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7/28/2026
Local Kubernetes Dev — Part 3: Tooling overview — who does what

Local Kubernetes Dev — Part 3: Tooling overview — who does what

Short summary

Part three of a local Kubernetes series maps the 2025-2026 tooling ecosystem: Docker and kubectl as foundation, k3d/kind/minikube for local clusters, Helm vs Kustomize for packaging, Tilt/Skaffold/DevSpace for inner-loop acceleration, and Telepresence for remote development. The author explains their choice of k3d + Tilt for a FastAPI + PostgreSQL example based on fast startup and live update capability.

  • •Maps the local Kubernetes tooling landscape by category: clusters, packaging, inner-loop, remote dev
  • •Explains why k3d + Tilt was chosen for the series: real K8s API, fast start, live update
  • •Opinionated but transparent about trade-offs rather than declaring a single best tool

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