---
name: k8s-cli
description: kubectl-mcp-server CLI commands for tool discovery, direct invocation, and diagnostics. Use when exploring available tools, calling tools from command line, or checking server health.
license: Apache-2.0
metadata:
author: rohitg00
version: "1.0.0"
tools: 0
category: tooling
---
# kubectl-mcp-server CLI
Command-line interface for kubectl-mcp-server operations.
## When to Apply
Use this skill when:
- User mentions: "CLI", "command line", "tool discovery", "server health"
- Operations: listing tools, calling tools directly, checking dependencies
- Keywords: "doctor", "tools list", "call", "grep", "info"
## Priority Rules
| Priority | Rule | Impact | Tools |
|----------|------|--------|-------|
| 1 | Run doctor to check dependencies | CRITICAL | `kubectl-mcp-server doctor` |
| 2 | Use tools -d for descriptions | HIGH | `kubectl-mcp-server tools -d` |
| 3 | Use grep for tool discovery | MEDIUM | `kubectl-mcp-server grep` |
| 4 | Use call for direct invocation | MEDIUM | `kubectl-mcp-server call` |
## Quick Reference
| Task | Command | Example |
|------|---------|---------|
| List tools | `tools -d` | `kubectl-mcp-server tools -d` |
| Search tools | `grep` | `kubectl-mcp-server grep "*pod*"` |
| Call tool | `call` | `kubectl-mcp-server call get_pods '{"namespace": "default"}'` |
| Check health | `doctor` | `kubectl-mcp-server doctor` |
## Server Commands
### Start Server
```bash
# stdio transport (for Claude Desktop)
kubectl-mcp-server serve
# HTTP transport (for remote clients)
kubectl-mcp-server serve --transport streamable-http --port 8000
# With debug logging
MCP_DEBUG=true kubectl-mcp-server serve
```
### Check Health
```bash
# Verify dependencies
kubectl-mcp-server doctor
# Shows:
# ✓ kubectl: found
# ✓ helm: found
# ✓ kubeconfig: valid
# ✓ cluster: connected
```
## Tool Discovery
### List Tools
```bash
# List all tools
kubectl-mcp-server tools
# List with descriptions
kubectl-mcp-server tools -d
# JSON output
kubectl-mcp-server tools --json
```
### Search Tools
```bash
# Search by pattern
kubectl-mcp-server grep "*pod*"
kubectl-mcp-server grep "*helm*"
kubectl-mcp-server grep "*velero*"
# Results show matching tool names
```
### Tool Schema
```bash
# Show tool parameters
kubectl-mcp-server tools get_pods
kubectl-mcp-server tools install_helm_chart
# Shows:
# - Description
# - Parameters (name, type, required)
# - Return type
```
## Direct Tool Invocation
### Call Tools
```bash
# Call with JSON arguments
kubectl-mcp-server call get_pods '{"namespace": "default"}'
# Call with stdin
echo '{"namespace": "kube-system"}' | kubectl-mcp-server call get_pods
# Call with no arguments
kubectl-mcp-server call get_namespaces '{}'
```
### Examples
```bash
# Get pods
kubectl-mcp-server call get_pods '{"namespace": "default"}'
# Describe pod
kubectl-mcp-server call describe_pod '{"name": "nginx-xxx", "namespace": "default"}'
# Get logs
kubectl-mcp-server call get_pod_logs '{"name": "nginx-xxx", "namespace": "default"}'
# Scale deployment
kubectl-mcp-server call scale_deployment '{"name": "nginx", "namespace": "default", "replicas": 3}'
# Install helm chart
kubectl-mcp-server call install_helm_chart '{
"name": "my-release",
"chart": "bitnami/nginx",
"namespace": "default"
}'
```
## Context Management
```bash
# Show current context
kubectl-mcp-server context
# Switch context
kubectl-mcp-server context production
# List available contexts
kubectl-mcp-server call list_contexts_tool '{}'
```
## Server Info
```bash
# Show server information
kubectl-mcp-server info
# Shows:
# - Version
# - Tool count
# - Resource count
# - Prompt count
```
## MCP Resources
```bash
# List available resources
kubectl-mcp-server resources
# Resources:
# - cluster://status
# - namespaces://list
# - pods://{namespace}
# - deployments://{namespace}
# - services://{namespace}
# - events://{namespace}
# - nodes://list
# - contexts://list
```
## MCP Prompts
```bash
# List available prompts
kubectl-mcp-server prompts
# Prompts:
# - troubleshoot-pod
# - deploy-application
# - security-audit
# - cost-optimization
# - incident-response
# - helm-workflow
# - gitops-sync
# - multi-cluster-compare
```
## Environment Variables
```bash
# Core
export MCP_DEBUG=true # Enable debug logging
export MCP_LOG_FILE=/var/log/mcp.log # Log to file
export NO_COLOR=1 # Disable colors
# Browser (optional)
export MCP_BROWSER_ENABLED=true
export MCP_BROWSER_PROVIDER=browserbase
export BROWSERBASE_API_KEY=bb_...
```
## Claude Desktop Configuration
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"kubectl": {
"command": "kubectl-mcp-server",
"args": ["serve"]
}
}
}
```
## Shell Aliases
```bash
# Add to ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc
alias kmcp='kubectl-mcp-server'
alias kmcp-tools='kubectl-mcp-server tools -d'
alias kmcp-call='kubectl-mcp-server call'
alias kmcp-grep='kubectl-mcp-server grep'
```
## Related Skills
- [k8s-core](../k8s-core/SKILL.md) - Core resource tools
- [k8s-diagnostics](../k8s-diagnostics/SKILL.md) - Diagnostic tools
