What You'll Learn
Introduction to Helm, the package manager for Kubernetes. Learn how to search, install, create, and deploy Helm charts to manage complex K8s applications.
What is Helm?
Helm is the package manager for Kubernetes, akin to apt for Ubuntu or npm for Node.js. It packages multiple Kubernetes manifests (Deployments, Services, ConfigMaps) into a single logical unit called a Chart.
Templating
Inject variables into YAML files instead of duplicating manifests for dev/prod.
Releases
Track deployments as "Releases" enabling easy rollbacks and upgrades.
Sharing
Install complex community apps (Redis, Prometheus, Nginx) with one command.
Using Community Charts
bash — Helm CLI basics
# 1. Add a repository
helm repo add bitnami https://charts.bitnami.com/bitnami
helm repo update
# 2. Search for charts
helm search repo mysql
# 3. View default values
helm show values bitnami/mysql > values.yaml
# 4. Install a chart (creates a "Release")
helm install my-db bitnami/mysql \
--namespace database \
--create-namespace \
--set auth.rootPassword=secretpassword \
-f custom-values.yaml
# 5. List releases
helm ls -n database
# 6. Upgrade a release
helm upgrade my-db bitnami/mysql -f new-values.yaml
# 7. Rollback
helm rollback my-db 1 # Rollback to revision 1
# 8. Uninstall
helm uninstall my-db -n databaseCreating Your Own Chart
You can create your own chart for your application. This allows you to deploy your app consistently across dev, staging, and production.
bash & file structure
# Create a new chart
helm create my-app
# Generates this structure:
my-app/
├── Chart.yaml # Metadata (name, version, description)
├── values.yaml # Default configuration values
├── charts/ # Dependencies (subcharts)
└── templates/ # Go templated Kubernetes manifests
├── deployment.yaml
├── service.yaml
├── ingress.yaml
└── _helpers.tpl # Reusable template snippetsHelm Templating Example
values.yaml
replicaCount: 3
image:
repository: my-app
tag: "1.2.0"
service:
type: ClusterIP
port: 8080templates/deployment.yaml
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
name: {{ include "my-app.fullname" . }}
spec:
replicas: {{ .Values.replicaCount }}
template:
spec:
containers:
- name: {{ .Chart.Name }}
image: "{{ .Values.image.repository }}:{{ .Values.image.tag }}"
ports:
- containerPort: {{ .Values.service.port }}DevOps Pro Tips
- Test templates locally:
helm template my-release ./my-appprints the rendered YAML without deploying. - Dry run:
helm install --dry-run --debug my-release ./my-appsimulates install and shows rendered output. - GitOps: In modern setups, you don't run
helm installmanually. Tools like ArgoCD or Flux monitor Git for changes to your `values.yaml` and apply them automatically.