Make it possible to disable enforced namespace when rendering with kubectl

[bsideup]

Expected behavior

A flag that would allow skipping setting the namespace while rendering the manifest.

Actual behavior

The namespace is always set, either to the current namespace from kubectl or the default value.

Information

• Skaffold version: Latest (2.0.3)
• Operating system: Any
• Installed via: skaffold.dev

Context

We want to use Skaffold to render a manifest that will later be installed into multiple namespaces (GitOps style).

Right now, Skaffold will force the namespace to be set at the render stage, making it impossible to use the rendered manifest without some post-processing that would remove the enforced namespace.

[bsideup]

Submitted a draft PR to demonstrate one of possible solutions:
#8234

[aaron-prindle]

Related - #8186

[bsideup]

@aaron-prindle ohhh, thanks for sharing! I did not expect it to be a regression, but a feature. If previously it wasn't the behavior, I will be more than happy if, by default, Skaffold will not force any namespace unless specified 👍

[bsideup]

Update: after reading the linked issue more carefully, I realized that --offline flag does exactly what I needed and skips adding the namespace (in the latest release).

I consider my use case solved, assuming that #8186 will be addressed before the next release, but I will leave the issue open in case the new behavior is desired and the flag will still be needed. Thank you!

[aaron-prindle]

Going to close this, tracking changing the default behaviour to be the same as --offline=true (as well as possibly adding a new flag set-namespace as you described to make the functionality more accessible // invert the current UX) in this issue:
#8318