Helm is a package manager for Kubernetes that simplifies the deployment, management, and configuration of applications running on Kubernetes clusters, significantly enhancing Kubernetes' native capabilities.
It organizes application resources into a single deployable unit called a Helm Chart, which can be versioned, shared, and reused. Helm charts can simplify the setup of common applications, such as databases, web servers, and monitoring tools, by providing a repository of well-maintained and tested configurations.
Helm provides a lot of advantages to Kubernetes infrastructures, such as:
However, it also comes with its own set of disadvantages, which include:
For a complete overview of Helm and its basic concepts, refer to this Scaleway blog post.
Before you startTo complete the actions presented below, you must have:
Before installing Helm, ensure that kubectl
is installed and configured on your system. You can verify this by running:
You will see cluster information if kubectl
is installed and configured correctly. If not, make sure to deploy a Kubernetes Kapsule cluster first.
Download the latest Helm release for your operating system from the Helm releases page.
Install Helm by following the installation instructions for your OS. For macOS:
For Linux:
curl -fsSL -o get_helm.sh https://raw.githubusercontent.com/helm/helm/main/scripts/get-helm-3
chmod 700 get_helm.sh
./get_helm.sh
For Windows: Download the Windows installer from the releases page and run the installer.
Verify the Helm installation by running the following command:
This should display the version of Helm installed.
Helm Repositories are cloud storage locations where Helm charts are stored and distributed. They are collections of packaged charts that can be shared and retrieved using simple commands. Repositories are added to the Helm client, allowing users to search, install, and update charts.
To add a repository, use the helm repo add
command:
helm repo add <repo-name> <repo-url>
For example, to add the official Helm stable repository:
helm repo add stable https://charts.helm.sh/stable
Installing Helm charts
Helm Charts are packages of pre-configured Kubernetes resources. Each chart contains a set of YAML templates defining the Kubernetes objects required for a particular application or service and default configuration values. Charts enable reusable and repeatable deployments across different environments.
To install a chart, use the helm install
command:
helm install <release-name> <chart-name>
For example, to install the nginx
chart from the stable repository:
helm install my-nginx stable/nginx
Searching for Helm charts
Helm allows you to search for charts in the repositories you have added. Use the helm search
command to find charts:
helm search repo <keyword>
For example, to search for all nginx-related charts:
TipThe Cloud Native Computing Foundation operates ArtifactHUB, a web-based application that enables finding, installing, and publishing Cloud Native packages and configurations. It allows you to search for Helm Charts and more using a web browser.
Creating Helm charts from templatesCreating Helm charts can be straightforward if you follow the template structure. Here is a brief overview of how to create a simple chart:
Create a new Helm chart:
This command generates a boilerplate chart directory structure.
Customize your templates: The generated chart directory includes several files and directories:
Chart.yaml
: Metadata about the chart.values.yaml
: Default values for the chart's variables.templates/
: Directory containing Kubernetes manifest templates.Modify these files to fit your application's needs.
After customizing, package your chart using:
helm package <chart-name>
Install your custom chart using the helm install
command:
helm install <release-name> <path-to-chart>
For more information about Helm, including advanced usage, plugins, and community support, visit the official Helm website and the Helm GitHub repository. The community is active, and many resources are available for learning and troubleshooting.
After completing this tutorial, you now have a solid foundation for using Helm to manage your Kubernetes applications. The official Helm documentation is an excellent resource for further exploration.
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