Skip to content

Usage

Apply or validate a manifest

  1. Open a Kubernetes YAML manifest in VS Code.
  2. Use the Code Lens buttons above the apiVersion line:
  3. ▶ Apply – runs kubectl apply -f <file>
  4. ✓ Validate – runs kubectl apply --dry-run=client -f <file>
  5. Review results in the Kubernetes Manifest Applier output channel.

Context menu actions

  • Editor: Right-click a manifest file → Apply Manifest or Validate Manifest.
  • Explorer: Right-click a YAML manifest → Apply Manifest.
  • Explorer (Kustomize): Right-click kustomization.yaml → Build with Kustomize or Apply Kustomize.

Command Palette

Press Cmd+Shift+P (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) and run:

  • Kubernetes: Apply Manifest
  • Kubernetes: Validate Manifest
  • Kubernetes: Build with Kustomize
  • Kubernetes: Apply Kustomize

Configuration options

Configure via Settings ➜ Extensions ➜ Kubernetes Manifest Applier or settings.json:

{
  "k8s-manifest.enableCodeLens": true,
  "k8s-manifest.kubectlContext": "",
  "k8s-manifest.kubectlNamespace": "",
  "k8s-manifest.dryRun": false,
  "k8s-manifest.useKubernetesExtension": false
}

VSCode Kubernetes Extension Integration

When k8s-manifest.useKubernetesExtension is enabled, this extension will automatically use the context and namespace from the VSCode Kubernetes Extension if it's installed. This allows you to:

  • Use the same context/namespace shown in the Kubernetes extension's explorer
  • Avoid manually configuring context and namespace in multiple places
  • Automatically sync with context/namespace changes made in the Kubernetes extension

Note: Manual settings (k8s-manifest.kubectlContext and k8s-manifest.kubectlNamespace) take precedence over values from the Kubernetes extension.

Output and logging

  • All command output is routed to the Kubernetes Manifest Applier output channel.
  • Success and error notifications include a quick link to open the channel.

Sample workflows

  • Validate before applying: enable k8s-manifest.dryRun or click ✓ Validate first.
  • Work in a specific namespace: set k8s-manifest.kubectlNamespace in Settings.
  • Apply a kustomization: right-click the folder containing kustomization.yaml → Apply Kustomize.
  • Integrate with Kubernetes extension: enable k8s-manifest.useKubernetesExtension to automatically use the context and namespace from the VSCode Kubernetes Extension.