Docker Desktop

Docker Desktop is a great way to get a local development cluster on your Mac or Windows machine. With a few easy steps, you get a single-node Kubernetes cluster that you can develop and test with.

It works by creating a virtual machine (VM) on your laptop and starting a single-node Kubernetes cluster inside that VM. It also configures a kubectl client with context that allows it to talk to the cluster. Finally, you get a simple GUI that lets you perform basic operations, such as switching between all of your kubectl contexts.

Note: A kubectl context is a bunch of settings that decide which cluster to send commands to and which credentials to authenticate with. .

1. Go to www.docker.com and choose Products > Desktop.

2. Follow the links to download for either Mac or Windows.

   You may need to login to the Docker Store. Accounts are free and so is the product.

3. Open the installer and follow the simple installation instructions.

   Once the installer is complete, you’ll get a whale icon on the Windows taskbar, or the menu bar on a Mac.

4. Click the whale icon (you may need to right-click it), go to Settings, and enable Kubernetes from the Kubernetes tab.

You can open a terminal window and see your cluster: