How Lapdev works

Build production aligned dev environments for Kubernetes apps

Lapdev treats your Kubernetes cluster as the source of truth. We read the workloads you already run, assemble App Catalogs, and keep every environment in sync with the manifests you ship to production.

1

Connect your Kubernetes cluster

Install the lightweight lapdev-kube-manager deployment. It opens an outbound TLS tunnel to Lapdev, so no need to open port on firewall to your cluster.

2

Create an App Catalog

Select the workloads that make up your application. Lapdev automatically pulls the related ConfigMaps, Secrets, and Services into an App Catalog blueprint.

3

Launch environments instantly

Spin up personal namespaces, shared team baselines, or cost-efficient branch environments. Lapdev keeps them in sync and highlights when production manifests change.

4

Iterate with Devbox & preview URLs

Use Devbox to intercept traffic to localhost, attach your IDE, and ship faster. Share production-grade preview URLs with PMs, QA, or stakeholders in a click.

Core capabilities

Everything your platform team needs to empower developers

Lapdev brings environment orchestration, traffic routing, and local debugging together to offer developer ergonomics without bespoke scripts.

App Catalogs

Define your application once by reading the workloads already running in production or staging. Catalogs eliminate YAML drift and power every environment Lapdev creates.

Learn more about App Catalogs →

Environment models

Give every developer a personal namespace, maintain shared baselines, or branch only the services you modify. Lapdev automates the routing and sync for each workflow.

Explore environment types →

Devbox local debugging

Run services locally while staying connected to in cluster dependencies. Devbox handles the secure tunnel and header propagation so your IDE sees the same traffic your pods would.

See how Devbox works →

Preview URLs

Expose any service through secure, auto-managed HTTPS endpoints. Lapdev provisions DNS, TLS, and access control so you can share in-progress features instantly.

Read about preview URLs →

Branch environments

Route traffic per developer without running 100 copies of every service

Lapdev’s branch environments reuse a shared baseline and only duplicate the services you change. Our sidecar proxy routes requests using OpenTelemetry tracestate headers, so each developer sees their own version end to end.

  • • Up to 88% infrastructure reduction versus full clone environments
  • • Keep databases, queues, and caches shared while isolating HTTP services
  • • Sync with production manifests when you are ready no surprise restarts

Designed for platform efficiency

Lapdev automatically:

  • • Monitors your source namespace for manifest changes
  • • Alerts developers when new versions are available
  • • Handles TLS tunnels between your cluster, Lapdev, and Devbox clients
  • • Provides auditability across clusters, catalogs, and environments

Bring Kubernetes developer environments to your team

See how Lapdev fits into your platform roadmap. We’ll map your services, review environment models, and show Devbox in action.