Compare
How TDK stacks up against alternatives
TDK is the only tool that's manifest-driven AND Kubernetes-free.
| Feature | TDK CLI | Garden | Skaffold | DevSpace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kubernetes required | ✓ No | ⚠ Optional | ✗ Yes | ✗ Yes |
| Learning curve | Low | High | High | High |
| Setup time | Minutes | Days | Days | Days |
| Manifest format | Simple JSON | Complex YAML | Complex YAML | YAML |
| Auto-generated files | 10+ files | 3-5 files | Manual | Manual |
| Golden Docker images | ✓ L1-L4 | ✗ DIY | ✗ DIY | ✗ DIY |
| Auto-discovery | ✓ Scans dirs | ✗ Manual | ✗ Manual | ✗ Manual |
| Selective startup | ✓ Yes | ✗ Limited | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Local-only mode | ✓ Docker only | ✗ Needs cluster | ✗ Needs cluster | ✗ Needs cluster |
| Hot reload | ✓ Yes (Tilt) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Scale proven | 120+ services | Enterprise | Medium | Medium |
| Built on | Tilt (9.4k ★) | Custom | Custom | Custom |
| Open source | ✓ MIT | ✓ Apache | ✓ Apache | ✗ Commercial |
Winner: TDK — the only tool that's manifest-driven AND Kubernetes-free
Which tool is right for you?
Choose TDK if you...
- Don't know Kubernetes and don't want to learn it
- Need to run services locally quickly
- Want manifest-driven simplicity
- Are a full-stack or product developer
- Work at a startup without platform team
Choose Garden if you...
- Have Kubernetes expertise
- Need production-like environments
- Have a dedicated platform team
- Want enterprise-grade features
- Are building complex distributed systems