# Kubectl tips and tricks **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussions\ **Created:** [May 11, 2018, 9:58pm UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/kubectl-tips-and-tricks/192 "2018-05-11T21:58:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![suvi29](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.kubernetes.io/suvi29/32/502_2.png) [@suvi29](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/suvi29)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 9:58pm UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/kubectl-tips-and-tricks/192/1 "2018-05-11T21:58:45Z")
Hi Guys, As we know that **kubectl** is a powerfull tool which we use every day. It has broad functionality. Which **kubectl** tip or tricks, you found out and said _ **wish I knew it before** _. I will start with my experience wish I would have known earlier **Tip:** If you want to check out the logs of the previously terminated container from pod POD\_NAME. You can use the following command with **-p flag** `kubectl logs POD_NAME -c CONTAINER_NAME -p` looking forward to seeing your tips and tricks Thanks ---
**Author:** ![castrojo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.kubernetes.io/castrojo/32/8_2.png) [@castrojo](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/castrojo)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 12:13pm UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/kubectl-tips-and-tricks/192/2 "2018-05-15T12:13:54Z")
Just in case people didn’t know about `kubectl` auto complete: - [https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/tools/install-kubectl/#enabling-shell-autocompletion](https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/tools/install-kubectl/#enabling-shell-autocompletion) ---
**Author:** ![mrbobbytables](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.kubernetes.io/mrbobbytables/32/7_2.png) [@mrbobbytables](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/mrbobbytables)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 1:21pm UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/kubectl-tips-and-tricks/192/3 "2018-05-15T13:21:20Z")
Being able to get raw output quickly and easily with `--raw`. You can then pipe it to `jq` and filter it as much as you want. ```bash kubectl get --raw= kubectl get --raw=/apis/apps/v1/deployments kubectl get --raw=/apis/apps/v1/deployments | jq ``` ---
**Author:** ![ValentinNC](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.kubernetes.io/valentinnc/32/203_2.png) [@ValentinNC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/ValentinNC)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2018, 10:15pm UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/kubectl-tips-and-tricks/192/4 "2018-05-16T22:15:26Z")
My small contribution : Prompt info is pretty useful when switching clusters : > **[jonmosco/kube-ps1](https://github.com/jonmosco/kube-ps1)** > > Kubernetes prompt info for bash and zsh. Contribute to jonmosco/kube-ps1 development by creating an account on GitHub. > **[superbrothers/zsh-kubectl-prompt](https://github.com/superbrothers/zsh-kubectl-prompt)** > > Display information about the kubectl current context and namespace in zsh prompt. - superbrothers/zsh-kubectl-prompt and Kubectx allow you to switch namespace & cluster : > **[ahmetb/kubectx](https://github.com/ahmetb/kubectx)** > > Faster way to switch between clusters and namespaces in kubectl - ahmetb/kubectx ---
**Author:** ![wstrange](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.kubernetes.io/wstrange/32/99_2.png) [@wstrange](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/wstrange)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 4:33pm UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/kubectl-tips-and-tricks/192/5 "2018-05-17T16:33:29Z")
+1 on shell auto complete. It will save your sanity. ---
**Author:** ![misterikkit](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.kubernetes.io/misterikkit/32/248_2.png) [@misterikkit](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/misterikkit)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 6:15am UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/kubectl-tips-and-tricks/192/6 "2018-05-18T06:15:39Z")
Does anyone `alias k=kubectl` and have shell autocompletion working? ---
**Author:** ![ameukam](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.kubernetes.io/ameukam/32/672_2.png) [@ameukam](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/ameukam)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 9:37am UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/kubectl-tips-and-tricks/192/7 "2018-05-18T09:37:00Z")
Something i find useful when you don’t want type too much: The Kubectl aliases : > **[ahmetb/kubectl-aliases](https://github.com/ahmetb/kubectl-aliases)** > > Programmatically generated handy kubectl aliases. Contribute to ahmetb/kubectl-aliases development by creating an account on GitHub. ---
**Author:** ![suvi29](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.kubernetes.io/suvi29/32/502_2.png) [@suvi29](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/suvi29)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 1:17pm UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/kubectl-tips-and-tricks/192/8 "2018-05-18T13:17:22Z")
another **awesome** and **helpful** command This command analyzes two kubernetes resources and prints the lines that are different. We can list out all of the functionality of it `kubectl alpha diff --help` ---
**Author:** ![luksa](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.kubernetes.io/luksa/32/243_2.png) [@luksa](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/luksa)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 2:17pm UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/kubectl-tips-and-tricks/192/9 "2018-05-18T14:17:56Z")
> Does anyone alias k=kubectl and have shell autocompletion working? `source <(k completion bash | sed s/kubectl/k/g)` Works on Linux; I remember someone reporting it doesn’t work on OSX, but that was a long time ago, so that may no longer be true. ---
**Author:** ![danberg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@danberg](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/danberg)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 4:20pm UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/kubectl-tips-and-tricks/192/10 "2018-05-18T16:20:32Z")
I do this all the time and auto-complete works fine with the alias. ---
**Author:** ![superbrothers](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.kubernetes.io/superbrothers/32/91_2.png) [@superbrothers](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/superbrothers)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 5:07pm UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/kubectl-tips-and-tricks/192/11 "2018-05-18T17:07:01Z")
Autocompletion for alias commands was supported on v1.10! You can enable it with the following steps: ``` # For bash source /path/to/bash_completion source <(kubectl completion bash) alias k=kubectl complete -o default -F __start_kubectl k # For zsh source <(kubectl completion zsh) alias k=kubectl complete -o default -F __start_kubectl k ``` ---
