Kruise-tools is a kubectl plugin that provides command-line utilities for working with OpenKruise resources and features.
The tool addresses the need to manage OpenKruise workloads through familiar kubectl commands rather than raw YAML manipulation. It extends kubectl with subcommands for common operations on Kruise resources like CloneSets and Rollouts, enabling users to expose services, scale workloads, manage rollouts with approval workflows, perform fast rollbacks during blue-green deployments, update environment variables and container images, and execute commands in sidecar containers. The plugin also includes migration capabilities to convert existing Kubernetes Deployments into CloneSets while optionally preserving replica counts and managing gradual traffic shifts.
Teams already using OpenKruise should adopt this tool to streamline operational tasks that would otherwise require direct API calls or kubectl apply workflows. It suits any Kubernetes environment running Kruise controllers where operators need efficient command-line access to Kruise-specific features. The tool is particularly valuable for teams performing advanced deployment patterns like blue-green releases and gradual replica migration, as it provides dedicated commands for these workflows. Installation is straightforward through Krew, the kubectl plugin manager, or via direct binary download for multiple operating systems and architectures.
Development activity shows consistent maintenance with regular updates to the codebase and responsiveness to issues. The project maintains security practices by including vulnerability scanning tooling in its build process. Documentation is kept current with usage examples covering the full range of available commands and workflows.
