lifecycle

`kubectl run`

Imperatively creates a single Pod running a specified image. In modern kubectl it only produces a Pod (Deployment/Job generators were removed) - use it for ad-hoc debugging containers, not durable workloads.

Syntax

kubectl run NAME --image=IMAGE [--env=KEY=VAL] [--port=PORT] [--command -- CMD args...] [flags]

Common flags

Flag	Purpose
--image	Container image to run (required).
--rm	Delete the pod on exit (combine with -it for one-shot shells).
-it	Attach an interactive TTY (equivalent to -i --tty).
--restart	Restart policy: Always (default), OnFailure, or Never.
--env	Set an environment variable (repeatable).
--command	Treat args after -- as the container command instead of args.
--dry-run	none, client, or server; combine with -o yaml to scaffold a Pod manifest.
--overrides	JSON string merged into the generated Pod spec for advanced fields.

Examples

kubectl run debug --rm -it --image=busybox:1.36 -- sh

Ephemeral shell in the cluster for troubleshooting.

kubectl run curl --image=curlimages/curl:8.5.0 --restart=Never -- curl -sS http://svc/api

One-shot HTTP test against an internal service.

kubectl run web --image=nginx:1.25 --port=80 --dry-run=client -o yaml > pod.yaml

Scaffold a Pod manifest without creating it.

Gotcha

run no longer creates Deployments - use kubectl create deployment for durable workloads. --rm needs -it, otherwise the pod detaches and lingers.

Related commands

kubectl create

Imperatively creates a resource from a file or from built-in generators (deployment, configmap, secret, job, etc.). Unlike apply, it fails if the resource already exists and does not record a last-applied annotation.

kubectl exec

Executes a command inside a running container. Use -it for an interactive TTY shell; omit them for a one-shot command whose stdout you want to capture for scripts.

kubectl apply

Declaratively creates or updates resources from a manifest file, directory, URL, or kustomization. Tracks the last-applied configuration so subsequent applies compute a three-way merge patch rather than replacing the object.

kubectl delete

Deletes one or more resources by name, label, or manifest. Supports graceful termination, forced eviction of stuck pods, and cascading deletion of owned objects.

kubectl rollout

Manages the deployment lifecycle of Deployments, StatefulSets, and DaemonSets. Subcommands cover watching progress, rolling back to a revision, restarting all pods, and pausing/resuming controller reconciliation.

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