diff --git a/app/deploy.py b/app/deploy.py
index 0ebcfe18..d11efa00 100644
--- a/app/deploy.py
+++ b/app/deploy.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http:#www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-# Deploys the system components using docker-compose
+# Deploys the system components using a deployer (either docker-compose or k8s)
 
 import hashlib
 import copy
@@ -22,10 +22,11 @@ import sys
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from importlib import resources
 import subprocess
-from python_on_whales import DockerClient, DockerException
 import click
 from pathlib import Path
 from app.util import include_exclude_check, get_parsed_stack_config, global_options2, get_dev_root_path
+from app.deployer import Deployer, DeployerException
+from app.deployer_factory import getDeployer
 from app.deploy_types import ClusterContext, DeployCommandContext
 from app.deployment_create import create as deployment_create
 from app.deployment_create import init as deployment_init
@@ -37,8 +38,9 @@ from app.deployment_create import setup as deployment_setup
 @click.option("--exclude", help="don\'t start these components")
 @click.option("--env-file", help="env file to be used")
 @click.option("--cluster", help="specify a non-default cluster name")
+@click.option("--deploy-to", help="cluster system to deploy to (compose or k8s)")
 @click.pass_context
-def command(ctx, include, exclude, env_file, cluster):
+def command(ctx, include, exclude, env_file, cluster, deploy_to):
     '''deploy a stack'''
 
     # Although in theory for some subcommands (e.g. deploy create) the stack can be inferred,
@@ -50,16 +52,20 @@ def command(ctx, include, exclude, env_file, cluster):
 
     if ctx.parent.obj.debug:
         print(f"ctx.parent.obj: {ctx.parent.obj}")
-    ctx.obj = create_deploy_context(global_options2(ctx), stack, include, exclude, cluster, env_file)
+
+    if deploy_to is None:
+        deploy_to = "compose"
+
+    ctx.obj = create_deploy_context(global_options2(ctx), stack, include, exclude, cluster, env_file, deploy_to)
     # Subcommand is executed now, by the magic of click
 
 
-def create_deploy_context(global_context, stack, include, exclude, cluster, env_file):
+def create_deploy_context(global_context, stack, include, exclude, cluster, env_file, deployer):
     cluster_context = _make_cluster_context(global_context, stack, include, exclude, cluster, env_file)
     # See: https://gabrieldemarmiesse.github.io/python-on-whales/sub-commands/compose/
-    docker = DockerClient(compose_files=cluster_context.compose_files, compose_project_name=cluster_context.cluster,
-                          compose_env_file=cluster_context.env_file)
-    return DeployCommandContext(stack, cluster_context, docker)
+    deployer = getDeployer(deployer, compose_files=cluster_context.compose_files, compose_project_name=cluster_context.cluster,
+                           compose_env_file=cluster_context.env_file)
+    return DeployCommandContext(stack, cluster_context, deployer)
 
 
 def up_operation(ctx, services_list, stay_attached=False):
@@ -74,10 +80,10 @@ def up_operation(ctx, services_list, stay_attached=False):
             print(f"Running compose up with container_exec_env: {container_exec_env}, extra_args: {services_list}")
         for pre_start_command in cluster_context.pre_start_commands:
             _run_command(global_context, cluster_context.cluster, pre_start_command)
-        deploy_context.docker.compose.up(detach=not stay_attached, services=services_list)
+        deploy_context.deployer.compose_up(detach=not stay_attached, services=services_list)
         for post_start_command in cluster_context.post_start_commands:
             _run_command(global_context, cluster_context.cluster, post_start_command)
-        _orchestrate_cluster_config(global_context, cluster_context.config, deploy_context.docker, container_exec_env)
+        _orchestrate_cluster_config(global_context, cluster_context.config, deploy_context.deployer, container_exec_env)
 
 
 def down_operation(ctx, delete_volumes, extra_args_list):
@@ -89,7 +95,7 @@ def down_operation(ctx, delete_volumes, extra_args_list):
         if extra_args_list:
             timeout_arg = extra_args_list[0]
         # Specify shutdown timeout (default 10s) to give services enough time to shutdown gracefully
-        ctx.obj.docker.compose.down(timeout=timeout_arg, volumes=delete_volumes)
+        ctx.obj.deployer.compose_down(timeout=timeout_arg, volumes=delete_volumes)
 
 
 def ps_operation(ctx):
@@ -97,7 +103,7 @@ def ps_operation(ctx):
     if not global_context.dry_run:
         if global_context.verbose:
             print("Running compose ps")
-        container_list = ctx.obj.docker.compose.ps()
+        container_list = ctx.obj.deployer.compose_ps()
         if len(container_list) > 0:
             print("Running containers:")
             for container in container_list:
@@ -128,7 +134,7 @@ def port_operation(ctx, extra_args):
         exposed_port = extra_args_list[1]
         if global_context.verbose:
             print(f"Running compose port {service_name} {exposed_port}")
-        mapped_port_data = ctx.obj.docker.compose.port(service_name, exposed_port)
+        mapped_port_data = ctx.obj.deployer.compose_port(service_name, exposed_port)
         print(f"{mapped_port_data[0]}:{mapped_port_data[1]}")
 
 
@@ -145,8 +151,8 @@ def exec_operation(ctx, extra_args):
         if global_context.verbose:
             print(f"Running compose exec {service_name} {command_to_exec}")
         try:
-            ctx.obj.docker.compose.execute(service_name, command_to_exec, envs=container_exec_env)
-        except DockerException:
+            ctx.obj.deployer.compose_execute(service_name, command_to_exec, envs=container_exec_env)
+        except DeployerException:
             print("container command returned error exit status")
 
 
@@ -157,7 +163,7 @@ def logs_operation(ctx, tail: int, follow: bool, extra_args: str):
         if global_context.verbose:
             print("Running compose logs")
         services_list = extra_args_list if extra_args_list is not None else []
-        logs_stream = ctx.obj.docker.compose.logs(services=services_list, tail=tail, follow=follow, stream=True)
+        logs_stream = ctx.obj.deployer.compose_logs(services=services_list, tail=tail, follow=follow, stream=True)
         for stream_type, stream_content in logs_stream:
             print(stream_content.decode("utf-8"), end="")
 
@@ -214,11 +220,11 @@ def get_stack_status(ctx, stack):
     ctx_copy.stack = stack
 
     cluster_context = _make_cluster_context(ctx_copy, stack, None, None, None, None)
-    docker = DockerClient(compose_files=cluster_context.compose_files, compose_project_name=cluster_context.cluster)
+    deployer = Deployer(compose_files=cluster_context.compose_files, compose_project_name=cluster_context.cluster)
     # TODO: refactor to avoid duplicating this code above
     if ctx.verbose:
         print("Running compose ps")
-    container_list = docker.compose.ps()
+    container_list = deployer.compose_ps()
     if len(container_list) > 0:
         if ctx.debug:
             print(f"Container list from compose ps: {container_list}")
@@ -359,7 +365,7 @@ def _run_command(ctx, cluster_name, command):
         sys.exit(1)
 
 
-def _orchestrate_cluster_config(ctx, cluster_config, docker, container_exec_env):
+def _orchestrate_cluster_config(ctx, cluster_config, deployer, container_exec_env):
 
