Awesome Kubernetes Configuration Management

This list contains 194 configuration management tools, 42 secret management tools, and 4 other related tools. Feel free to contribute and help expand it.

Configuration Management

• Generation (G): Given some non-Kubernetes configuration, returns Kubernetes manifests.
• Mutation (M): Given Kubernetes manifests, returns (possibly different) Kubernetes manifests.
• Validation (V): Given Kubernetes manifests, returns validation results.
• Deployment (D): Given Kubernetes manifest, makes Kubernetes API calls.
• Sharing (S): Enables the packaging and/or distribution of Kubernetes manifests.
• In cluster (I): Runs in cluster.
• Local (L): Runs locally.

	Features	Languages	Notes
Acorn	DI
Ansible	GDL	YAML, Jinja2, Python (for plugins)	Related: Kubernetes Collection;
apollo			Unreviewed;
AppController	DI		Abandoned;
appsody			Unreviewed;
Archipa			Unreviewed;
Argo CD	DI
armada			Unreviewed;
autoapply	DI	YAML
Bazel	DL	Starlark	Related: rules_gitops, rules_k8s;
Bicep	GDSL	Bicep	Related: Kubernetes provider, Kubernetes type definitions;
Broadway			Unreviewed;
cdk8s	GSL	TypeScript, Python, Java, Go	Related: cdk8s+;
Chartify			Unreviewed;
Checkov	VIL	YAML, Python
compose2kube	GL	YAML	Abandoned;
Config Sync	DI
configula			Unreviewed;
Conftest	VL	Rego	Related: Kubernetes policies;
Crossplane	GDI		Related: Ansible provider, Argo CD provider, Helm provider, Kubernetes provider, Terraform provider;
CUE	GVSL	CUE
Cyclops	GDI	graphical UI
Datree	VIL	JSON schema, Rego
Deis workflow			Unreviewed;
dekorate	GL	Java
Deploymentizer			Unreviewed;
devspace			Unreviewed;
devtron			Unreviewed;
Dhall	GSL	Dhall	Related: dhall-kubernetes;
Draft			Unreviewed;
dxcfg	GL	JavaScript, TypeScript	Abandoned;
environment-operator			Unreviewed;
ERB-Hiera			Unreviewed;
fabric8 client			Unreviewed;
fabric8-mvn-plugin			Unreviewed;
fabrikate			Unreviewed;
flagger			Unreviewed;
flekszible			Unreviewed;
Flux v1	DI		Abandoned;
Flux v2	DI		Related: Weave GitOps;
foremast			Unreviewed;
Forge			Unreviewed;
garden			Unreviewed;
Gatekeeper	MVI	Rego	External data support;
generator-kubegen			Unreviewed;
gitkube			Unreviewed;
Glasskube	DSI
habitat			Unreviewed;
Helm	GDSL	Go Template
helm-app-operator-kit			Unreviewed;
Helmfile	DL	YAML
Helmsman	DL	TOML
Helmwave	DL	YAML
hull			Unreviewed;
Isopod	GVDL	Starlark
jk	GL	JavaScript, TypeScript	Abandoned;
Jsonnet	GML	Jsonnet	Related: kube-libsonnet, k8s-gen, k8s-libsonnet;
jsPolicy	MVI	JavaScript, TypeScript	"Controller policies" support;
jx			Unreviewed;
k-rail	MVI	any (gRPC)	Abandoned;
k82-icl			Unreviewed;
k8comp	GL	ERB (Ruby templating)	Abandoned;
k8s-app-engine			Unreviewed;
k8s-handle			Unreviewed;
k8s-kotlin-dsl			Unreviewed;
k8sec			Unreviewed;
k8skonf	GSL	TypeScript
k8spkg	MDL		Abandoned;
kabanero-operator			Unreviewed;
kadet	GL	Python
Kapitan	GML	YAML, Jsonnet, Jinja2, Python
kapp	DL
kapp-controller	DI
karavel			Unreviewed;
Kargo Render	GL	YAML
Kasane	ML	YAML, Jsonnet	Abandoned;
kb8or	GDL	YAML	Abandoned;
KCL	GMVSL	KCL	Related: Run KCL scripts as KRM functions;
kdeploy			Unreviewed;
Kedge	GDL	YAML	Abandoned;
Keel	DI		Updates container image version;
kenv	ML	YAML	Abandoned; Injects environment variables in Pods;
