl` reference documentation](/docs/reference/kubectl). |
25 | 19 |
|
26 | | -Like `kind`, [`minikube`](https://minikube.sigs.k8s.io/) is a tool that lets you run Kubernetes |
27 | | -locally. `minikube` runs a single-node Kubernetes cluster on your personal |
28 | | -computer (including Windows, macOS and Linux PCs) so that you can try out |
29 | | -Kubernetes, or for daily development work. |
| 20 | +kubectl is installable on a variety of Linux platforms, macOS and Windows. Find your preferred operating system [here](/docs/tasks/tools/#kubectl). |
30 | 21 |
|
31 | | -You can follow the official |
32 | | -[Get Started!](https://minikube.sigs.k8s.io/docs/start/) guide if your focus is |
33 | | -on getting the tool installed. |
34 | | ---> |
35 | 22 |
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| 23 | + |
| 24 | +## Options for trying out Kubernetes locally |
| 25 | +To experiment with Kubernetes locally, you need tools that allow you to simulate a Kubernetes cluster on your machine. These tools create lightweight clusters for testing, development, or learning purposes without requiring extensive infrastructure. |
| 26 | + |
| 27 | +### 1. kind |
| 28 | +[`kind`](https://kind.sigs.k8s.io/) lets you run Kubernetes on your local computer. This tool requires that you have either [Docker](https://www.docker.com/) or [Podman](https://podman.io/) installed. |
| 29 | + |
| 30 | +The kind [Quick Start](https://kind.sigs.k8s.io/docs/user/quick-start/) page shows you what you need to do to get up and running with kind. |
| 31 | + |
| 32 | +### 2. minikube |
| 33 | +Like `kind`, [`minikube`](https://minikube.sigs.k8s.io/) is a tool that lets you run Kubernetes locally. `minikube` runs an all-in-one or a multi-node local Kubernetes cluster on your personal computer (including Windows, macOS and Linux PCs) so that you can try out Kubernetes, or for daily development work. |
| 34 | + |
| 35 | +You can follow the official [Get Started](https://minikube.sigs.k8s.io/docs/start/) guide to set it up. |
| 36 | + |
| 37 | +### 3. Other 3rd party tools |
| 38 | +There are additional tools like [MicroK8s](https://microk8s.io/docs) and [k3d](https://k3d.io/stable/) for running Kubernetes clusters locally. |
| 39 | + |
| 40 | +### 4. Online Playground Environment |
| 41 | +If you don’t want to install Kubernetes locally, you can use online environments to practice. |
| 42 | + |
| 43 | +- [Killer Coda](https://killercoda.com/): Interactive Kubernetes labs for various scenarios. |
| 44 | +- [Play With Kubernetes](https://labs.play-with-k8s.com/): Browser-based Kubernetes playground to spin up clusters on demand. |
| 45 | + |
| 46 | + |
| 47 | +## What's next: Practice setting up a production-like cluster |
| 48 | + |
| 49 | +While the tools above are great for learning, setting up a production-like cluster provides deeper insights into how Kubernetes operates in real-world scenarios. |
| 50 | + |
| 51 | +[Kubeadm]() is a tool designed to help you set up a secure and functional cluster with minimal complexity. |
| 52 | + |
| 53 | +If you're interested in taking your learning even further, check out the [Production Environment](/docs/setup/production-environment/) page for advanced practices and considerations when preparing for real-world Kubernetes deployments. |
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