Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

k3s VS DevSpace (for Kubernetes and Docker)

Compare k3s VS DevSpace (for Kubernetes and Docker) and see what are their differences

k3s logo k3s

K3s is a lightweight Kubernetes distribution by Rancher Labs intended for IoT, Edge, and cloud deployments.

DevSpace (for Kubernetes and Docker) logo DevSpace (for Kubernetes and Docker)

Cloud-Native Software Development with Kubernetes and Docker
  • k3s Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-09
  • DevSpace (for Kubernetes and Docker) Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-26

k3s features and specs

  • Lightweight
    K3s is designed to be lightweight and less resource-intensive compared to full Kubernetes distributions, making it ideal for edge and IoT devices, as well as development environments.
  • Easy Installation
    K3s provides a simple installation process, requiring only a single binary for installation, which simplifies the setup procedure for users.
  • Low Resource Usage
    By stripping away non-essential features, K3s consumes significantly fewer resources, lowering the barrier to entry for running Kubernetes on resource-constrained environments.
  • Fully CNCF Conformant
    K3s is certified by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) as conformant with standard Kubernetes, meaning it follows the same API and operational model.
  • Built-In Database
    K3s includes an embedded SQLite database by default, which simplifies deployment and reduces the complexity associated with managing an external etcd cluster.
  • Automated TLS Management
    K3s has integrated support for TLS certificates management, which helps in ensuring secure communications between components without additional configuration.
  • Ecosystem Compatibility
    K3s supports popular Kubernetes add-ons and CI/CD tools, so it can be seamlessly integrated into existing Kubernetes-based workflows.

Possible disadvantages of k3s

  • Reduced Feature Set
    To keep K3s lightweight, some non-essential Kubernetes features and components are omitted or replaced, which might limit functionality for more advanced use cases.
  • Lack of Scalability
    K3s is optimized for smaller clusters and edge environments, so it may not scale as efficiently as standard Kubernetes distributions in large, enterprise-level deployments.
  • Embedded SQLite Limitations
    While the built-in SQLite database simplifies initial setup, it may not handle high write loads or offer the same reliability and performance as an external etcd cluster for production environments.
  • Community and Enterprise Support
    Although supported by the Kubernetes community, K3s may have less enterprise-grade support and fewer educational resources compared to other full-featured Kubernetes distributions.
  • Ecosystem Integration
    Certain Kubernetes tools or cloud services optimized for full Kubernetes distributions may not work seamlessly with K3s, requiring custom configurations or workarounds.
  • Limited Networking Options
    K3s might have fewer networking configuration options compared to full-featured Kubernetes implementations, potentially restricting advanced network setup.
  • Simplified Security Model
    K3s implements a simplified security model which might lack some advanced security features and policies found in the standard Kubernetes distribution.

DevSpace (for Kubernetes and Docker) features and specs

  • Rapid Deployment
    DevSpace allows for quick and efficient deployment of applications to Kubernetes clusters, streamlining development and testing processes.
  • Local Development
    It facilitates local development workflows that mimic production environments, helping developers catch issues early in the development cycle.
  • Real-time Sync
    DevSpace offers real-time file syncing between local files and the Kubernetes pods, reducing the need for repeated builds and deployments during development iterations.
  • Custom Configuration
    Users can define complex deployments with custom Helm charts and Kubernetes manifests, allowing for flexible and tailored development setups.
  • Port Forwarding
    The tool provides easy setup of port forwarding for services running in the Kubernetes cluster, making it straightforward to develop and debug services.

Possible disadvantages of DevSpace (for Kubernetes and Docker)

  • Learning Curve
    For developers unfamiliar with Kubernetes or Docker, there can be a significant learning curve to effectively utilize DevSpace.
  • Complexity
    Configuring DevSpace for larger, more complex applications might be challenging and require in-depth knowledge of Kubernetes configurations.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running DevSpace in local environments can be resource-intensive, potentially affecting machine performance, especially on less powerful systems.
  • Integration Limitations
    While DevSpace integrates well with Kubernetes, it might have limitations or require workarounds when integrating with other tools or CI/CD pipelines.
  • Community Support
    Compared to more established tools, DevSpace might have limited community support and resources, which can be a barrier for troubleshooting issues.

k3s videos

Siroko K3s Sun Glasses Unboxing and Review | Big Muscle Gains

More videos:

  • Review - Elecraft K3S Transceiver Review

DevSpace (for Kubernetes and Docker) videos

No DevSpace (for Kubernetes and Docker) videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to k3s and DevSpace (for Kubernetes and Docker))
Cloud Computing
79 79%
21% 21
Developer Tools
72 72%
28% 28
DevOps Tools
81 81%
19% 19
IT Automation
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, k3s seems to be a lot more popular than DevSpace (for Kubernetes and Docker). While we know about 175 links to k3s, we've tracked only 3 mentions of DevSpace (for Kubernetes and Docker). We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

k3s mentions (175)

  • Scaling Spin Apps With KEDA
    Setting up the Kubernetes cluster and the AWS SQS queue is outside the scope of this article, but you can deploy an Amazon EKS cluster by following this guide, or use k3s as a lightweight, local alternative. For setting up an SQS queue, refer to this tutorial. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • My 2024 review
    Start with small-scale experiments using k3s/k3d. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Using SpinKube on Kairos
    This will initialize K3S (a lightweight Kubernetes distribution), and will configure the Kairos SpinKube bundle we will install in a moment. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • A Very Deep Dive Into Docker Builds
    Finally the main reason for us is the choice of runtime. We have very decent container runtimes (RKE, RHOS, K3s) available to deploy applications. We are very familiar with them, and they offer us a lot of functionality. These all support containers primarily. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Building a Kubernetes Cluster from Scratch With K3s And MetalLB
    I used K3S in my cluster because it is a lightweight, stripped-down version of Kubernetes that’s ideal for running on resource-constrained devices like Raspberry PIs I plan to use in my home lab cluster. K3S can be installed through a shell script:. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
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DevSpace (for Kubernetes and Docker) mentions (3)

  • 5 Key Elements for a Great Developer Experience with Kubernetes
    DevSpace is very similar to Skaffold in terms of features, with the added benefits of a dedicated UI and a two-way file sync. The UI gives your team an overview of the stack and easy access to logs. At the same time, the file synchronization feature makes their development process faster by letting them directly change code from a running container. - Source: dev.to / almost 3 years ago
  • How to Speed Up Your Local Kubernetes Development With DevSpace
    DevSpace is an open-source developer tool for Kubernetes that lets you develop and deploy cloud-native software faster. It is a client-only CLI tool that runs on your machine and works with any Kubernetes cluster. You can use it to automate image building and deployments, to develop software directly inside Kubernetes and to streamline workflows across your team as well as across dev, staging and production. - Source: dev.to / about 3 years ago
  • Meet Rich Burroughs
    And speaking of cycle times, the Loft team has also built DevSpace, a developer workflow tool for engineers working with Kubernetes clusters. Have you ever waited around for a new container to build so you can see if your changes work? Or even worse, for a CI pipeline to run integration tests? With DevSpace you can hot reload your app in the running container as you make changes. It's super cool and it's open... - Source: dev.to / about 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing k3s and DevSpace (for Kubernetes and Docker), you can also consider the following products

Kind - Kind is a web-based tool that provides you the features to operate the local kubernetes clusters with the help of a docker container named nodes.

Okteto - Development platform for Kubernetes applications.

Kubernetes - Kubernetes is an open source orchestration system for Docker containers

Telepresence - Telepresence is an open source tool that lets you develop and debug your Kubernetes services...

k3sup - from Zero to KUBECONFIG in < 1 min 🚀. Contribute to alexellis/k3sup development by creating an account on GitHub.

mirrord - Connect your local process and your cloud environment.