Introduction to KFtray
KFtray is a collection of applications designed to simplify Kubernetes port forwarding management. The suite includes two main interfaces:
- KFtray GUI: A system tray application with a graphical user interface
- KFtui: A terminal-based user interface
Why kftray?
When working with Kubernetes, developers often face several challenges with the native kubectl port-forward command:
- Manual reconnection required when connections drop
- Limited to TCP protocol only
- Single pod forwarding at a time
- Difficult configuration management
kftray addresses these limitations by providing:
- Automatic reconnection for resilient connections
- Support for both TCP and UDP protocols
- Multiple simultaneous port forwards
- Centralized configuration management
- GitHub synchronization for team collaboration
- HTTP traffic logging for debugging
Core Features
Both KFtray and KFtui share these essential features:
Common Capabilities
Port Forwarding
Support for TCP and UDP protocols with automatic reconnection
Configuration Management
Import, export, and share configurations via JSON files
GitHub Integration
Sync configurations with GitHub repositories
Auto Import
Import configurations from Kubernetes service annotations
Feature Comparison
| Feature | KFtray (GUI) | KFtui (Terminal) |
|---|---|---|
| TCP/UDP Forwarding | ✅ | ✅ |
| Multiple Port Forwards | ✅ | ✅ |
| GitHub Sync | ✅ | ✅ |
| HTTP Traffic Logging | ✅ | Coming Soon |
| System Tray Integration | ✅ | ❌ |
| Resource Usage | Moderate | Light |
| Direct Config Editing | ✅ | Coming Soon |
Getting Started
Choose your preferred interface and follow the corresponding installation guide: