Getting Started with Helm in Kubernetes: A Beginner’s Guide

Introduction

ainly challenging as you need to prepare an extensive YAML file for deploying resources such as deployments, services, and pods on the Kubernetes.

Helm can be summed up as the package manager for everything Kubernetes. Helm helps the users in quickly deploying resources to Kubernetes. Moreover, it also deploys charts part of the app package. It’s even an official project for Kubernetes within CNCF under the incubating project category.

The Need of Helm

Helm simplifies the deployments process in Kubernetes with merely some helm charts in the cluster. Every helm chart is kept within the repository and you can even search for your desired app chart on the registry. If needed, you can also add the said apps within your cluster.

How Can You Install Helm?

You can easily install Helm using binaries or package managers. Here is how:

• Homebrew for macOS – Brew installs Helm
• Chocolatey for Windows – Choco installs Kubernetes Helm
• Installer Script – Now you can use installer scripts for automatically fetching Helm’s latest version on your system.

$ curl -fsSL -o get_helm.sh https://raw.githubusercontent.com/helm/helm/master/scripts/get-helm-3

$ chmod 700 get_helm.sh

$ ./get_helm.sh

Via Binary Release

1.   First you need to download the installer package.
2.   Now unzip it.
3.   Now move it to the helm binary to the needed location.

Helm Charts Structure

Here is how the structure goes:

Chart.yaml

The document comprises chart’s metadata like version, keyword, and name.

READEME.md

The document comprises data about charts for users allowing them to easily use the chart.

License

It contains the license text for chart.

Templates

It comprises chart’s template files, which after combined with the values create legit Kubernetes manifested files.

Requirements.yaml

It comprises chart’s every dependency.

Values.yaml

It comprises chart’s standard configuration value.

Configmap.yaml

It comprises database configuration.

Secrets.yaml

It comprises every database password.

Helm Repository

It’s a server acting as the Helm chart’s arsenal. It allows us to use HTTP servers able to serve the tar and YAML files as Helm Repository. It holds index.yaml files with the list of packages while the users’ or client’s side used helm repo command for managing repositories.

Helm Commands

• Use helm init for installing tiller
• Use helm create <char name> for creating a chart
• Use helm repo list for listing repositories
• Use helm search <chart name> for searching any chart
• Use helm install <chart name> <flag> for installing any chart
• Use helm inspect <chart> <flag> for inspecting any chart

Installing Applications via Helm

You can easily install apps via helms in just few steps. First add one repo within the system with the help of helm, and then install any relevant deployment available within the repo.

• Use helm repo add bitnami https://charts.bitnami.com/bitnami for installing a bitnami repository
• Use helm install –name jenk bitnami/Jenkins for installing a Jenkins chart
• Use kubectl get deploy for checking deployment

Wrapping Up

The container handling industry is certainly the playfield for Kubernetes in the upcoming years. Therefore, it is pivotal for every venture to get proficient with it. Adding to the benefits proposed by Kubernetes we have helm.

Helms also offer numerous advantages and the blog has mentioned some vital information about it. Try giving it a thorough read to dig a little deeper about helms.