Separate kubectl user preferences from cluster configs

[eddiezane]

Enhancement Description

• One-line enhancement description (can be used as a release note): Implement a .kuberc file to separate user preferences from cluster configs.
• Kubernetes Enhancement Proposal: https://github.com/kubernetes/enhancements/blob/master/keps/sig-cli/3104-introduce-kuberc/README.md
• Discussion Link: https://groups.google.com/g/kubernetes-dev/c/y4Q20V3dyOk/m/ozSUR3dJDQAJ
• Primary contact (assignee): @ardaguclu @soltysh
• PRs by stage and milestone:
  • Alpha - v1.33
    • KEP (k/enhancements) update PR(s):
      • KEP-3104: Introduce kuberc #3392
      • KEP-3104: Introduce kuberc - update for 1.31 #4705
      • KEP-3104: Update latest milestone to 1.32 #4860
      • Update kuberc example with finalized version #4925
    • Code (k/k) update PR(s): Introduce kuberc as new flag to customize defaulting and define aliases in kubectl kubernetes#125230
    • Docs (k/website) update PR(s):
      • Add KUBECTL_KUBERC environment variable description website#49722
  • Beta - v1.34
    • KEP (k/enhancements) update PR(s): KEP-3104: promote kuberc to beta #5300
    • Code (k/k) update PR(s):
      • Continue alias creation when __completion is used to enable completion kubernetes#131586
      • Manually read verbosity before kubectl command construction kubernetes#131668
      • Promote kuberc to beta kubernetes#131619 replaced with Promote kuberc to beta kubernetes#131818
      • Deprecate kubeconfig's preference field in favor of kuberc kubernetes#131741
      • Add e2e tests for kuberc kubernetes#131757
      • kuberc: add tests for DefaultGetPreferences kubernetes#132055
      • kuberc: additional tests kubernetes#132347
    • Docs (k/website) update(s):
      • Add config API for kuberc v1alpha1 website#50961
      • Add documents for kuberc website#50913
      • [KEP-3104] Kuberc beta website#51351
      • blog: 2025-XX-XX [KEP-3104] kuberc blog website#51376
      • reference-docs: Add config API for kuberc v1beta1 kubernetes-sigs/reference-docs#396
  • Beta2 - v1.35
    • KEP (k/enhancements) update PR(s):
      • [KEP-3104] Update KEP with credential plugin allowlist #5479
      • KEP-3104: Add kubectl kuberc command section #5572
    • Code (k/k) update PR(s):
      • [WIP] Add credential plugin allowlist to kuberc kubernetes#133688 -> Add client-go credential plugin allowlist to kuberc kubernetes#134870
      • Introduce kuberc view/set commands under kubectl alpha kubernetes#135003
    • Docs (k/website) update PR(s):
      • Update documentation for KEP-3104 website#52877
      • KEP-3104 Feature Blog entry website#52987
  • Beta3 - v1.36
    • KEP (k/enhancements) update PR(s):
      • KEP-3104: Update latest milesone #5815
      • KEP-3104 Add kubectl kuberc options for plugin policy/allowlist #5896
    • Code (k/k) update PR(s):
      • Promote kubectl kuberc commands to beta kubernetes#136643
      • Add credential pluginkubectl kuberc set options kubernetes#137300
    • Docs (k/website) update PR(s):
      • Placeholder Docs PR for KEP-3104 in 1.36 website#54525 replaced with Document kubectl kuberc set --section credentialplugin website#55090
  • Stable - v1.38
    • KEP (k/enhancements) update PR(s):
      • KEP-3104: promote kuberc to stable #6350
    • Code (k/k) update PR(s):
    • Docs (k/website) update(s):
      • Add a task page for setting up kuberc website#50988

Please keep this description up to date. This will help the Enhancement Team to track the evolution of the enhancement efficiently.

[k8s-triage-robot]

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/lifecycle stale

[soltysh]

/milestone v1.25
/stage alpha

[jasonbraganza]

Hello @eddiezane 👋, 1.25 Enhancements team here.

Just checking in as we approach enhancements freeze on 18:00 PST on Thursday June 23, 2022.

For note, This enhancement is targeting for stage alpha for 1.25 (correct me, if otherwise)

Here's where this enhancement currently stands:

• KEP file using the latest template has been merged into the k/enhancements repo.
• KEP status is marked as implementable
• KEP has a updated detailed test plan section filled out
• KEP has up to date graduation criteria
• KEP has a production readiness review that has been completed and merged into k/enhancements.

Looks like for this one, we would need to update the following in the open PR #3392:

• Please update the status from provisional to implementable in the kep.yaml file
• Add a PRR approval file for stage alpha
• Please update the Test Plan and the Graduation Criteria sections in the README.md with details as appropriate.

For note, the status of this enhancement is marked as at risk. Please keep the issue description up-to-date with appropriate stages as well. Thank you!

[jasonbraganza]

Hello @eddiezane 👋🏿 Just checking in, as we are four days away from the enhancements freeze on Thursday, June 23, 2022 at 18:00 PM PT.

Please get the open PR #3392 merged with the suggestions in the previous comment

Please note: the current status of the enhancement is at-risk.
Thank you.

[parul5sahoo]

Hi @eddiezane 👋

Checking in once more as we approach 1.25 code freeze at 01:00 UTC on Wednesday, 3rd August 2022.

Please ensure the following items are completed:

• All PRs to the Kubernetes repo that are related to your enhancement are linked in the above issue description (for tracking purposes).

• All PRs are fully merged by the code freeze deadline.

There seems to no open or close PR in k/k. However, correct me if I am wrong and enlist the open or merged PRs in the comments. So, that we can mark the enhancement as tracked.

As always, we are here to help should questions come up.

Thanks!!