# Install k3d with Homebrew, chocolatey, MacPorts, Nix, scoop, winget Little helper to run CNCF's k3s in Docker. Version 5.9.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-02. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:k3d ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install k3d ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install k3d ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/k3d/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#k3d ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/k3/k3d/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Windows - Chocolatey (92%): ```sh choco install k3d ``` Evidence: Chocolatey community package catalog: k3d from http://community.chocolatey.org/api/v2/Packages?$filter=IsLatestVersion&$select=Id&$top=1000&$skiptoken='11','jetbrains-rider' - Scoop (92%): ```sh scoop install main/k3d ``` Evidence: Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/k3d.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - winget (92%): ```sh winget install --id k3d.k3d -e ``` Evidence: Windows Package Manager source index: k3d.k3d from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:k3d - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 5.9.0 - **Source summary:** Little helper to run CNCF's k3s in Docker - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** MIT - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-02T15:53:19Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T18:08:21+00:00 ## Executables - k3d (cli) - k3d (alias) ## Build dependencies - go ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 5.9.0 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-02 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/k3d-io/k3d - Upstream latest detected: v5.9.0 (current) ## Project history and usage k3d is a lightweight wrapper for running k3s Kubernetes clusters inside Docker containers, aimed at fast local development, testing, and CI workflows. ### Project history The k3d project traces its lineage to `zeerorg/k3s-in-docker`, was reimplemented in Go by Thorsten Klein, and was later adopted into Rancher before moving under the community-led k3d-io organization. Public releases began in April 2019, shortly after k3s itself made lightweight Kubernetes a popular target for local and edge experimentation. The v0.3.0 release was described as the first release in Rancher space, and the v1.0.0 release followed later that month. The project later went through larger rewrites and major-version lines, including the v3 and v5 eras, while keeping the same basic promise: create and destroy containerized k3s clusters quickly from a single CLI. ### Adoption history k3d became popular with developers who wanted a real Kubernetes API locally without a virtual machine-heavy setup. It sits alongside kind and minikube, but its k3s base gives it a particularly small and quick profile. The official k3s documentation lists k3d as a way to run k3s in Docker, which helped legitimize the tool for local development even though k3d's own README notes it is community-driven and not an official Rancher or SUSE product. ### How it is used Users commonly run `k3d cluster create` to start a local k3s cluster in Docker, then use kubeconfig output with kubectl and other Kubernetes tools. It is often used in CI jobs, demos, local operator development, and quick reproduction environments. ### Why package nerds care k3d is package-manager candy: one small CLI that summons an entire Kubernetes cluster by orchestrating Docker containers. It shows why local-cluster tools became standard developer dependencies once Kubernetes moved from production-only infrastructure into everyday application development. ### Timeline - 2019: k3d v0.0.1 was released in April as a k3s-in-Docker helper. - 2019: v0.3.0 was described as the first release in Rancher space. - 2019: v1.0.0 was released later in April. - 2020: v3 releases reflected a major rewrite and expanded cluster-management surface. - 2022: v5.4.0 moved k3d images to GitHub Container Registry. ### Related projects - k3d is built around k3s and Docker. It is commonly compared with kind and minikube, and it belongs to the broader family of local Kubernetes cluster tools. ### Sources - - - - - - - ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** k3d - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Nix - k3d: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/k3/k3d/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - MacPorts - k3d: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/k3d/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Chocolatey - k3d: normalized package name match | Chocolatey community package catalog: k3d from http://community.chocolatey.org/api/v2/Packages?$filter=IsLatestVersion&$select=Id&$top=1000&$skiptoken='11','jetbrains-rider' - Scoop - main/k3d: normalized package name match | Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/k3d.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - winget - k3d.k3d: normalized package name match | Windows Package Manager source index: k3d.k3d from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix ## Related links - [Cloud CLI packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/cloud-clis/) - Belongs to a cloud or infrastructure command family. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [go](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/go/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [devspace](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/devspace/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cloud-infrastructure, docker, kubernetes. - [k3sup](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/k3sup/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cloud-infrastructure, k3s, kubernetes. - [cdk8s](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cdk8s/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cloud-infrastructure, kubernetes. - [chaoskube](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/chaoskube/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cloud-infrastructure, kubernetes. - [click](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/click/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cloud-infrastructure, kubernetes. - [cloud-provider-kind](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cloud-provider-kind/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cloud-infrastructure, kubernetes. - [clusterawsadm](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/clusterawsadm/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cloud-infrastructure, kubernetes. - [clusterctl](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/clusterctl/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cloud-infrastructure, kubernetes. - [ctlptl](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ctlptl/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, cloud, cloud-infrastructure, infrastructure, k3d. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/k3d.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/k3d.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph