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Docs · YAML editor

Using Kubyl

YAML editor

Schema-aware editing, diff against live, dry run and server-side apply.

Press E on any object to edit it, or Ctrl N for a new resource. Hover docs, completion and validation come from the cluster's own OpenAPI v3 schema, so custom resources are covered too.

Kubyl YAML editor with schema validation
YAML validated against the cluster's OpenAPI schema, with a diff before apply.

Applying changes

  • Apply is server-side with field manager kubyl and strict field validation.
  • On a conflict (HTTP 409) Kubyl lists the other managers so you can decide to force.
  • If the server can't do server-side apply (HTTP 415), Kubyl falls back to replace or create.
  • Dry run sends dryRun=All and shows the result without changing anything.
  • Multi-document buffers are supported.
  • On a production cluster Kubyl asks before applying (yaml_editor.confirm_apply_on_prod).

Diff and merge

Diff vs live shows a unified diff, or side by side (yaml_editor.side_by_side_diff), with markers in the gutter. If the object changes on the server while you edit, a banner offers Merge, Reload or Keep mine, using a three-way merge.

Revision history

For objects without a server-side history, Kubyl keeps the last versions you saw, up to 10 per object across 50 objects and 64 KiB per document. Secrets are never recorded. For workloads the history offers Roll back and Load into editor.

Good to know

  • managedFields are hidden by default. A code lens names the managers. Toggle with yaml_editor.hide_managed_fields.
  • Secret values are masked. Reveal them with the toggle.
  • Banners tell you when an object is managed by Argo CD, or when it was deleted on the server (“Apply creates it again”).
  • Templates gives starting points for Deployment, Service, Ingress, Route, CronJob, ConfigMap, Secret and PVC.
  • Schema validation can be disabled with yaml_editor.validate.

Shortcuts

KeysAction
CtrlSApply (server-side)
CtrlShiftSDry run
CtrlShiftDDiff vs live
CtrlAltDToggle side-by-side diff
CtrlShiftMShow problems
F8Next problem
CtrlShiftHRevision history
CtrlJToggle the bottom panel
CtrlAltZRevert to live
CtrlShiftRReveal or mask Secret values
CtrlAltMShow or hide managedFields
CtrlShiftTNew-resource templates

Something missing or wrong? Open an issue on GitHub.