Minikube
Minikube is a lightweight, open-source tool that allows developers to run a single-node Kubernetes cluster locally on their machine. It creates a virtual machine (VM) or container that simulates a Kubernetes environment, enabling local development, testing, and learning of Kubernetes applications without needing a full-scale cloud cluster. It supports various hypervisors and container runtimes, making it accessible across different operating systems.
Developers should learn Minikube when they need to develop, test, or debug Kubernetes applications locally before deploying to production clusters, as it provides a sandboxed environment that mimics real Kubernetes behavior. It is particularly useful for learning Kubernetes concepts, experimenting with configurations, and running CI/CD pipelines in isolated setups, reducing costs and complexity compared to cloud-based clusters.