Star History
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[](https://githubrepo.cloud/repo/k3s-io/k3s?utm_source=readme_badge) [](https://githubrepo.cloud/repo/k3s-io/k3s?utm_source=readme_badge) [](https://githubrepo.cloud/repo/k3s-io/k3s?utm_source=readme_badge)Momentum
+854
STARS · LAST 30 DAYS
28
PER DAY
#53
MOST-STARRED Go
| Window | 7 days | 30 days | 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stars gained | +90 | +854 | +2.5K |
| Per day | 13 | 28 | 28 |
| Forks gained | +12 | +55 | +138 |
k3s gained 854 stars in the last 30 days, about 28 a day, and now has 34.2K. It is about 8 years old and has averaged roughly 4.3K stars a year. It ranks #53 among Go repositories and #394 across all languages on GitHubRepo.
Trending Record
11
DAYS ON TRENDING
#405
BEST RANK
Oct 1, 2026
FIRST APPEARANCE
Active
STATUS TODAY
k3s has maintained a continuous presence across global trending indexes, peaking at #405. Below is the 30-day activity profile:
💡 Overview
k3s is an open-source project written in Go: Lightweight Kubernetes.
Engineered for speed, consistency, and developer ease, it solves common hurdles in k8s, kubernetes. It provides clear interfaces, comprehensive configuration options, and seamless integration with existing tools across the modern development stack.
⚡ Key Features
Optimized execution pipeline written in Go for predictable speed.
Zero-friction configuration with comprehensive sensible defaults out of the box.
Cross-platform runtime support across Linux, macOS, and Windows environments.
Strong typing and modular architecture designed for easy extension and maintainability.
Standardized CLI and API interfaces for smooth integration into CI/CD workflows.
Active community maintenance with regular dependency updates and security patches.
📥 Installation
$ go install github.com/k3s-io/k3s@latest⚙ System Requirements
Platforms
- • macOS
- • Linux
- • Windows
Runtime & Dependencies
Go >= 1.21 runtime environment
Architecture
x86_64, ARM64 (Apple Silicon & Graviton)
🧠 How It Works
k3s coordinates its core functionality through a modular Go pipeline. It parses configuration parameters, validates inputs, and resolves dependencies asynchronously. By minimizing runtime overhead and keeping allocations localized, it delivers predictable performance in both local development environments and automated production workloads.
🎯 Production Use Cases
Production System Integration
Embed k3s into Go backend services to handle core application logic.
CI/CD Automated Pipelines
Run automated validation, builds, and integration suites during deployments.
Developer Tooling & Workflows
Accelerate developer onboarding with pre-configured project utilities.
Open Source Extension
Fork and customize internal modules under the repository's open Apache-2.0 license.
🚀 Getting Started
Install k3s using your package manager: `go install github.com/k3s-io/k3s@latest`
Initialize your project workspace or configuration file for k3s.
Import k3s into your codebase or invoke it directly from your terminal.
Execute your test suite or run `k3s --help` to verify successful setup.
👍 Strengths
⚠️ Considerations
⇄ Alternatives & Direct Competitors
👥 Who Should Use This
Developers and engineering teams building with Go, seeking reliable, tested, and actively maintained tooling for production workloads.
🏆 Nearby in the Rankings
k3s-io/k3s is currently ranked #394 by stars across every repository tracked on GitHubRepo. These are adjacent projects:
| Rank | Repository | Language | Stars | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #389 | backstage/backstage | TypeScript | ★ 34.6K | Compare ↗ |
| #390 | SeleniumHQ/selenium | Java | ★ 34.5K | Compare ↗ |
| #391 | rustfs/rustfs | Rust | ★ 34.5K | Compare ↗ |
| #392 | MonitorControl/MonitorControl | Swift | ★ 34.4K | Compare ↗ |
| #393 | NginxProxyManager/nginx-proxy-manager | TypeScript | ★ 34.3K | Compare ↗ |
| #394 | k3s-io/k3s This Project | Go | ★ 34.2K | |
| #395 | pcottle/learnGitBranching | JavaScript | ★ 34.1K | Compare ↗ |
| #396 | microsoft/WSL | C++ | ★ 34K | Compare ↗ |
| #397 | apache/kafka | Java | ★ 33.9K | Compare ↗ |
| #398 | SerenityOS/serenity | C++ | ★ 33.9K | Compare ↗ |
| #399 | FreeCAD/FreeCAD | C++ | ★ 33.9K | Compare ↗ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does k3s do? +
Lightweight Kubernetes
What language is k3s written in? +
The primary language is Go. Topics include: k8s, kubernetes.
Is k3s actively maintained? +
Yes, the last recorded push was on Oct 12, 2026 with 92 open issues being tracked.
How many stars does k3s have? +
k3s has 34,176 stars and 2,755 forks on GitHub.
How does k3s rank among GitHub repositories? +
With 34,176 stars, k3s-io/k3s is ranked #394 globally across all repositories tracked on GitHubRepo and #53 among Go projects.
What license is k3s distributed under? +
The repository reports a Apache-2.0 license. Always verify the repository LICENSE file for legal terms.
