Is Tilt Worth the Hype for Local Kubernetes Development?

For projects that require multiple pods for testing, Tilt can be really beneficial. It starts up all the dependencies and can be configured to run things like Terraform or rebuild the pod whenever you modify the code. But for simpler projects, like a single web server, using something like `make` with a .env file is probably more practical.

I found Tilt a bit tricky at first. I switched to Okteto, and it was way easier to use. But Tilt, along with other tools like Skaffold, can be quite useful. I run *-dev versions of my containers that work with watchers for different languages, making it easier to swap out a pod with a local version without duplicating settings.

If you're working with Kubernetes, I've really enjoyed using Tilt. It can start multiple microservices with just a 'tilt up' command, which is great for getting started. Plus, it has a handy UI that makes it easier for newer developers who might not be as familiar with command-line tools. However, if you're just looking to develop locally without the K8s complexity, I’d recommend sticking with Docker Compose instead.

I'm a big fan of Tilt! I've mostly used it alongside Docker Compose, but it's even more effective with Kubernetes. The best part? Container updates are super fast. Tilt isn't just about the infrastructure—it's about creating a one-click development environment. You can set up database seeding and run tests all through the Tilt dashboard, which really speeds up onboarding for new developers and takes some of the load off experienced ones.

When I was starting out with Kubernetes and Go, I thought Tilt was handy. But I got bogged down trying to configure it with Starlark. The log filtering is nice, but I found basic command-line tools like 'grep' more effective. Essentially, Tilt speeds up container updates in Kubernetes, but for some use cases, Bash scripts can do the job just as well—only faster.