Skip Kubernetes preloads and binary downloads when --no-kubernetes is… #21107

pkg/minikube/download/binary.go

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/blang/semver/v4"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
+	"github.com/spf13/viper"
 	"k8s.io/klog/v2"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/localpath"
 )
@@ -53,6 +54,11 @@ func binaryWithChecksumURL(binaryName, version, osName, archName, binaryURL stri
 
 // Binary will download a binary onto the host
 func Binary(binary, version, osName, archName, binaryURL string) (string, error) {
+	// Prevent Kubernetes binary downloads in --no-kubernetes mode
+	if viper.GetBool("no-kubernetes") {
+		klog.Infof("Skipping Kubernetes binary download due to --no-kubernetes flag")
+		return "", nil
+	}
 	targetDir := localpath.MakeMiniPath("cache", osName, archName, version)
 	targetFilepath := path.Join(targetDir, binary)
 	targetLock := targetFilepath + ".lock"

pkg/minikube/download/preload.go

@@ -121,6 +121,11 @@ var checkRemotePreloadExists = func(k8sVersion, containerRuntime string) bool {
 
 // PreloadExists returns true if there is a preloaded tarball that can be used
 func PreloadExists(k8sVersion, containerRuntime, driverName string, forcePreload ...bool) bool {
+	// Prevent preload logic in --no-kubernetes mode
+	if viper.GetBool("no-kubernetes") {
+		klog.Infof("Skipping preload logic due to --no-kubernetes flag")
+		return false
+	}
 	// TODO (#8166): Get rid of the need for this and viper at all
 	force := false
 	if len(forcePreload) > 0 {

test/integration/no_kubernetes_test.go

@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 )
@@ -50,6 +52,7 @@ func TestNoKubernetes(t *testing.T) {
 			{"StartWithK8s", validateStartWithK8S},
 			{"StartWithStopK8s", validateStartWithStopK8s},
 			{"Start", validateStartNoK8S},
+			{"VerifyNok8sNoK8sDownloads", VerifyNoK8sDownloadCache},
 			{"VerifyK8sNotRunning", validateK8SNotRunning},
 			{"ProfileList", validateProfileListNoK8S},
 			{"Stop", validateStopNoK8S},
@@ -74,6 +77,21 @@ func TestNoKubernetes(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
+// VerifyNoK8sDownloadCache verifies that starting minikube with --no-kubernetes does not create a download cache.
+func VerifyNoK8sDownloadCache(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, profile string) {
+	defer PostMortemLogs(t, profile)
+
+	// Reuse the minikube instance started by validateStartNoK8S.
+	homeDir := os.Getenv("HOME")
+	cachePath := filepath.Join(homeDir, ".minikube", "cache", "linux", "amd64", "v0.0.0")
+
+	if _, err := os.Stat(cachePath); err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Cache directory %s should not exist when using --no-kubernetes", cachePath)
+	} else if err != nil && !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		t.Fatalf("Error checking cache directory %s: %v", cachePath, err)
+	}
+}
+
 // validateStartNoK8sWithVersion expect an error when starting a minikube cluster without kubernetes and with a kubernetes version.
 func validateStartNoK8sWithVersion(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, profile string) {
 	defer PostMortemLogs(t, profile)