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Acknowledgement

This project is based on the original open source project Kite.

First, thanks to the original Kite authors and all contributors. The upstream project already provided a very solid foundation, including Kubernetes resource management, cluster management workflows, backend capabilities, and the overall product direction. The desktop transformation in this repository is built directly on top of those results.

Why This Repository Exists

Kite Desktop is not a simple mirror of the original repository, nor is it just a thin shell around it.

This project is the result of a substantial desktop-oriented rework based on the original Kite. The goal is to gradually reshape what was originally more Web / Server oriented into a truly installable, distributable, locally usable desktop Kubernetes management tool. At the same time, the project will explore deeper integration with AI capabilities.

For users in mainland China, the mirror repository is recommended: https://cnb.cool/eryajf/kite-desktop

Tech Stack

The current desktop edition is built on the following core stack:

• Go for backend logic and Kubernetes integration
• React for the application UI
• Wails v3 for desktop runtime, native windowing, system integration, and desktop packaging

Among them, Wails v3 is the key infrastructure behind this transformation. Many future desktop capabilities will be built on top of it, such as:

• native window behavior adaptations
• local file access
• system file pickers
• external link handling with the system browser
• desktop package building and release workflows

Project Direction

From now on, this repository will gradually separate from the original Kite repository and continue evolving independently around desktop use cases.

That means:

• desktop-native capabilities will continue to be enhanced
• interaction flows and feature boundaries will be adjusted for desktop usage scenarios
• parts that are no longer suitable for desktop will be trimmed, refactored, or replaced
• new capabilities with stronger desktop value will be introduced
• a dedicated release, installation, and upgrade system for the desktop app will be built

Development

Install dependencies:

make deps

Run the desktop app in development mode:

make dev

Build the desktop app:

make build

Release Targets

The project will primarily be delivered as desktop installation packages, with gradual support for the following platforms:

• macOS Intel
• macOS Apple Silicon
• Windows x64
• Windows ARM64

☕ Sponsorship & Support

If you find this software useful and want to support its continued development, you can sponsor it here:

Ko-fi outside mainland China		WeChat donation mainland China
	or

Analytics Privacy

If you need the privacy notice for desktop analytics, see:

• Desktop Analytics Privacy Notice

License

This repository is licensed under AGPL-3.0-only. See LICENSE for details.

Note: this repository is a deeply modified derivative of the upstream Kite project. It may still contain code inherited from upstream under Apache-2.0, along with the corresponding attribution obligations. See NOTICE and licenses/Apache-2.0.txt.