KubeInvaders
KubeInvaders is a free, open-source tool for learning about Kubernetes resilience through simulated or real disruption.
What KubeInvaders is
KubeInvaders is a free, open-source tool for learning about Kubernetes resilience through simulated or real disruption. It turns attacks on pods or nodes into interactive chaos exercises, letting users observe how a cluster responds. The container includes a simulated Kubernetes environment powered by KWOK; its nodes and pods are not real resources, so nothing real is deleted in demo mode. For real-cluster exercises, users can configure access through the web console or container environment variables with an API endpoint, ServiceAccount token, namespaces, and optionally a CA certificate. KubeInvaders runs as a container with Docker or Podman and can be self-hosted or used on the web. Documentation describes experiments involving pod recovery, scheduling, node pressure, namespace isolation, and cluster recovery time. It also lists URL monitoring during chaos sessions and Prometheus metrics with a Grafana dashboard. The project describes uses in Kubernetes teaching, resilience testing, and conference demonstrations. It is licensed under Apache 2.0 and includes blast-radius controls. The current README does not support an official Helm chart, though the legacy chart may be used as a starting point.
Good
- Includes a KWOK-powered simulated cluster
- Supports Docker and Podman
- Documents URL monitoring and Prometheus metrics
- Includes blast-radius controls
- Free and licensed under Apache 2.0
Watch out
- No official Helm chart is supported
- Real-cluster access requires a ServiceAccount token
- Setting DISABLE_TLS=true skips API certificate verification
Who it suits
KubeInvaders may suit developers and educators exploring Kubernetes deployments and resilience behavior, as well as teams running resilience exercises. Its simulated mode also supports demonstrations without deleting real cluster resources.
Verdict
KubeInvaders offers simulated and real-cluster chaos exercises, with monitoring and a dashboard listed in its documentation. Plan for container-based operation and note that the current README does not support an official Helm chart.
The facts
Each one read from KubeInvaders's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Audience
- The project describes uses including Kubernetes teaching, resilience testing, and demonstrations at technology conferences.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Cluster configuration
- The web console lets users configure Kubernetes connection details, including the API endpoint and certificate authority.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Cluster connection
- Users can connect a real cluster through the web console or container environment variables using an API endpoint, ServiceAccount token, namespaces, and optionally a CA certificate.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Community support
- The README directs users to Twitter accounts for news, bugs, feature requests, and other issues.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Demo mode
- The container includes a simulated Kubernetes cluster powered by KWOK, where nodes and pods are simulated and nothing real is deleted.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Game controls
- The interface includes automatic chaos experiments, shuffle, automatic namespace switching, pod-name visibility controls, and screen zoom.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Helm support
- The current project README says an official Helm chart is not supported, though the legacy chart may be used as a starting point.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Integrations
- The project describes monitoring an HTTP URL exposed by an Ingress during a chaos session.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Intended audience
- The project describes the tool as a way for developers to explore Kubernetes deployments and resilience behavior.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Learning
- Experiments can demonstrate pod recovery, scheduling, node pressure, namespace isolation, and cluster recovery time.checked 9 Oct 2001
- License
- The repository lists the project under the Apache 2.0 license.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Limit
- The latest release states that Helm installation support has been discontinued.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Monitoring
- Its documentation lists URL monitoring during chaos sessions and Prometheus metrics with a Grafana dashboard.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Persistence
- The project says it uses Redis to save and manage data, configured with append-only persistence.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Purpose
- KubeInvaders is a gamified chaos engineering and educational tool for Kubernetes that stresses a cluster so users can observe its resilience.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Run modes
- The project documents running KubeInvaders with Docker or Podman, including from a workstation.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Runtime
- KubeInvaders runs as a container with Podman or Docker.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Security
- The README says a missing, invalid, or expired token prevents KubeInvaders from calling the Kubernetes API, and warns that DISABLE_TLS=true skips API server certificate verification.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Security access
- The project documents Kubernetes service-account tokens and RBAC permissions for cluster access.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Self hosting
- Users can run KubeInvaders against their own Kubernetes cluster by configuring a service account and cluster access.checked 9 Oct 2001
The company
- Maker services
- Platform Engineering says it supports and contributes to KubeInvaders with enterprise features and offers a resilience certification service for containerized infrastructure.checked 9 Oct 2001
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