Keptn	DI
kexpand			Unreviewed;
khelm	GML
Kluctl	GDIL	YAML, Jinja2
knot8			Unreviewed;
ko	MDL		Limited to Go applications;
Koki			Unreviewed;
Kompose	GL	YAML
konfd	GI	Go template	Abandoned;
Konfigurator			Unreviewed;
konstellate			Unreviewed;
kontemplate			Unreviewed;
Kosko	GVL	JavaScript, TypeScript
KOTS	DSIL
kploy			Unreviewed;
KPM			Unreviewed;
kpt	GMVDSL	YAML, Go, Typescript, Starlark, any (w/o SDK)
kr8	GL	Jsonnet
kraan	DI
krane	GDL	ERB (Ruby templating)
Kratix	GDI
ksonnet	GVDSL	Jsonnet	Abandoned; Related: ksonnet-lib;
ktmpl	GL		Abandoned;
kube-applier	DI		Abandoned;
kubeapply	GDL	YAML, Starlark	Related: Terraform provider;
kubecfg	GDL	Jsonnet
Kubeconform	VL
kubectl	GVDL
kubectl-neat	ML
kubed			Unreviewed;
kubegen	GL	YAML, JSON, HCL	Abandoned;
Kubehiera			Unreviewed;
KubeLinter	VL	YAML
kubenix	GL	Nix	Related: GTrunSec/kubenix, blaggacao/kubenix, xtruder/kubenix;
kuberig			Unreviewed;
kubernetes			Unreviewed;
kubernetes-deploy			Unreviewed;
Kubes	GDL	DSL
Kubescape	VIL	Rego	External data support;
Kubeval	VL		Abandoned;
KubeVela	GDIL
Kubewarden	MVI	any (WebAssembly)
kubor			Unreviewed;
kuby			Unreviewed;
kuku			Unreviewed;
Kusion	GVDL	KCL
kustomize	ML	YAML
kustomizer	GMSL
kvert	GL	edn (Clojure)	Abandoned;
KY			Unreviewed;
Kyverno	GMVIL	YAML, CEL	External data support;
landscaper			Unreviewed;
Lingon	GL	Go	Abandoned;
lostromos			Unreviewed;
Meshery	GDI	YAML
Metaparticle			Unreviewed;
Microconfig	GL
mimic	GL	Go
Monokle	GVDL
mortar			Unreviewed;
NAML	GDL	Go
Nelm	GDSL	Go Template	Not yet extracted from werf as a standalone CLI;
Nickel	GVL	Nickel
Nulecule			Unreviewed;
OpenCompose	GL		Abandoned;
OpenShift templates			Unreviewed;
pack			Unreviewed;
PipeCD	DI
pipeline			Unreviewed;
Pkl	GSL	Pkl	Related: Kubernetes Pkl templates, Kubernetes Pkl examples, Other Pkl (Kubernetes) packages;
Podex			Unreviewed;
Polaris	MVIL	YAML, JSON Schema
Project Syn	GMDSIL	YAML, Jsonnet, Jinja2, Python	Related: Commodore, Lieutenant API, Lieutenant Operator, Steward;
Psykube	GDL	YAML	Abandoned;
Puccini			Unreviewed;
Pulumi	GDL	JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Go, C#, Visual Basic, F#, Java, YAML	Related: Kubernetes provider, Operator;
Puppet			Unreviewed;
puppetlabs-helm			Unreviewed;
qbec			Unreviewed;
Radius	DI	Bicep
Razee	GDI		Abandoned;
Rio			Unreviewed;
rok8s-scripts			Unreviewed;
Rubiks			Unreviewed;
Score	GL	YAML	Related: Helm integration;
Ship	DL		Abandoned;
shipcat	GDL	YAML	Abandoned;
Shipit	DL	ERB (Ruby templating)
shipper			Unreviewed;
Short			Unreviewed;
skaffold			Unreviewed;
Skipper			Unreviewed;
Skycfg	GL	Starlark, Go
Skylark			Unreviewed;
Smith			Unreviewed;
specctl	GL	YAML	Supports generating manifests from docker compose files, and ECS Fargate task and service definitions;
Spread			Unreviewed;
Srvexpand			Unreviewed;
StackSet			Unreviewed;
sugarkube			Unreviewed;
Tanka	GDSL	Jsonnet
Terraform	GDL	HCL	Related: Kubernetes provider, k8s provider, Kustomize provider, Helm provider;
Tilt	GMDL	Starlark
Timoni	GDSL	CUE
Trivy	VIL
Tye	GDL		Limited to .NET applications;
Untrak	DL	YAML	Abandoned; Garbage collect untracked resources;
ValidatingAdmissionPolicy	VI	CEL
ValidKube	MVL
werf	GDSL	YAML
YAMLScript	GL	YAMLScript
ytt	GMVL	YAML, Starlark

