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k3s VS Minishift

Compare k3s VS Minishift 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.

Minishift logo Minishift

Minishift is an advanced-level tool that is used to control and run the local base OKD with the help of a cluster which is single nodded, and it works perfectly inside the virtual machine.
  • k3s Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-09
  • Minishift Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-11

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.

Minishift features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Minishift simplifies the process of setting up a local OKD (OpenShift Origin) cluster, making it easier for developers to test and develop applications locally.
  • Lightweight
    It provides a lightweight and minimal environment that mimics an OKD setup without the need for extensive resources or cloud infrastructure.
  • Cross-platform Support
    Minishift runs on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing for flexibility in development environments.
  • Development Focused
    It is tailored for application development, enabling developers to quickly iterate on their applications within an OKD cluster without incurring the overhead of a full-scale production setup.
  • Fast Setup
    Minishift offers a relatively quick setup process, reducing the time taken to get a local OpenShift environment up and running.

Possible disadvantages of Minishift

  • Limited Scalability
    Minishift is designed for local development and does not scale well for production-level deployments or large-scale testing.
  • Resource Constraints
    Running Minishift on a local machine might lead to resource constraints, especially if the machine does not have adequate CPU and memory.
  • Not Suitable for Production
    Minishift is not intended for running production workloads, and it lacks some of the robust features necessary for a production environment.
  • Dependency on Virtualization
    Minishift relies on virtualization technologies (e.g., VirtualBox, KVM, xhyve) which can be an additional layer of complexity, especially on systems where virtualization support is not optimal.
  • Potential for Drift
    Over time, there might be differences between a Minishift-based cluster and a full OKD or OpenShift production cluster, potentially causing discrepancies in application behavior.

k3s videos

Siroko K3s Sun Glasses Unboxing and Review | Big Muscle Gains

More videos:

  • Review - Elecraft K3S Transceiver Review

Minishift videos

OpenShift Commons Briefing #63: MiniShift - Running OpenShift Locally

More videos:

  • Review - Rob Nester: Minishift: CI/CD in the palm of your hand

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to k3s and Minishift)
Cloud Computing
83 83%
17% 17
Developer Tools
82 82%
18% 18
DevOps Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Development
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, k3s seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 175 times since March 2021. 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 / 6 months ago
  • My 2024 review
    Start with small-scale experiments using k3s/k3d. - Source: dev.to / 6 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 / 6 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 / 7 months ago
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Minishift mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Minishift yet. Tracking of Minishift recommendations started around Mar 2022.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing k3s and Minishift, 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.

kops - Founded by Elsa Kopp in 1950, Kopp's Frozen Custard specializes in Milwaukee's best freshly made frozen custard and jumbo burgers.

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

minikube - Run Kubernetes locally. Contribute to kubernetes/minikube development by creating an account on GitHub.

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

Rancher - Open Source Platform for Running a Private Container Service