Documentation | Getting Started | User Guide | API Reference | MCP (AI Integration) kubefwd enables developers to work on their local machine while seamlessly accessing services running in a Kubernetes cluster. If you're building a new API that needs to connect to a database at db:5432, an auth service at auth:443, and a cache at redis:6379, all running in your development cluster, kubefwd makes t
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npx mdskills install txn2/kubefwdComprehensive Kubernetes port forwarding tool with excellent documentation and clear use cases
1# kubefwd (Kube Forward)2345[](https://landscape.cncf.io/?item=app-definition-and-development--application-definition-image-build--kubefwd)6[](https://github.com/txn2/kubefwd/blob/master/LICENSE)7[](https://codecov.io/gh/txn2/kubefwd)8[](https://goreportcard.com/report/github.com/txn2/kubefwd)9[](https://github.com/txn2/kubefwd/releases)10[](https://github.com/txn2/kubefwd/releases)11[](https://scorecard.dev/viewer/?uri=github.com/txn2/kubefwd)12[](https://www.bestpractices.dev/projects/11659)13[](https://slsa.dev)141516**[Documentation](https://kubefwd.com)** | **[Getting Started](https://kubefwd.com/getting-started/)** | **[User Guide](https://kubefwd.com/user-guide/)** | **[API Reference](https://kubefwd.com/api-reference/)** | **[MCP (AI Integration)](https://kubefwd.com/mcp-integration/)**1718## Develop Locally, Connect to Kubernetes1920**kubefwd** enables developers to work on their local machine while seamlessly accessing services running in a Kubernetes cluster. If you're building a new API that needs to connect to a database at `db:5432`, an auth service at `auth:443`, and a cache at `redis:6379`, all running in your development cluster, kubefwd makes them available locally by their service names, exactly as they would appear in-cluster. No environment-specific configuration, no local service setup, no Docker Compose files. Just run `kubefwd` and your application's existing connection strings work.2122This is the essential use case: **reduce or eliminate environment-specific connection setup and configurations** during local development. Your code uses `http://api-gateway:8080` in production? It works the same way on your laptop with kubefwd.2324> Bulk Kubernetes port forwarding with an interactive TUI, unique IPs per service, and automatic reconnection.2526**kubefwd** is a command-line utility that bulk port forwards Kubernetes services to your local workstation. Each service gets its own unique loopback IP (127.x.x.x), eliminating port conflicts and enabling realistic local development with cluster services accessible by name.27282930## Quick Start3132```bash33# Install (macOS)34brew install kubefwd3536# Forward all services in a namespace with the interactive TUI37sudo -E kubefwd svc -n my-namespace --tui38```3940Press `?` for help, `q` to quit. See [Getting Started](https://kubefwd.com/getting-started/) for detailed installation and setup.4142## How It Works4344<div align="center">45 <img width="654" alt="kubefwd - Kubernetes Port Forward Diagram" src="https://mk.imti.co/images/content/kubefwd-net.png">46</div>4748kubefwd discovers services in your namespace, assigns each a unique loopback IP, updates `/etc/hosts` with service names, and establishes port forwards through the Kubernetes API. Access services by name just like in-cluster:4950```bash51curl http://api-service:808052mysql -h database -P 330653redis-cli -h cache -p 637954```5556## Features5758- **Interactive TUI**: Real-time service monitoring with traffic metrics59- **Unique IP per Service**: Each service gets its own 127.x.x.x address60- **Auto-Reconnect**: Reconnects when pods restart or connections drop61- **Bulk Forwarding**: Forward all services in a namespace with one command62- **Live Traffic Monitoring**: See bytes in/out and HTTP activity63- **Pod Log Streaming**: View container logs in the TUI64- **REST API**: Programmatic control via HTTP endpoints65- **MCP Support**: Integration with AI assistants (Claude Code, Cursor)6667## Installation6869**macOS:**70```bash71brew install kubefwd72```7374**Linux:** Download `.deb`, `.rpm`, or `.tar.gz` from [releases](https://github.com/txn2/kubefwd/releases)7576**Windows:**77```powershell78winget install txn2.kubefwd79# or80scoop install kubefwd81```8283**Docker:**84```bash85docker run -it --rm --privileged \86 -v "$HOME/.kube:/root/.kube:ro" \87 txn2/kubefwd services -n my-namespace --tui88```8990## Usage9192```bash93# Interactive mode (recommended)94sudo -E kubefwd svc -n default --tui9596# Multiple namespaces97sudo -E kubefwd svc -n default,staging --tui9899# Filter by label100sudo -E kubefwd svc -n default -l app=api --tui101102# With REST API enabled103sudo -E kubefwd svc -n default --tui --api104```105106## Why kubefwd?107108Unlike `kubectl port-forward`, kubefwd:109110| Feature | kubectl port-forward | kubefwd |111|---------|---------------------|---------|112| Services per command | One | All in namespace |113| IP allocation | localhost only | Unique IP per service |114| Port conflicts | Manual management | None (unique IPs) |115| Service name resolution | Not supported | Automatic (/etc/hosts) |116| Auto-reconnect | No | Yes |117| Real-time monitoring | No | TUI with metrics |118119See [Comparison](https://kubefwd.com/comparison/) for detailed comparisons with Telepresence, mirrord, and other tools.120121## Documentation122123Full documentation at **[kubefwd.com](https://kubefwd.com)**:124125- [Getting Started](https://kubefwd.com/getting-started/) - Installation and setup126- [User Guide](https://kubefwd.com/user-guide/) - Interface and shortcuts127- [Configuration](https://kubefwd.com/configuration/) - CLI options128- [Advanced Usage](https://kubefwd.com/advanced-usage/) - Multi-cluster, selectors129- [REST API](https://kubefwd.com/api-reference/) - API reference130- [MCP Integration](https://kubefwd.com/mcp-integration/) - AI assistant setup131- [Troubleshooting](https://kubefwd.com/troubleshooting/) - Common issues132- [Architecture](https://kubefwd.com/architecture/) - Technical details133- [Comparison](https://kubefwd.com/comparison/) - vs Telepresence, mirrord134135## Requirements136137- kubectl configured with cluster access138- Root/sudo access (for /etc/hosts and network interfaces)139140## Contributing141142We welcome contributions for bug fixes, tests, and documentation. Feature development is limited to maintainers. See [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md).143144## License145146[Apache License 2.0](LICENSE)147148---149150Open source by [Craig Johnston](https://twitter.com/cjimti), sponsored by [Deasil Works, Inc.](https://deasil.works/)151
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