Repolode
Submit
kurtosis-tech

kurtosis-tech/kurtosis

A platform for packaging and launching ephemeral backend stacks, including blockchain infrastructure, on Docker or Kubernetes with one command.

Open-source alternative to:Docker Compose

View on GitHubWebsite
Stars
558
Forks
100
Open issues
290
Last commit
6 days ago

What is it?

Kurtosis handles the setup work of spinning up ephemeral development or test stacks, so developers can focus on building rather than configuring. Stack definitions are written as packages that can be distributed, parameterized, and imported into larger stacks, with one-liner commands for running a shared setup.

The project is formed of a packaging system for backend stack definitions, a runtime with per-stack file management for reproducibly initializing stack state, and a set of CLI tools for interacting with running stacks much as one would with Docker or Kubernetes. Stacks can run on either the Docker engine or Kubernetes. Packages can also pass data between services during startup and enforce custom wait conditions.

The maintainers state that Kurtosis is not recommended for long-term production environments at this time.

Key features

  • 01Package backend stack definitions that can be shared and run with one-liner commands.
  • 02Runs stacks on either the Docker engine or Kubernetes.
  • 03Per-stack file management for reproducible state initialization.
  • 04Parameterized packages that can be imported into larger stacks.
  • 05CLI tools for inspecting and interacting with running enclaves.

Use cases

  • Spinning up a shared blockchain test network for local development.
  • Running the same stack definition in local dev, scheduled CI tests, and large-scale Kubernetes tests.
  • Letting contributors to an open source project start a complex multi-service setup quickly.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Install Kurtosis using the instructions at docs.kurtosis.com/install

  2. 2

    Run the Redis voting app Kurtosis package

    kurtosis run github.com/kurtosis-tech/awesome-kurtosis/redis-voting-app
  3. 3

    Open the http link printed in the last line of the output in your browser

Things to know

  • The README says not to use Kurtosis for long-term production environments at this time.
  • Stacks run on Docker or Kubernetes, so one of those engines must be available.

In collections

Testing frameworks & test automation tools

Topics

#blockchain#docker#kubernetes#devops#testing#containerization#infrastructure#backend#cicd#deploy

FAQ

What is kurtosis?
A platform for packaging and launching ephemeral backend stacks, including blockchain infrastructure, on Docker or Kubernetes with one command. Kurtosis handles the setup work of spinning up ephemeral development or test stacks, so developers can focus on building rather than configuring. Stack definitions are written as packages that can be distributed, parameterized, and imported into larger stacks, with one-liner commands for running a shared setup.
Is kurtosis free to use? What license does it have?
kurtosis is open source under the Apache-2.0 license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is kurtosis still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to kurtosis was on Nov 2, 2026.
What can I use kurtosis for?
Spinning up a shared blockchain test network for local development. Running the same stack definition in local dev, scheduled CI tests, and large-scale Kubernetes tests. Letting contributors to an open source project start a complex multi-service setup quickly.
How do I install kurtosis?
Install Kurtosis using the instructions at docs.kurtosis.com/install Run the Redis voting app Kurtosis package: kurtosis run github.com/kurtosis-tech/awesome-kurtosis/redis-voting-app Open the http link printed in the last line of the output in your browser
Where can I get kurtosis?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/kurtosis-tech/kurtosis

Summary generated by AI from the project's README. GitHub stats refresh daily.

Related projects