# k0sproject/k0s

k0s - The Zero Friction Kubernetes

Repository: https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/k0s
Homepage: https://docs.k0sproject.io
Language: Go
License: NOASSERTION
License Family: other
Topics: kubernetes
Last push: 2026-08-26T21:15:48+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 94/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:39:23.370411+00:00)
- activity 99, release rhythm 85, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 2275, "days_push": 7, "days_rel": 21, "gap_med": 0.0, "n_releases_24m": 81}
- flags: no_license
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 6452, forks 523 (observed 2026-08-28T04:09:43.497730+00:00)

## What it is
k0s is an open-source, all-inclusive CNCF-certified Kubernetes distribution packaged as a single binary with zero host OS dependencies beyond the kernel. It simplifies bootstrapping and running Kubernetes clusters on any cloud, bare metal, edge, or IoT environment.

## Use cases
- set up a kubernetes cluster in minutes
- run kubernetes on edge or iot devices
- install kubernetes on bare metal
- deploy kubernetes in an airgapped environment
- run a lightweight single-node kubernetes cluster
- manage multi-node kubernetes clusters with k0sctl
- run kubernetes in docker for testing

## When to choose
- you want a certified kubernetes distribution with minimal setup friction
- you need a single static binary with no host OS package dependencies
- you are deploying to edge, IoT, or resource-constrained environments
- you need airgap or offline installation support

## When to avoid
- you need a managed kubernetes service with vendor support
- you require deep customization of individual control plane components
- you are already standardized on another distribution like k3s or OpenShift

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: active
- function: container-orchestration, deployment, self-hosted, developer-tools
- domain: cloud-computing, infrastructure-as-code, iot
- platform: self-hosted, cloud, cli
- tags: kubernetes, kubernetes-distribution, single-binary, edge-computing, cncf-certified, bare-metal, airgap-installation, containers, devops, linux, docker

## Member repositories
- k0sproject/k0s (main) score 94

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:09:43.497730+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-29T17:44:39.276137+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s (fetched 2026-08-28T04:09:43.497730+00:00, sha b6e22b9b380c)
  - homepage: https://docs.k0sproject.io (fetched 2026-08-29T08:41:20.783031+00:00, sha 0cc59130a56d)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.