Skip caching binaries when --no-kubernetes is set

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 {

pkg/minikube/node/cache.go

@@ -53,6 +53,12 @@ const (
 
 // BeginCacheKubernetesImages caches images required for Kubernetes version in the background
 func beginCacheKubernetesImages(g *errgroup.Group, imageRepository string, k8sVersion string, cRuntime string, driverName string) {
+	// Skip all caching operations in --no-kubernetes mode
+	if viper.GetBool("no-kubernetes") {
+		klog.Infof("Skipping Kubernetes image caching due to --no-kubernetes flag")
+		return
+	}
+
 	// TODO: remove imageRepository check once #7695 is fixed
 	if imageRepository == "" && download.PreloadExists(k8sVersion, cRuntime, driverName) {
 		klog.Info("Caching tarball of preloaded images")
@@ -81,11 +87,15 @@ func handleDownloadOnly(cacheGroup, kicGroup *errgroup.Group, k8sVersion, contai
 	}
 
 	binariesURL := viper.GetString("binary-mirror")
-	if err := doCacheBinaries(k8sVersion, containerRuntime, driverName, binariesURL); err != nil {
-		exit.Error(reason.InetCacheBinaries, "Failed to cache binaries", err)
-	}
-	if _, err := CacheKubectlBinary(k8sVersion, binariesURL); err != nil {
-		exit.Error(reason.InetCacheKubectl, "Failed to cache kubectl", err)
+
+	// Skip binary downloads in --no-kubernetes mode
+	if !viper.GetBool("no-kubernetes") {
+		if err := doCacheBinaries(k8sVersion, containerRuntime, driverName, binariesURL); err != nil {
+			exit.Error(reason.InetCacheBinaries, "Failed to cache binaries", err)
+		}
+		if _, err := CacheKubectlBinary(k8sVersion, binariesURL); err != nil {
+			exit.Error(reason.InetCacheKubectl, "Failed to cache kubectl", err)
+		}
 	}
 	waitCacheRequiredImages(cacheGroup)
 	if driver.IsKIC(driverName) {

test/integration/no_kubernetes_test.go

@@ -22,11 +22,15 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/constants"
+	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/localpath"
 )
 
 // TestNoKubernetes tests starting minikube without Kubernetes,
@@ -52,6 +56,7 @@ func TestNoKubernetes(t *testing.T) {
 			{"StartWithK8s", validateStartWithK8S},
 			{"StartWithStopK8s", validateStartWithStopK8s},
 			{"Start", validateStartNoK8S},
+			{"VerifyNok8sNoK8sDownloads", VerifyNoK8sDownloadCache},
 			{"VerifyK8sNotRunning", validateK8SNotRunning},
 			{"ProfileList", validateProfileListNoK8S},
 			{"Stop", validateStopNoK8S},
@@ -76,6 +81,32 @@ 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)
+
+	cachePath := filepath.Join(localpath.MiniPath(), "cache", "linux", runtime.GOARCH, "v0.0.0")
+
+	// Check if the cache directory exists at all
+	t.Logf("Checking cache directory: %s", cachePath)
+	if _, err := os.Stat(cachePath); err == nil {
+		// Directory exists - let's see what's in it for debugging
+		if files, err := filepath.Glob(filepath.Join(cachePath, "*")); err == nil && len(files) > 0 {
+			t.Logf("Files found in cache directory:")
+			for _, file := range files {
+				t.Logf("  - %s", file)
+			}
+		} else {
+			t.Logf("Cache directory exists but is empty")
+		}
+		t.Errorf("Cache directory %s should not exist when using --no-kubernetes", cachePath)
+	} else if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		t.Logf("No cache directory found (as expected)")
+	} else {
+		t.Errorf("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)