Zero-install cluster visualization. SSH into any server and see your entire Kubernetes topology in seconds — as a clean ASCII tree.
npx kubechart
kubectlkubectl get all shows a messy list. Can't see relationships between Deployments, ReplicaSets, and Pods.
Kubernetes Dashboard requires deploying pods, port-forwarding, and RBAC setup just to see cluster status.
k9s is great but needs installation. Lens is powerful but requires a desktop app and network access.
Hierarchical visualization with parent-child relationships, status, and metrics — all in one screen.
$ kubectl get all -n production NAME READY STATUS pod/api-76f555f8cd-d9jb6 1/1 Running pod/api-76f555f8cd-gmv7w 1/1 Running pod/api-76f555f8cd-x2k9p 1/1 Running pod/redis-0 1/1 Running pod/redis-1 1/1 Running pod/worker-5cf658bb5-abc12 0/1 Error NAME TYPE CLUSTER-IP service/api ClusterIP 10.101.87.67 service/redis ClusterIP 10.102.234.145 NAME DESIRED READY replicaset.apps/api-76f555f8cd 3 3 replicaset.apps/api-5cf658bb5 0 0 NAME READY deployment.apps/api 3/3 NAME LAST SCHEDULE cronjob.apps/backup 2h ago ❌ Flat list — no hierarchy ❌ Pod worker-abc12 belongs to... where? ❌ Scrolling to connect the dots
◆ CLUSTER production-eks | k8s v1.30.0 | 3 nodes [m]etric: use/lim [s]elector: OFF | ↺ 3/5s └── NAMESPACE production [Active] ├── ▲ Deployment api-server [3/3] │ ├── ◆ ReplicaSet api-76f555f8cd [3/3] │ │ ├── POD ● api-d9jb6 CPU ████░░░░ 45% │ │ ├── POD ● api-gmv7w CPU █████░░░ 52% │ │ └── POD ● api-x2k9p CPU ███░░░░░ 38% │ └── ◆ ReplicaSet api-5cf658bb5 [0/1] (inactive) │ ├── ◆ StatefulSet redis [2/2] │ ├── POD ● redis-0 MEM ████████ 80% │ └── POD ● redis-1 MEM ███████░ 75% │ ├── ■ DaemonSet fluentd [3/3] │ └── POD ● fluentd-2m5jb │ ├── ○ CronJob backup [last: 2h ago] ✓ ├── SVC ● ClusterIP api-service 10.101.87.67 ├── ING ◆ api.example.com / → api-service:80 └── CM ◉ app-config 12 keys Workloads: 4 | Pods: 6/7 running | Services: 1 ✅ Hierarchy: Deployment → ReplicaSet → Pod ✅ Instant status: ● Running ◌ Pending ✖ Error ✅ Metrics inline: CPU ████░░░░ 45%
Auto-refresh with countdown timer. Pause/resume with p. Manual refresh with r.
CPU & Memory bars from metrics-server. Toggle modes with m: numbers → bars → usage/limits.
Toggle label selectors and pod labels with s. Filter resources with -l app=api.
Show storage with capacity, storageClass, and status. Toggle with v.
Proper Deployment → ReplicaSet → Pod structure. CronJob → Jobs nesting. Inactive ReplicaSets dimmed.
Export cluster state to JSON or YAML for documentation and audit trails.
Press 0-9 to instantly switch between namespaces. No typing required.
Visual indicators for pod health: green (Running), yellow (Pending), red (Failed), gray (Completed).
npx kubechart
Works on any server with Node.js. No setup, no pods to deploy.
kubechart -n production
Or use 0-9 to switch namespaces instantly.
kubechart --once --output yaml --out-file cluster.yaml
Save cluster state for documentation or audit.
| Feature | Kubechart | k9s | Lens | Dashboard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zero install ⓘ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| SSH compatible ⓘ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Real-time metrics | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bar chart metrics | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| JSON/YAML export | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tree visualization | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Interactive editing ⓘ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Resource usage | Minimal | Medium | Heavy | Medium |
TL;DR: Kubechart = quick view/debug with zero setup. Use k9s or Lens when you need full cluster management.
SSH into a node, run npx kubechart, and immediately see cluster health. No setup, no port-forwarding.
Copy-paste the ASCII tree into Slack, tickets, or runbooks. Everyone sees the same cluster state instantly.
Export YAML/JSON snapshots for audit trails, disaster recovery docs, or cluster state baselines.
No external services needed. Works entirely offline with just kubeconfig and kubectl access.
No pods to deploy. No GUI to install. Just run and go.
npx kubechart