Carvel
A set of reliable, single-purpose, composable tools that aid in your application building, configuration, and deployment to Kubernetes.
Overview
Carvel is a collection of single-purpose, composable tools for building, configuring, and deploying applications to Kubernetes. It includes ytt for templating, kapp for deployment, kbld for building images, and imgpkg for packaging resources. This suite offers a powerful, modular alternative to monolithic tools.
✨ Key Features
- ytt: YAML templating with Python-like syntax
- kapp: Application-aware deployment tool
- kbld: Image building and resolution
- imgpkg: Packaging files into OCI images
- Composability of tools
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Modular, composable toolchain
- Powerful and structured YAML templating (ytt)
- Application-centric deployment model (kapp)
Unique Value: Offers a set of focused, composable tools that provide a transparent and flexible way to manage the entire lifecycle of a Kubernetes application.
🎯 Use Cases (4)
✅ Best For
- Used extensively within the VMware Tanzu portfolio for application lifecycle management.
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Users looking for a single, all-in-one tool
- Simple deployments not requiring advanced templating or packaging
🏆 Alternatives
Unlike Helm's string-based templating, Carvel's ytt understands YAML structure, preventing syntax errors. Its multi-tool approach provides more explicit control over each step of the process.
💻 Platforms
✅ Offline Mode Available
🔌 Integrations
💰 Pricing
Free tier: Fully open-source and free.
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