version: "1.0.1" name: kubectl-port-forward description: Use kpf, a fast, idempotent drop-in replacement for kubectl port-forward that manages and reuses port-forward sessions. Use when a user needs repeatable Kubernetes port forwarding with quick startup.

kubectl-port-forward

Use this skill when you need to run Kubernetes port-forwarding commands.

kpf is a fast, idempotent, non-blocking, drop-in replacement for kubectl port-forward. It manages background port-forward sessions and reuses them for identical requests, which speeds up connection time and reduces complexity of port forwarding in scripts.

Example use cases:

• Port-forwarding to an internal service that is not yet exposed via a domain.
• Port-forwarding to a service that has a domain but requires SSO auth (for example, Vouch proxy), making automation harder.

Use kpf when running ad-hoc commands, but do NOT commit scripts that depend on kpf as it's not a standard tool in the developer toolbox and may not be available in all environments.

Run

Use kpf with the same argument style as kubectl port-forward. Prefer using a random port (by omitting the local port), to avoid port conflicts. Example usage:

PORT=$(kpf --context=<context> --namespace=<ns> service/<name> 8481)
curl "http://127.0.0.1:${PORT}/example"

If you _want_ the kpf session to be kept alive indefinitely, use kubectl port-forward instead, since kpf sessions have a TTL.

Troubleshooting

If you run into issues with the kpf tool itself, first try kubectl port-forward with the same arguments to verify that the issue is with kpf and not your cluster or network. Then consult https://github.com/bduffany/kpf/blob/main/README.md for more technical details that may help with debugging.