Editions¶
A Starkite edition is a packaged binary containing a specific set of runtime modules. Providing multiple editions allows you to minimize binary size and reduce dependency graphs in space-constrained or security-sensitive environments. All editions share a common language core and base modules.
By default, the all-in-one kite binary is used. Reach for a lean edition only if binary footprint or dependency auditing constraints require it.
| Binary | Included Modules | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
kite |
Base + Kubernetes + MCP | Default all-in-one developer workstation binary |
kitecmd |
Base only | Minimal system scripting, general automation, and CI tasks |
kitecloud |
Base + Kubernetes (k8s module + kite kube CLI commands) |
Cloud-native ops and manifest workflows |
kiteai |
Base + MCP capabilities | Agentic AI tool integration and MCP server/client |
Lean editions (kitecmd, kitecloud, and kiteai) are strict subsets of kite, packaged smaller for space-conscious environments like init containers, edge nodes, and CI runners.
Per-edition Go modules¶
To optimize binary footprints, each edition is defined as a distinct Go module with independent dependency graphs. This ensures omitted modules are never compiled in. For example, kitecmd links no Kubernetes or MCP libraries, producing a lean binary with no cloud-native library overhead. Lean editions are tailored for container init steps, edge computing, or CI runners; developers typically use the all-in-one kite binary.
Base modules¶
All editions include the following 28 base modules:
os, fs, fmt, io, vars, strings, regexp, json, yaml, csv, sql, time, base64, hash, uuid, template, gzip, zip, log, concur, retry, table, runtime, ssh, http, fleet, inventory, test
For module details, see the API Reference.
What kitecloud adds¶
The kitecloud edition adds the k8s module and the kite kube CLI command set. This enables Kubernetes CRUD operations, controller runtimes, custom resource definitions (CRDs), and admission webhooks.
For guides, see the Kubernetes Guide.
What kiteai adds¶
The kiteai edition adds Model Context Protocol (MCP) support (mcp module). This enables scripts to act as MCP tool servers (mcp.serve()) or connect to remote tool servers as clients (mcp.connect()) over stdio and HTTP.
For guides, see the MCP Server Guide.