> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.gotempest.app/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.gotempest.app/productivity/kubernetes-profiles.md).

# Kubernetes Profiles

Tempest manages your **kubeconfig** files as first-class connection profiles. Each profile gets its own tab with the `KUBECONFIG` environment variable pre-set, so `kubectl`, `helm`, `k9s`, `kustomize`, and any other CLI tool just work — no manual context switching.

This solves the everyday "which cluster am I talking to?" problem: dev cluster in tab 1, staging in tab 2, prod in tab 3 — never type `kubectl config use-context` again.

## Add a kubeconfig

1. Open the **New Kubeconfig** dialog.

   <figure><img src="/files/dCPjGzxYcJFVl9KBSSVA" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
2. Paste a kubeconfig YAML or load from a file. Tempest parses the contexts inside.
3. Click **Connect**. Tempest opens your local terminal with `KUBECONFIG` already pointing at this profile.

## Use kubectl, helm, k9s

Inside the tab, run any tool exactly as you would in a normal shell:

```bash
kubectl get pods -A
helm list -A
k9s
```

**Tip**: keep one kubeconfig profile open per cluster — different tabs can target different clusters at the same time without env-var conflicts.

## Install the Kubernetes CLI

Tempest doesn't bundle `kubectl` — install it once with your platform's package manager.

| Platform            | Install command                                                                             |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **macOS**           | `brew install kubectl` (requires [Homebrew](https://brew.sh))                               |
| **Windows**         | `scoop install kubectl` (requires [Scoop](https://scoop.sh))                                |
| **Ubuntu / Debian** | See [official install guide](https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/tools/install-kubectl-linux/) |

For `helm` and `k9s` use the same package managers (`brew install helm k9s`, `scoop install helm k9s`).

## See also

* [SSH Client for Teleport, Cloudflare Access, AWS SSM, GCP IAP & Tailscale](/connect-to-servers/ssh-client-for-teleport-cloudflare-access-aws-ssm-gcp-iap-and-tailscale.md) — many production Kubernetes clusters live behind these zero-trust gateways
* [Tempest AI Assistant](/productivity/tempest-ai-assistant.md) — ask the AI to draft `kubectl` commands and pipe results back into the terminal