Secret Management

• In cluster (I): Runs in cluster.
• Local (L): Runs locally.
• Application (A): Runs side-by-side with the application.

	Features	Notes
agebox	L
argocd-vault-plugin		Unreviewed;
argocd-vault-replacer		Unreviewed;
aws-secret-operator	I
Azure Key Vault to Kubernetes (akv2k8s)	IA
BlackBox	L
conjur-authn-k8s-client	A
ejson	L	Related: ejson2env;
External Secrets	I
external-secret		Unreviewed;
git-crypt	L
git-encrypt	L	Abandoned;
git-secret	L
helm-secrets	L
helm-ssm	L	Abandoned;
Hiera eyaml	L
Infisical Secrets Operator	I	Related: Infisical;
Kamus	IA
kamus		Unreviewed;
Keyringer	L	Abandoned;
Kube-secret-syncer	I
Kustomize secretGeneratorPlugin		Unreviewed;
kustomize-sops		Unreviewed;
Murmur	A
pass	L
Piggy	A
Rot	L
Sealed Secrets	I
Secrets Store CSI Driver	I	Related: AWS Secrets Manager and Systems Manager Parameter Store provider, Azure Key Vault provider, Google Secret Manager provider, HashiCorp Vault provider, CyberArk Conjur provider (WIP);
secure_yaml	L	Abandoned;
SOPS	L	Related: KSOPS (kustomize KRM exec plugin), Helm Sops, SOPS secrets operator, SOPS Operator;
sops-operator		Unreviewed;
sops-secrets-operator		Unreviewed;
Teller	L	Related: Helm-teller;
Tesoro	I	Abandoned;
transcrypt	L
vals	A
Vault Secrets Operator (HashiCorp)	I
Vault Secrets Operator (Rico Berger)	I
vault-k8s	A
vault-secrets-webhook		Unreviewed;
yaml-crypt	L

Other Tools

	Notes
Argo Rollouts	Controller and set of CRDs which provide progressive delivery features;
Kargo	Integrates with GitOps tools to promote changes across environments;
Knative Serving	Set of CRDs used to define serverless workloads;
kro	Define higher-level Kubernetes resources, composed of a multiple lower-level ones;

Sources

• Kubernetes application management tools spreadsheet, retrieved 2024-11-18
• Kubetools, retrieved 2024-11-18
• Awesome Kubernetes Resources, retrieved 2024-11-18
• Awesome Kubernetes, retrieved 2024-11-18
• Awesome K8s, retrieved 2024-11-18
• Declarative application management in Kubernetes, retrieved 2025-02-09
• Kubernetes Configuration in 2024, retrieved 2025-02-09