**Author:** ![InAnimaTe](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.kubernetes.io/inanimate/32/253_2.png) [@InAnimaTe](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/InAnimaTe)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 6:10pm UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/kubectl-tips-and-tricks/192/12 "2018-05-18T18:10:13Z")
I made my own zsh/bash function to more easily handle contexts and namespaces. I also run this every time with a kubectl alias to know which environment a certain command is being run against: > ---
**Author:** ![errordeveloper](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.kubernetes.io/errordeveloper/32/118_2.png) [@errordeveloper](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/errordeveloper)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 7:41pm UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/kubectl-tips-and-tricks/192/13 "2018-05-18T19:41:46Z")
I think one big topic would be about using `--output='jsonpath=...'`, vs `--output='json' | jq ...`. Personally, I find `jq` much more user-friendly, but `jsonpath` is so much more portable - just copy the script and no need to make sure you have `jq` installed… What do people think? ---
**Author:** ![jgarr](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.kubernetes.io/jgarr/32/170_2.png) [@jgarr](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/jgarr)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 7:43pm UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/kubectl-tips-and-tricks/192/14 "2018-05-18T19:43:00Z")
Some good aliases can be found here too. > **[kubermatic/fubectl](https://github.com/kubermatic/fubectl)** > > Reduces repetitive interactions with kubectl. Contribute to kubermatic/fubectl development by creating an account on GitHub. I use a couple similar to `kcns` and `kex` fairly regularly. I also have `alias kc='kubectl --namespace ${KUBE_NAMESPACE:-default} '` so I can export a namespace easily in a shell and not always have to type it. For me, `kcns` sets that variable ---
**Author:** ![kris-nova](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.kubernetes.io/kris-nova/32/252_2.png) [@kris-nova](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/kris-nova)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 8:11pm UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/kubectl-tips-and-tricks/192/15 "2018-05-18T20:11:14Z")
Thanks for all the hardwork - we are loving these tips and tricks on TGIK! ---
**Author:** ![proskehy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c89c15/32.png) [@proskehy](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/proskehy)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 10:10pm UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/kubectl-tips-and-tricks/192/16 "2018-05-18T22:10:55Z")
This might be obvious for some, but I was very excited when I learned about `kubectl explain`. It explains resources and/or the fields of their configuration (e.g. `kubectl explain resource.field.field`). ---
**Author:** ![Kolchap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/45deac/32.png) [@Kolchap](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/Kolchap)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 5:46am UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/kubectl-tips-and-tricks/192/17 "2018-05-19T05:46:21Z")
I use autohot keys to shorten the commands in kubernetes ---
**Author:** ![errordeveloper](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.kubernetes.io/errordeveloper/32/118_2.png) [@errordeveloper](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/errordeveloper)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 3:52pm UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/kubectl-tips-and-tricks/192/18 "2018-05-19T15:52:58Z")
I forgot to mention! Sometime last year I wrote `kubeplay`. It is intended for interactive scripting, like a REPL basically. Personally, I find `kubectl` to tedious, and gluing it with shell scripts can be even more tedious. Currently, `kubeplay` uses Ruby syntax (via mruby embedded in a Go program), but I am keen to explore other options. I am also not a fan of pseaudo-graphical interactive console apps, so this more of a pure REPL based on a proper language 🙂 > **[errordeveloper/kubeplay](https://github.com/errordeveloper/kubeplay)** > > kubeplay – a new way to interact with Kubernetes API from your terminal - errordeveloper/kubeplay Take a look and let me know if you would be keen to use it, I would love to put more time into it! ---
**Author:** ![Raffo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Raffo](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/Raffo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 5:41pm UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/kubectl-tips-and-tricks/192/19 "2018-05-19T17:41:05Z")
Ok this might sounds very stupid, but here some alias I use for kubectl: ``` alias k='kubectl' alias watch='watch ' alias pods='k get pods' alias spods='k get pods -n kube-system' alias deployments='k get deployments' alias sdeployments='k get deployments -n kube-system' alias ds='k get ds' alias sds='k get ds -n kube-system' alias logs='k logs' alias slogs='k logs -n kube-system' ``` In general I think the best aliases are the one you build for yourself and that make your life easier every day… and I really can’t live without my “spods”. EDIT: Also, hi! ---
**Author:** ![st4nson](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.kubernetes.io/st4nson/32/287_2.png) [@st4nson](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/st4nson)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 8:12pm UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/kubectl-tips-and-tricks/192/20 "2018-05-20T20:12:29Z")
Hi all 🙂 I find this combo very helpful, a fuzzy finder [fzf](https://github.com/junegunn/fzf) + _kubectl_ + some bash/zsh function. _Examples_: **exec into a pod** ```auto kx () { local pod=($(kubectl get pods --all-namespaces -owide | fzf | awk '{print $1, $2}')) local cmd=${@:-"bash"} echo kubectl exec -it --namespace $pod[1] $pod[2] $cmd kubectl exec -it --namespace $pod[1] $pod[2] $cmd } ``` **logs** ```auto kl () { local pod=($(kubectl get pods --all-namespaces -owide | fzf | awk '{print $1, $2}')) local attr=${@:-""} echo kubectl logs -f $attr --namespace $pod[1] $pod[2] kubectl logs -f $attr --namespace $pod[1] $pod[2] } ``` [Next page](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/kubectl-tips-and-tricks/192.md?page=2)