Setting up for k8s development

Before we can start developing with Kubernetes (k8s), you need to set up your development environment. Here are some useful tools you are going to need:

Install Docker

Docker will allow you to build and run containers. You can download Docker Desktop from the Docker website and follow the instructions to install it on your machine. Note that Docker Desktop requires a paid subscription for larger organizations. Alternatives such as Colima, Rancher Desktop, or Podman Desktop also work.

Install Homebrew

Homebrew is a package manager for macOS that allows you to easily install and manage software packages and libraries. It provides a simple command-line interface for installing and updating software. To install it, navigate to https://brew.sh/ and follow the installation instructions.

Install kubectl

Kubectl is the command-line tool for interacting with Kubernetes. You can install it using a package manager such as Homebrew, or by downloading the binary from the Kubernetes website.

With Homebrew installed, run in your terminal: brew install kubectl and verify with kubectl version --client

Install Helm

Helm is a package manager for Kubernetes that allows you to define, install, and manage applications on Kubernetes clusters. It provides a templating system for defining application components and their dependencies. This makes it easier to deploy complex applications and manage their configurations.

To install Helm with Homebrew, run the command brew install helm and once installed, you can verify with helm version.