App Selection Guide
Visualkube offers different versions to suit your workflow. This guide will help you choose the best one for your needs.
Native vs. Web​
Which version of Visualkube is right for you?
While both our Native and Web apps offer a powerful feature set,
they provide unique advantages in performance, updates, and access.
The table below will help you choose the best fit for your workflow.
| Aspect | Native App (Desktop/Mobile) | Web App (WebAssembly) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installation | Required. Needs to be installed on each OS. | None. Instantly accessible from any modern browser. | |
| Performance | Optimized for the highest possible performance on the host platform. | Near-native performance delivered in the browser via WebAssembly. | |
| Updates & Release | Point Release: Stable, thoroughly tested versions are released periodically. | Rolling Release: Continuously updated with the latest features as they are developed. | |
| Primary Focus | Stability & Predictability | Agility & Cutting-Edge Features | |
| Best For | Users who require a robust, mission-critical environment or the absolute best performance. | Users who want immediate access to the latest innovations or need to use the app on various computers without installation. | |
Standalone Apps vs. IDE Integrations​
While our standalone Web and Desktop apps provide a comprehensive management experience,
the IDE integrations are designed with a different, highly-focused goal: to keep you in your development flow.
They are not competing products, but complementary parts of the Visualkube ecosystem.
| Aspect | Standalone Apps (Wab, Native) | IDE Extension/Plugin | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Goal | Comprehensive Management: Deep analysis, administrative tasks, and a full overview of all clusters. | Developer Workflow: Real-time monitoring and quick actions directly related to the code you're writing. | |
| Best Use Case | Gaining a high-level perspective, managing team access, or performing complex configurations. | Instantly checking pod status after a deploy, streaming logs while debugging, and making quick resource edits. | |
| User Experience | A dedicated, feature-rich interface in a separate window or tab. | A lightweight, integrated panel inside your editor. Zero context switching. | |
| Our Recommendation | Use for a complete overview and deep-dive management tasks. | Use daily during your coding and debugging cycles for maximum productivity. | |
The most powerful workflow comes from using them together. Use the standalone app for a macro-level view, and the IDE integration for a micro-level, code-adjacent view.