k3s vs runc
k3s and runc share 3 technologies: github.com/sirupsen/logrus, containerd, and github.com/coreos/go-systemd/v22. Both are written in Go.
LinkedInWhat they share and what sets them apart
k3s-io
k3s
Lightweight Kubernetes
Go34.4kRead on November 7, 2026, at commit dca306cWhat is k3s built with?Only in k3s
- net/http
- etcd
- go.etcd.io/etcd/client/v3
- go.etcd.io/etcd/server/v3
- go.etcd.io/etcd/client/pkg/v3
- github.com/ipfs/go-ds-leveldb
- MinIO
- k8s.io/apiserver
- Kubernetes
- k8s.io/klog/v2
- Prometheus
- github.com/go-logr/logr
- k8s.io/kubelet
- Docker
- github.com/natefinch/lumberjack
- go.uber.org/zap
github.com/containerd/zfs/v2
- github.com/google/cadvisor/lib
- github.com/ipfs/go-log/v2
- github.com/Microsoft/hcsshim
- github.com/prometheus/common
- k8s.io/kube-proxy
In common
opencontainers
runc
CLI tool for spawning and running containers according to the OCI specification
Go13.5kRead on November 10, 2026, at commit 817ee95What is runc built with?Only in runc
github.com/checkpoint-restore/go-criu/v8
Side by side
k3srunc
SizeLines written by people and agents, without generated ones; code files, without tests.
k3s61,448 lines written244 code files
runc32,216 lines written128 code files
Who writes itA commit counts as AI's when it carries its signature: a Co-Authored-By line, its author name or the merge of its branch.
k3s0.1% of its commits signed by AIWith Claude Code
runc0.4% of its commits signed by AIWith Claude Code
ActivityFrom GitHub and its history, on the day SeeRepo read it.
k3sLast push November 7, 20263,674 commits34,351 stars
runcLast push November 9, 20265,225 commits13,543 stars
TestsThe files that test the code, and the share of code files a test imports.
k3s107 test files33.2% of its code files have a test that imports them
runc51 test files43% of its code files have a test that imports them
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, k3s or runc?
k3s, with 61,448 lines written; runc has 32,216.
The proof: k3s-io/k3s's code at commit dca306c
Which has more GitHub stars, k3s or runc?
k3s, with 34,351 stars; runc has 13,543.
The proof: k3s-io/k3s on GitHub
Which has more tests, k3s or runc?
k3s, with 107 test files; runc has 51.
The proof: k3s-io/k3s's code at commit dca306c
Which was updated more recently, k3s or runc?
runc: its last push was on November 9, 2026, and k3s's on November 7, 2026.
The proof: opencontainers/runc's commits on GitHub
Which has more commits signed by AI, k3s or runc?
runc: an AI signed 0.4% of its commits, with Claude Code; in k3s, 0.1%.
The proof: the commits each tool signed in opencontainers/runc
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