What the plugin adds
The Cluster API plugin introduces a dedicated Cluster API section inside Headlamp, giving users list and detail views for core CAPI resources such as Clusters, MachineDeployments, MachineSets, Machines, and MachinePools.
Key visual features
- Cluster overview – live control‑plane and worker replica status.
- Machine visibility – conditions, versions, and provider IDs for each machine resource.
- Dashboard – centralized health view, active condition issues, provider information and remediation guidance.
- Scale from the UI – adjust replica counts for MachineDeployments and MachineSets without kubectl.
- Map view – interactive diagram of Cluster, control‑plane, and worker relationships.
- Prometheus metrics – inline metrics on resource detail pages when the Headlamp Prometheus plugin is installed.
Supported API versions
The plugin works with both v1beta1 and v1beta2 versions of Cluster API.
Installation
Installation instructions are provided in the plugin’s plugins/cluster‑api/README.md. The plugin is released as an Alpha, and the community welcomes bug reports, feature requests, and pull‑requests.
Why it matters
Historically, managing CAPI resources required raw kubectl commands and deep knowledge of ownership hierarchies. By surfacing the same data in a graphical UI, the plugin reduces the learning curve, speeds up debugging, and lets platform teams operate clusters from a browser.
Community background
The plugin was built during the CNCF LFX Mentorship program, with input from the Headlamp community and mentors. Ongoing development is planned beyond the initial Alpha release.