Watch the Recordings: k0s Talks at KubeCon NA 2025
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KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America 2025 brought thousands of developers, builders, and open source contributors together in Atlanta, including many interested in edge computing. We saw this in the growing interest in k0s, the minimal, fully-contained Kubernetes distribution, with many attendees asking edge-related questions at the k0s kiosk in the Project Pavilion. Mirantis also addressed the community’s expanding interest in edge computing in four presentations about k0s, which showcased how this compact, zero-friction Kubernetes distribution can simplify operations, strengthen resilience, and unlock new use cases in some of the most demanding environments. From immutable edge platforms to CNCF Sandbox progress to real-world AI workloads running on remote edge devices, k0s was a highlight throughout the week. If you weren’t able to join us in Atlanta, here’s a recap of the ideas and insights our speakers shared about k0s.
The Immutable Lightness of an Edge Platform
Mirantis Consulting Architect William Rizzo and Spectro Cloud Open Source Developer Mauro Morales explore how to build resilient edge platforms by embracing immutable Kubernetes stacks. Similar to Milan Kundera’s idea of “lightness” and “weight,” edge environments must balance the freedom to move fast with the responsibility for stability and security. Although systems can be patched and tuned over time, it is often smoother to simply replace them instead of repairing them. Instead of treating nodes like pets and getting attached to them, immutable operating systems treat them like appliances that can be easily switched out for the newest model. Minimal open source Kubernetes distributions like k0s make it practical to provision and reprovision these immutable edge clusters at scale.
Key Takeaways:
Replace, Don’t Repair: The current logic for containers dictates that a new version means new containers; a similar methodology should be applied to firmware, OS, and Kubernetes nodes
Immutability Prevents Drift and Fragility: Immutable systems are reproducible, declarative, and disposable, eliminating configuration drift and making edge platforms more secure
Support for Immutable Edge Clusters: Projects like Beskar7 and k0s make it possible to provision, upgrade, and reprovision immutable edge clusters reliably at scale
AI at the Edge: ONNX Inference in WASM on Featherweight k0s
Mirantis Senior DevOps Engineer Prashant Ramhit dives into how Arkatech NGO built a low-cost, edge computing solution for coral restoration by running ONNX inference inside WebAssembly on k0s. The project uses ocean buoys equipped with cameras and environmental sensors to monitor temperature, nutrients, and other environmental factors up to 150 meters offshore. With only CPUs available, the Arkatech team chose k0s for its lightweight, air-gapped Kubernetes design. They paired it with WASM and ONNX to run portable, efficient inference models directly on the buoy; this removed the need for a base station. Sensor data flows through a WASM-based application that performs local anomaly detection and triggers pumps to deliver nutrients in real time. Across more than 1,200 deployed buoys, this architecture demonstrates how open source, resource-efficient projects can power autonomous environmental initiatives.
Key Takeaways:
Edge AI Without GPUs: WASM-compiled ONNX models enable lightweight inference on CPU-only hardware
k0s as a Stable, Air-Gapped Kubernetes Platform: The single-binary distribution delivers zero-dependency installation, self-healing workloads, and rapid provisioning
Operational Simplicity and Resilience: WASM runtime integration with k0s, automatic updates, and support for multiple storage and CNI options streamline long-term maintenance
Read more about building a sustainable edge Monitoring system for coral reefs using k0s, NATS, and Raspberry Pi clusters.
k0s: CNCF Sandbox Distro Updates
Mirantis Senior Principal Engineer Jussi Nummelin walks through the latest developments in k0s, the CNCF Sandbox Kubernetes distribution designed to deliver a zero-friction experience through a single static binary that runs anywhere. k0s’ core architecture separates the control plane and worker plane, making it easy to run controllers in the cloud while workers run on remote or resource-constrained edge devices. k0s was first released in 2020 and joined the CNCF Sandbox in early 2025, and has since seen steady adoption and contributor growth as it progresses toward CNCF incubation. New features in the v1.34 release include Windows worker support, IPv6-only clusters, and more.
Key Takeaways:
Zero-Friction, Single-Binary Kubernetes: k0s packages Kubernetes, components, and dependencies into one static binary with no external requirements; this enables it to run anywhere
Control Plane and Worker Separation: By default, controller nodes do not run kubelet or containerd, which improves security, simplifies operations, and allows controllers to run centrally while workers run at the edge
Community-Driven Project: Users, adopters, and contributors are invited to join the k0s community, share real-world stories, and help advance the roadmap
Contribute to k0s Zero Friction Kubernetes: Scale k0s with the Community
Recording will be added here when available.
Jussi Nummelin joins Mirantis Community Manager and Developer Advocate Prithvi Raj to discuss how k0s has grown from a zero-friction Kubernetes distribution into a vibrant open-source community. k0s is designed to simplify Kubernetes operations, and its long-term success depends on active contributors across many disciplines. Community contributions make a huge impact, from documentation to testing to CLI improvements. k0s has something for everyone, and contributors of all experience levels can find meaningful issues to work on.
Key Takeaways:
k0s is More Than a Distribution: k0s is a fully upstream-conformant, production-grade Kubernetes project built and sustained by an open source community
Contributors of All Backgrounds are Welcome: Developers, operators, documentation writers, testers, and even Kubernetes newcomers all have opportunities to contribute
Make a Lasting Contribution: Whether fixing a small bug or shaping major features, contributors can make meaningful contributions to the Kubernetes ecosystem through k0s
Interested in contributing? Start here!
See You at the Next Event!
At KubeCon NA 2025, Mirantis showed how k0s is redefining what’s possible at the edge. The Mirantis team explained how k0s can support immutable platforms, streamline operations, and power workloads even when bandwidth, compute, or physical access is limited. With a growing contributor community and a CNCF incubation application underway, k0s is steadily evolving to better support organizations deploying Kubernetes across diverse and distributed environments.
If you didn’t get a chance to meet us in Atlanta, we’ll also be at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon EU in Amsterdam in March 2026. Hope to see you there!
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