     @dataclass
     class ConfigDirective:
@@ -390,13 +396,13 @@ def _orchestrate_cluster_config(ctx, cluster_config, docker, container_exec_env)
                     # TODO: fix the script paths so they're consistent between containers
                     source_value = None
                     try:
-                        source_value = docker.compose.execute(pd.source_container,
-                                                              ["sh", "-c",
-                                                                  "sh /docker-entrypoint-scripts.d/export-"
-                                                                  f"{pd.source_variable}.sh"],
-                                                              tty=False,
-                                                              envs=container_exec_env)
-                    except DockerException as error:
+                        source_value = deployer.compose_execute(pd.source_container,
+                                                                ["sh", "-c",
+                                                                 "sh /docker-entrypoint-scripts.d/export-"
+                                                                 f"{pd.source_variable}.sh"],
+                                                                tty=False,
+                                                                envs=container_exec_env)
+                    except DeployerException as error:
                         if ctx.debug:
                             print(f"Docker exception reading config source: {error}")
                         # If the script executed failed for some reason, we get:
@@ -411,12 +417,12 @@ def _orchestrate_cluster_config(ctx, cluster_config, docker, container_exec_env)
                     if source_value:
                         if ctx.debug:
                             print(f"fetched source value: {source_value}")
-                        destination_output = docker.compose.execute(pd.destination_container,
-                                                                    ["sh", "-c",
-                                                                        f"sh /scripts/import-{pd.destination_variable}.sh"
-                                                                        f" {source_value}"],
-                                                                    tty=False,
-                                                                    envs=container_exec_env)
+                        destination_output = deployer.compose_execute(pd.destination_container,
+                                                                      ["sh", "-c",
+                                                                       f"sh /scripts/import-{pd.destination_variable}.sh"
+                                                                       f" {source_value}"],
+                                                                      tty=False,
+                                                                      envs=container_exec_env)
                         waiting_for_data = False
                     if ctx.debug:
                         print(f"destination output: {destination_output}")
diff --git a/app/deploy_docker.py b/app/deploy_docker.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a40c4754
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/deploy_docker.py
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+# Copyright © 2022, 2023 Vulcanize
+
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <http:#www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+from python_on_whales import DockerClient, DockerException
+from app.deployer import Deployer, DeployerException
+
+
+class DockerDeployer(Deployer):
+    name: str = "compose"
+
+    def __init__(self, compose_files, compose_project_name, compose_env_file) -> None:
+        self.docker = DockerClient(compose_files=compose_files, compose_project_name=compose_project_name,
+                                   compose_env_file=compose_env_file)
+
+    def compose_up(self, detach, services):
+        try:
+            return self.docker.compose.up(detach=detach, services=services)
+        except DockerException as e:
+            raise DeployerException(e)
+
+    def compose_down(self, timeout, volumes):
+        try:
+            return self.docker.compose.down(timeout=timeout, volumes=volumes)
+        except DockerException as e:
+            raise DeployerException(e)
+
+    def compose_ps(self):
+        try:
+            return self.docker.compose.ps()
+        except DockerException as e:
+            raise DeployerException(e)
+
+    def compose_port(self, service, private_port):
+        try:
+            return self.docker.compose.port(service=service, private_port=private_port)
+        except DockerException as e:
+            raise DeployerException(e)
+
+    def compose_execute(self, service_name, command, envs):
+        try:
+            return self.docker.compose.execute(service_name=service_name, command=command, envs=envs)
+        except DockerException as e:
+            raise DeployerException(e)
+
+    def compose_logs(self, services, tail, follow, stream):
+        try:
+            return self.docker.compose.logs(services=services, tail=tail, follow=follow, stream=stream)
+        except DockerException as e:
+            raise DeployerException(e)
+
+    def run(self, image, command, user, volumes, entrypoint=None):
+        try:
+            return self.docker.run(image=image, command=command, user=user, volumes=volumes, entrypoint=entrypoint)
+        except DockerException as e:
+            raise DeployerException(e)
diff --git a/app/deploy_k8s.py b/app/deploy_k8s.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2614f725
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/deploy_k8s.py
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+# Copyright © 2023 Vulcanize
+
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <http:#www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+from kubernetes import client, config
+from app.deployer import Deployer
+
+
+class K8sDeployer(Deployer):
+    name: str = "k8s"
+
+    def __init__(self, compose_files, compose_project_name, compose_env_file) -> None:
+        config.load_kube_config()
+        self.client = client.CoreV1Api()
+
+    def compose_up(self, detach, services):
+        pass
+
+    def compose_down(self, timeout, volumes):
+        pass
+
+    def compose_ps(self):
+        pass
+
+    def compose_port(self, service, private_port):
+        pass
+
+    def compose_execute(self, service_name, command, envs):
+        pass
+
+    def compose_logs(self, services, tail, follow, stream):
+        pass
+
+    def run(self, image, command, user, volumes, entrypoint=None):
+        pass
diff --git a/app/deploy_types.py b/app/deploy_types.py
index 63f32762..ecc0d5a3 100644
--- a/app/deploy_types.py
+++ b/app/deploy_types.py
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@
 from typing import List
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from pathlib import Path
-from python_on_whales import DockerClient
 from app.command_types import CommandOptions
+from app.deployer import Deployer
 
 
 @dataclass
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class ClusterContext:
 class DeployCommandContext:
     stack: str
     cluster_context: ClusterContext
-    docker: DockerClient
+    deployer: Deployer
 
 
 @dataclass
diff --git a/app/deploy_util.py b/app/deploy_util.py
index 498e3dfd..b492d6e1 100644
--- a/app/deploy_util.py
+++ b/app/deploy_util.py
@@ -47,12 +47,12 @@ def _volumes_to_docker(mounts: List[VolumeMapping]):
 
 
 def run_container_command(ctx: DeployCommandContext, service: str, command: str, mounts: List[VolumeMapping]):
-    docker = ctx.docker
+    deployer = ctx.deployer
     container_image = _container_image_from_service(ctx.stack, service)
     docker_volumes = _volumes_to_docker(mounts)
     if ctx.cluster_context.options.debug:
         print(f"Running this command in {service} container: {command}")
-    docker_output = docker.run(
+    docker_output = deployer.run(
         container_image,
         ["-c", command], entrypoint="sh",
         user=f"{os.getuid()}:{os.getgid()}",
diff --git a/app/deployer.py b/app/deployer.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..97595db7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/deployer.py
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+# Copyright © 2023 Vulcanize
+
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <http:#www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+
+
+class Deployer(ABC):
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def compose_up(self, detach, services):
+        pass
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def compose_down(self, timeout, volumes):
+        pass
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def compose_ps(self):
+        pass
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def compose_port(self, service, private_port):
+        pass
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def compose_execute(self, service_name, command, envs):
+        pass
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def compose_logs(self, services, tail, follow, stream):
+        pass
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def run(self, image, command, user, volumes, entrypoint):
+        pass
+
+
+class DeployerException(Exception):
+    def __init__(self, *args: object) -> None:
+        super().__init__(*args)
diff --git a/app/deployer_factory.py b/app/deployer_factory.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..45c54ecd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/deployer_factory.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+# Copyright © 2023 Vulcanize
+
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <http:#www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+from app.deploy_k8s import K8sDeployer
+from app.deploy_docker import DockerDeployer
+
+
+def getDeployer(type, compose_files, compose_project_name, compose_env_file):
+    if type == "compose" or type is None:
+        return DockerDeployer(compose_files, compose_project_name, compose_env_file)
+    elif type == "k8s":
+        return K8sDeployer(compose_files, compose_project_name, compose_env_file)
+    else:
+        print(f"ERROR: deploy-to {type} is not valid")
diff --git a/app/deployment.py b/app/deployment.py
index aeabf61c..36cdecac 100644
--- a/app/deployment.py
+++ b/app/deployment.py
@@ -14,20 +14,25 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http:#www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 import click
-from dataclasses import dataclass
 from pathlib import Path
 import sys
 from app.deploy import up_operation, down_operation, ps_operation, port_operation
 from app.deploy import exec_operation, logs_operation, create_deploy_context
+from app.stack import Stack
+from app.spec import Spec
 
 
-@dataclass
 class DeploymentContext:
     dir: Path
+    spec: Spec
+    stack: Stack
 
     def get_stack_file(self):
         return self.dir.joinpath("stack.yml")
 
+    def get_spec_file(self):
+        return self.dir.joinpath("spec.yml")
+
     def get_env_file(self):
         return self.dir.joinpath("config.env")
 
@@ -35,12 +40,19 @@ class DeploymentContext:
     def get_cluster_name(self):
         return None
 
+    def init(self, dir):
+        self.dir = dir
+        self.stack = Stack()
+        self.stack.init_from_file(self.get_stack_file())
+        self.spec = Spec()
+        self.spec.init_from_file(self.get_spec_file())
+
 
 @click.group()
 @click.option("--dir", required=True, help="path to deployment directory")
 @click.pass_context
 def command(ctx, dir):
-    '''create a deployment'''
+    '''manage a deployment'''
 
     # Check that --stack wasn't supplied
     if ctx.parent.obj.stack:
@@ -55,14 +67,18 @@ def command(ctx, dir):
         print(f"Error: supplied deployment directory path {dir} exists but is a file not a directory")
         sys.exit(1)
     # Store the deployment context for subcommands
-    ctx.obj = DeploymentContext(dir_path)
+    deployment_context = DeploymentContext()
+    deployment_context.init(dir_path)
+    ctx.obj = deployment_context
 
 
 def make_deploy_context(ctx):
-    stack_file_path = ctx.obj.get_stack_file()
-    env_file = ctx.obj.get_env_file()
-    cluster_name = ctx.obj.get_cluster_name()
-    return create_deploy_context(ctx.parent.parent.obj, stack_file_path, None, None, cluster_name, env_file)
+    context: DeploymentContext = ctx.obj
+    stack_file_path = context.get_stack_file()
+    env_file = context.get_env_file()
+    cluster_name = context.get_cluster_name()
+    return create_deploy_context(ctx.parent.parent.obj, stack_file_path, None, None, cluster_name, env_file,
+                                 context.spec.obj["deploy-to"])
 
 
 @command.command()
diff --git a/app/deployment_create.py b/app/deployment_create.py
index 7f416300..81259795 100644
--- a/app/deployment_create.py
+++ b/app/deployment_create.py
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ def init(ctx, config, output, map_ports_to_host):
     stack = global_options(ctx).stack
     debug = global_options(ctx).debug
     default_spec_file_content = call_stack_deploy_init(ctx.obj)
-    spec_file_content = {"stack": stack}
+    spec_file_content = {"stack": stack, "deploy-to": ctx.obj.deployer.name}
     if default_spec_file_content:
         spec_file_content.update(default_spec_file_content)
     config_variables = _parse_config_variables(config)
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ def create(ctx, spec_file, deployment_dir, network_dir, initial_peers):
         sys.exit(1)
     os.mkdir(deployment_dir)
     # Copy spec file and the stack file into the deployment dir
-    copyfile(spec_file, os.path.join(deployment_dir, os.path.basename(spec_file)))
+    copyfile(spec_file, os.path.join(deployment_dir, "spec.yml"))
     copyfile(stack_file, os.path.join(deployment_dir, os.path.basename(stack_file)))
     # Copy any config varibles from the spec file into an env file suitable for compose
     _write_config_file(spec_file, os.path.join(deployment_dir, "config.env"))
diff --git a/app/spec.py b/app/spec.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a23bc167
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/spec.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# Copyright © 2022, 2023 Vulcanize
+
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <http:#www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+from pathlib import Path
+import typing
+from app.util import get_yaml
+
+
+class Spec:
+
+    obj: typing.Any
+
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        pass
+
+    def init_from_file(self, file_path: Path):
+        with file_path:
+            self.obj = get_yaml().load(open(file_path, "r"))
diff --git a/app/stack.py b/app/stack.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1f94acdf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/stack.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# Copyright © 2023 Vulcanize
+
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <http:#www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+from pathlib import Path
+import typing
+from app.util import get_yaml
+
+
+class Stack:
+
+    obj: typing.Any
+
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        pass
+
+    def init_from_file(self, file_path: Path):
+        with file_path:
+            self.obj = get_yaml().load(open(file_path, "r"))
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 7f60f9dd..bf4845a1 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -8,3 +8,4 @@ ruamel.yaml>=0.17.32
 pydantic==1.10.9
 tomli==2.0.1
 validators==0.22.0
+kubernetes>=28.1.0