k9s

# Start k9s
k9s

# Target a specific namespace
k9s -n staging

# Use a specific kubeconfig context
k9s --context prod-cluster

# Read-only mode (no mutations)
k9s --readonly

?          Show help / all key bindings
:          Command mode (type a resource name)
/          Filter current list (regex supported)
Esc        Go back / clear filter
Ctrl+a     Show all resources (alias list)
Ctrl+e     Toggle header
Ctrl+r     Refresh current view
q          Quit k9s

# Navigate to resource type by name or alias
:pods          (or :po)
:deployments   (or :deploy)
:services      (or :svc)
:nodes         (or :no)
:namespaces    (or :ns)
:configmaps    (or :cm)
:secrets
:events        (or :ev)
:ingress       (or :ing)
:hpa
:pv / :pvc
:crds          (custom resource definitions)

# On a selected pod:
l        Stream logs
Shift+l  Previous container logs
e        Exec into container (opens shell)
d        Describe resource (kubectl describe)
s        Shell (exec /bin/sh)
Ctrl+k   Kill / delete pod
f        Port-forward (prompts for local:remote)
y        Show YAML
Ctrl+d   Diff current YAML vs live

# Inside log view:
w        Toggle line wrap
f        Toggle full-screen
/        Filter log lines (regex)
0        Show all containers
Ctrl+s   Save logs to file (~/.k9s/logs/)
Shift+s  Toggle timestamps

# Sort columns (in list view)
Shift+o  Sort by age (oldest first)
Shift+n  Sort by name
Shift+r  Sort by restarts
Shift+c  Sort by CPU
Shift+m  Sort by memory
Shift+t  Sort by namespace

# Filter by label
/app=my-service    (filter pods by label)
/-n production     (filter by namespace prefix)

# Node view (:nodes)
c        Cordon node
u        Uncordon node
d        Describe node
Shift+p  Show pods on this node
Ctrl+k   Drain node (prompts)

# Cluster-level
:ctx     Switch kubeconfig context
:helm    Browse Helm releases
:pu      PodDisruptionBudgets

# Config location
~/.config/k9s/config.yaml   (main config)
~/.config/k9s/aliases.yaml  (custom aliases)
~/.config/k9s/hotkeys.yaml  (custom hotkeys)
~/.config/k9s/skins/        (colour themes)

# Example alias (aliases.yaml)
aliases:
  dp: deployments
  rs: replicasets