diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
   apt-get install -y \
     cl-quicklisp \
     default-libmysqlclient-dev \
-    git
+    git \
+    kubernetes-client
 
 RUN mkdir -p /srv/phabricator /opt/forgerie
 RUN useradd -md /srv/forgerie -s /bin/bash forgerie
@@ -25,3 +26,12 @@
 
 # install quicklisp and pulls core dependencies for it to run properly
 RUN sbcl --quit
+
+# # for debugging purposes
+# USER root
+# RUN mkdir -p /srv/phabricator
+# RUN export DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive && \
+#   apt-get install -y \
+#     telnet iproute2
+
+# USER forgerie
diff --git a/bin/build-config-tmpl b/bin/build-config-tmpl
--- a/bin/build-config-tmpl
+++ b/bin/build-config-tmpl
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
      forgerie-gitlab:*default-project*
      forgerie-gitlab:*ssh-public-key*
      forgerie-gitlab:*default-group*
-     forgerie-gitlab:*rails-console-ssh-args*
+     forgerie-gitlab:*rails-command-args**
      forgerie-gitlab:*merge-request-suffix*
      forgerie-gitlab:*ticket-suffix*
      forgerie-gitlab:*limit-to-active-users*))))
diff --git a/config/config.lisp.tmpl b/config/config.lisp.tmpl
--- a/config/config.lisp.tmpl
+++ b/config/config.lisp.tmpl
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@
 ;   User <user>
 ;   Port 2222
 ;   IdentityFile ~/.ssh/your_identity_file
-(setf forgerie-gitlab:*rails-console-ssh-args* nil)
+(setf forgerie-gitlab:*rails-command-args** nil)
 
 ; A function that takes an argument of a forgerie-core:merge-request and
 ; returns a string that will be appended to the description of created merge requests.
diff --git a/src/main/gitlab/base.lisp b/src/main/gitlab/base.lisp
--- a/src/main/gitlab/base.lisp
+++ b/src/main/gitlab/base.lisp
@@ -31,15 +31,23 @@
 ; to do with the project with the name provided.
 (defvar *single-project* nil)
 
+;
+(defvar *rails-command* "/usr/bin/ssh"
+  "The rails command to execute, by default this uses ssh. But one could use kubectl or
+docker instead.")
+
 ; The args (host and command are normal) for the ssh command to
 ; boot the rails console.  Sometimes this is localhost.  Keys
 ; have to be set up.
-(defvar *rails-console-ssh-args* nil
- "A tuple of the form '(HOST COMMAND) that informs the gitlab forgerie
- how to run rails commands over ssh.  It will always use SSH, even if
- set up to run on localhost, so keys must be installed to ssh to localhost.
+(defvar *rails-command-args** nil
+ "A tuple of the form '(HOST COMMAND) that informs the gitlab forgerie how to run rails
+ commands over ssh. It will always use SSH, even if set up to run on localhost, so keys
+ must be installed to ssh to localhost. A simple list '(COMMAND) when using bare kubectl
+ or docker.
+
+ When using kube...
 
- An example for a server using docker might be:
+ When using ssh, an example for a server using docker might be:
 
  '(\"ssh.gitlab.yourdomain.tld\" \"docker exec -i gitlab /opt/gitlab/bin/gitlab-rails c\")
 
diff --git a/src/main/gitlab/package.lisp b/src/main/gitlab/package.lisp
--- a/src/main/gitlab/package.lisp
+++ b/src/main/gitlab/package.lisp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 (defpackage #:forgerie-gitlab (:use :cl)
  (:export
   #:*private-token* #:*server-address* #:*default-project* #:*ssh-public-key*
-  #:*default-group* #:*single-project* #:*rails-console-ssh-args* #:*merge-request-suffix*
-  #:*ticket-suffix* #:*limit-to-active-users*))
+  #:*default-group* #:*single-project* #:*rails-command* #:*rails-command-args*
+  #:*merge-request-suffix* #:*ticket-suffix* #:*limit-to-active-users*))
diff --git a/src/main/gitlab/utils.lisp b/src/main/gitlab/utils.lisp
--- a/src/main/gitlab/utils.lisp
+++ b/src/main/gitlab/utils.lisp
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@
  (when (not *rails-connection*)
   (setf
    *rails-connection*
-   (sb-ext:run-program "/usr/bin/ssh" *rails-console-ssh-args*
+   (sb-ext:run-program *rails-command* *rails-command-args**
     :input :stream
     :output :stream
     :wait nil))