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Guide · Open source

How to use Lens: install it and inspect Kubernetes workloads

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

Lens is a desktop application for working with Kubernetes, the system used to run and manage containerized software across many servers. This guide explains what Lens is for, how to get the app, what to look at first, and where to get help. By the end you will know whether Lens fits how you work and what to check before depending on it.

Lenslensapp/lens · ★ 23.2k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Download the app. Go to k8slens.dev and download Lens Desktop. The README gives no other install method.
  2. 2Install it. Run the installer for your operating system and open Lens Desktop.
  3. 3Connect your clusters. Add the Kubernetes clusters you want to inspect so their workloads appear in the interface.
  4. 4Inspect and troubleshoot workloads. Use the visual interface to look at your running workloads and find problems without relying only on the command line.
  5. 5Check licence and support. Review the pricing page and the support options before relying on Lens for your team.

What is Lens and who is it for?

Lens gives you one visual interface for inspecting and troubleshooting Kubernetes workloads, instead of relying only on command-line tools. The README describes its UI as intuitive and context-aware. It is made by Mirantis and is aimed at developers and DevOps engineers.

It suits developers who want a visual view of their workloads, DevOps engineers troubleshooting running applications across clusters, and teams learning Kubernetes who want a guided interface.

Install Lens Desktop

The README's install section says to download and install Lens Desktop from the official website, k8slens.dev. It lists no prerequisites and no install commands, so you do not need a terminal to get started.

Download the app from the website and follow the installer for your system. The README does not describe the installer steps, so check the website's documentation if you get stuck.

  • Go to k8slens.dev and choose Download.
  • Install Lens Desktop using the installer for your operating system.
  • Open the app and connect it to the clusters you want to inspect.

Get oriented with your workloads

Once Lens is open, use it to inspect and troubleshoot the workloads running in your Kubernetes clusters. The main idea is that you see your workloads in one place rather than switching between many command-line views.

The README does not list specific menus, panels or keyboard shortcuts, so this guide does not describe them. The official docs at docs.k8slens.dev are the place to learn the interface in detail.

Check the licence and pricing before you commit

The source code in the lensapp/lens repository is released under the MIT licence. The README's copyright note says so, and also says Lens and the Lens Logo are trademarks of Mirantis.

The README links to a pricing page and mentions Lens Pro and Lens Enterprise, which include 24/5 commercial support. It does not state the price or whether the desktop app is free for every use, so read the pricing page before choosing a plan.

Know the status of this repository

The README says the open source version of Lens Desktop has been retired and is no longer maintained. The Lens Desktop product by Mirantis is still actively developed and supported. Contributions now go through extensions that use the Lens extension API, not directly to the core product.

The legacy source code remains available in the master branch. If you need a fully open source, actively maintained build, this repository is not that. Read the source as a reference, not as a foundation for new development.

Where to get help

The README points to the Lens Forums at forums.k8slens.dev, where it says replies are generally very quick. Issues and feature requests can be posted in the public issue tracker on GitHub.

Lens Pro and Lens Enterprise customers also have access to 24/5 commercial support, according to the README.

  • Lens Forums: forums.k8slens.dev
  • Issue tracker: github.com/lensapp/lens/issues
  • Docs: docs.k8slens.dev

What people use it for

  • Get a visual view of the workloads running in a Kubernetes cluster.
  • Troubleshoot a running application across more than one cluster.
  • Learn Kubernetes with a guided, context-aware interface.
  • Reduce the number of separate tools a team needs for cloud native work, as the README suggests.

Frequently asked questions

How do I install Lens Kubernetes?

Download Lens Desktop from the official website, k8slens.dev, and run the installer. The README gives no install commands and lists no prerequisites.

Is Lens Kubernetes free?

The source code in this repository is MIT licensed. The README links to a pricing page and mentions paid Pro and Enterprise tiers, but it does not say what the desktop app costs, so check the pricing page.

Is Lens open source?

The repository's code is MIT licensed, but the README says the open source version is retired and no longer maintained. The commercial Lens Desktop product is still actively developed by Mirantis.

What are the alternatives to Lens?

Comparable projects named for this guide are Kubernetes Dashboard, k9s, Headlamp and Octant. Choose based on whether you want a web UI, a terminal UI or a desktop app.

Can I contribute code to Lens?

The README says contributions to the core product are no longer accepted directly. Instead, contributions are made through extensions that use the Lens extension API.

Where can I get help if Lens is not working?

Ask on the Lens Forums at forums.k8slens.dev, where the README says replies are generally quick. You can also report bugs in the GitHub issue tracker. Pro and Enterprise customers get 24/5 commercial support.

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Our verdict

Lens suits developers, DevOps engineers and teams learning Kubernetes who want a visual, ready-made desktop app. Pick something else if you need a fully open source, actively maintained build, or if you prefer a command-line-only workflow, where tools like k9s may fit better.

Install options & downloads