# Cyclops — Developer-Friendly Kubernetes Deployment UI

> Give developers a simple web interface to deploy and manage applications on Kubernetes without writing YAML. Cyclops generates forms from Helm chart values and handles the complexity behind the scenes.

## Install

Save the content below to `.claude/skills/` or append to your `CLAUDE.md`:

# Cyclops — Developer-Friendly Kubernetes Deployment UI

## Quick Use
```bash
# Install Cyclops on your cluster
kubectl apply -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cyclops-ui/cyclops/main/install/cyclops-install.yaml
# Access the UI
kubectl port-forward svc/cyclops-ui -n cyclops 3000:3000
# Open http://localhost:3000
```

## Introduction
Cyclops bridges the gap between platform engineers who define Helm charts and developers who need to deploy applications. It reads Helm chart values schemas and generates a user-friendly web form, so developers can deploy and configure apps without touching YAML or learning kubectl.

## What Cyclops Does
- Generates web forms from Helm chart values.yaml and JSON Schema definitions
- Validates user input against schema constraints before deploying
- Deploys and updates Helm releases through the web interface
- Shows real-time status of deployed workloads including pods, services, and events
- Provides a module system where platform teams define templates developers consume

## Architecture Overview
Cyclops runs as a controller and web server inside the Kubernetes cluster. Platform engineers register Helm chart repositories as templates. When a developer creates a new module, Cyclops fetches the chart's values schema, renders a dynamic form in the React frontend, validates the input, then performs a Helm install or upgrade. The backend watches deployed resources and surfaces their status through the UI.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Deploy via a single kubectl apply manifest into any Kubernetes cluster
- Register Helm chart repositories as template sources in the Cyclops settings
- Define JSON Schema annotations in your Helm chart values.yaml for rich form controls
- Configure RBAC to control which teams can deploy which templates
- Supports air-gapped installs with pre-pulled images and private chart repos

## Key Features
- Zero YAML for developers: all configuration happens through validated web forms
- Platform team controlled: templates define what developers can and cannot change
- Schema-driven forms support dropdowns, toggles, number ranges, and conditional fields
- Real-time deployment status shows pod health, events, and logs in one view
- Helm-native means existing charts work without modification when schemas are present

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **Backstage** — developer portal with catalog; Cyclops focuses specifically on deployment UI
- **Portainer** — Docker/K8s management for admins; Cyclops targets developer self-service
- **Rancher** — full cluster management; Cyclops is a lightweight deployment interface layer
- **Headlamp** — generic K8s web UI; Cyclops provides guided, form-based deployment workflows
- **KubeVela** — OAM-based platform; Cyclops works with standard Helm charts directly

## FAQ
**Q: Do I need to modify my existing Helm charts to work with Cyclops?**
A: Cyclops works with any Helm chart. For richer forms (dropdowns, descriptions, validation), add JSON Schema annotations to your values.yaml.

**Q: Can developers see logs and debug failed deployments?**
A: Yes. The UI shows pod status, events, and log streams for each deployed module, giving developers enough visibility to self-diagnose common issues.

**Q: How does Cyclops handle multi-environment deployments?**
A: Platform teams register different chart versions or value overrides per environment. Developers select the target environment from the UI when deploying.

**Q: Is Cyclops suitable for production clusters?**
A: Yes. It runs with minimal privileges and delegates all deployment logic to Helm. RBAC controls ensure developers can only access their designated templates and namespaces.

## Sources
- https://github.com/cyclops-ui/cyclops
- https://cyclops-ui.com/docs

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/cyclops-developer-friendly-kubernetes-deployment-ui-5a2fda9f
Author: Script Depot