README.md
April 24, 2026 · View on GitHub
An open-source container platform that needs no Kubernetes learning
Rainbond helps teams build, deploy, upgrade, operate, and privately deliver applications without deeply learning Kubernetes.
It is better suited for private deployment, offline delivery, Xinchuang adaptation, application marketplace delivery, and AI application privatization scenarios.
Website · Quick Install · Documentation · Comparison Center · Marketplace
What is Rainbond
Rainbond is a 100% open-source, Kubernetes-friendly container platform.
It is more focused on application delivery than on being just a Kubernetes resource management interface.
If your team is facing problems like these, Rainbond is worth evaluating:
- You already use Kubernetes, but application delivery is still too heavy
- Customer environments are complex, and every release feels like rebuilding everything
- You need private deployment, offline delivery, Xinchuang compatibility, or internal-network deployment
- You want a unified application delivery platform without building one from scratch
Start from the path that matches your goal
| Your goal | Start here |
|---|---|
| I want to know whether Rainbond fits my team | Comparison Center |
| I want to install and try it now | Quick Install |
| I have installed it and want to deploy the first app | Deploy your first app |
| I work in offline / internal / customer site / Xinchuang environments | Offline / Xinchuang Topic |
| I want to see whether apps can be deployed from the marketplace | Rainbond Marketplace |
What problems Rainbond solves
1. Deliver applications without deeply learning Kubernetes
Rainbond brings source code, images, application templates, dependencies, access, upgrades, and rollbacks into one application delivery path through a graphical interface and standardized workflows.
2. Make delivery in complex enterprise environments more reliable
Rainbond is especially suitable for:
- Private deployment
- Internal-network deployment
- Offline delivery
- Xinchuang adaptation
- x86 to ARM migration validation
3. Standardize delivery with marketplace and templates
Rainbond is not only about “getting apps running”. It also provides:
- Application templates
- Application marketplace
- One-click installation
- One-click upgrade
- Customer environment replication
4. Keep operations and delivery centered around the application
Rainbond emphasizes:
- Application-level abstraction
- Application topology and dependencies
- Application upgrades and rollbacks
- Delivery and operation across multiple environments and clusters
Why Rainbond
Lower barrier, not lower capability
Rainbond does not simply hide Kubernetes. It redistributes complexity:
- The platform and operations teams absorb low-level concerns
- Development and delivery teams focus on building, deploying, delivering, and operating applications
Better fit for complex enterprise environments
Many platforms are strong at cluster management.
Rainbond is stronger when the real problem is:
- How to deliver applications
- How to replicate delivery to customer environments
- How to handle upgrades in offline environments
- How to privately deploy AI applications
Stronger marketplace and standardized delivery capability
If what you really need is:
- Template-based delivery
- Marketplace reuse
- Offline package export/import
- Versioned upgrades and rollbacks
Rainbond is closer to the actual work.
How it differs from common platform choices
| Dimension | Rainbond | Rancher / KubeSphere type platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Application delivery, application management, template reuse | Cluster governance, platform ops, Kubernetes management |
| Typical users | Developers, delivery teams, enterprise IT, platform owners | K8s admins, platform ops, cluster governance teams |
| Strongest scenarios | Private deployment, offline, Xinchuang, marketplace delivery, AI privatization | Multi-cluster governance, resource management, platform ops |
| Learning curve | Lower, exposes less K8s detail | Requires stronger K8s and platform governance knowledge |
If you are in evaluation mode, start here:
Typical scenarios
- Deliver applications without deeply learning Kubernetes
- Privately deploy AI applications
- Offline and internal-network delivery
- Xinchuang and ARM migration
- Enterprise marketplace and standardized delivery
Continue with:
Quick start
Requirements
- Linux or macOS
- Recommended: at least 2 CPU / 8GB RAM / 50GB disk
Quick install
Run:
curl -o install.sh https://get.rainbond.com && bash ./install.sh
Then open:
http://<your-ip>:7070
Next step
Community and support
Contributing
If you want to contribute, start here:
We welcome:
- Code contributions
- Documentation improvements
- User stories and technical writeups
- Application template and plugin sharing
Related projects
- rainbond-console - Console backend
- rainbond-ui - Console frontend
- rainbond-operator - Installation and operations
- builder - Source build toolset
License
This repository is licensed under the Rainbond Open Source License, based on Apache 2.0 with additional conditions.