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k8s client as quadraui validation app (Phase D) #145

Description

@JDonaghy

Epic / tracking issue. Not for implementation yet — tracks the planned second consumer of `quadraui` that validates the extraction and proves the library works outside vimcode.

Background

Per `docs/UI_CRATE_DESIGN.md`, Phase D (month 5) calls for "one small example app as a second consumer to prove extraction." A k8s dashboard is an unusually strong fit:

  • Lens is non-free (post-OpenLens fork), Electron-heavy
  • k9s is excellent but terminal-only
  • Nobody ships a cross-platform GUI + TUI k8s client from a single codebase. That's genuinely differentiating

The same binary running in TUI (SSH-into-bastion, prod kubeconfig context) and GUI (daily desktop work) with identical keybindings is a real value proposition neither existing tool can match.

Why this is the right validation app

It stress-tests almost every v1 primitive:

Primitive Use in k8s app
`TreeTable` (#139) Namespace → kind → resources with status/age/restarts columns
`TextEditor` YAML editing with `kubectl apply` integration (validates `BufferView` extraction)
`Terminal` `kubectl exec` into pods — exercises Terminal beyond vimcode
Live-append text (#144) `kubectl logs -f` at real volume
`Palette` Cluster / namespace / resource switcher
`DataTable` Resource lists with sort/filter (or `TreeTable` with depth 0)
`Form` Port-forward dialogs, resource creation wizards, credential setup
`Dialog` Apply/delete confirmations with diff preview
`Spinner` / `ProgressBar` (#142) Long-running operations (rollout, drain, cordon)

Priority impact on v1 scope

Because this app validates v1, several issues currently in the backlog should move to v1 must-have:

Confirmed before filing this epic.

Scope / approach

  • Start after quadraui 1.0 publishes (Phase D per design doc)
  • Separate repo, separate release cadence from vimcode + quadraui
  • MVP: list/view pods across clusters, exec, logs, YAML edit, apply/delete
  • Stretch: custom resources, Helm management, multi-cluster federation, RBAC browser, events stream

Success criteria

  • Cross-platform binary (Win, Linux, TUI; macOS once quadraui 1.1 ships)
  • Keyboard-first like k9s; mouse-supported like Lens
  • Feature parity with k9s common workflows
  • Competitive with Lens for visual presentation and ease-of-use

Dependencies

Non-goals for this issue

  • Building any of this before quadraui extracts
  • Competing with Lens on enterprise features (SSO, teams, audit) in v1

Activity

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