What is Helm?

Helm is an open-source package manager for Kubernetes. It allows developers to easily manage and deploy applications on a Kubernetes cluster. Helm uses a concept called charts, which are packages of Kubernetes resources that can be easily installed, upgraded, or deleted.

Helm’s main features include:

• The ability to manage multiple Kubernetes resources as a single package, called a chart.
• The ability to version charts, allowing for easy rollbacks and upgrades.
• Support for chart dependencies, allowing multiple charts to be installed and managed together.
• The ability to define and manage default configuration values for a chart.
• Support for templating, allowing charts to be customized without modifying the chart itself.

Prerequisite of helm course

A Helm course typically has the following prerequisites:

• Basic knowledge of Kubernetes: Helm is used to manage applications on a Kubernetes cluster, so a basic understanding of – Kubernetes concepts such as pods, services, and deployments is necessary.
• Familiarity with command-line interface (CLI): Helm is primarily used via the command-line, so a basic understanding of using a CLI is required.
• Familiarity with Git: Helm charts are typically stored in Git repositories and versioned, so a basic understanding of Git is necessary.
• It’s also recommended to have the following skills before taking a Helm course:
• Experience with containerization: Helm is used to deploy and manage containerized applications on a Kubernetes cluster, so experience with containerization technologies such as Docker is beneficial.
• Experience with YAML: Helm charts are written in YAML, so experience with this markup language is beneficial.
• Familiarity with Go: Helm uses Go templates to generate Kubernetes manifests, so familiarity with the Go programming language is beneficial.

Agenda of Helm Course

2-day training agenda for Helm could include the following topics:

# Day 1:

• Introduction to Helm and Kubernetes: Understanding the basics of Helm and how it fits into the Kubernetes ecosystem.
• Installing Helm: Setting up Helm on your local machine and configuring it to work with a Kubernetes cluster.
• Creating a Helm Chart: Creating a basic Helm chart from scratch, including metadata, templates, and values.
• Chart Repositories: Setting up a chart repository and publishing charts to it.
• Chart Dependencies: Understanding and managing chart dependencies.
• Helm CLI: Exploring the Helm command-line interface, including common commands such as install, upgrade, and delete.

# Day 2:

• Templating with Helm: Using Go templates to generate Kubernetes manifests and customizing chart values.
• Advanced Chart Configuration: Understanding how to configure resources like ConfigMaps, Secrets and more.
• Helm Hooks: Exploring the use of hooks in Helm charts, including pre- and post-install hooks, and custom hooks.
• Helm Testing: Using Helm to test charts, including linting and testing with Tiller.
• Helm Best Practices: Discussing best practices for creating and managing Helm charts, including versioning, testing, and security.
• Case studies or Examples.

Rajesh Kumar

I’m Rajesh Kumar, a DevOps, SRE, DevSecOps, Cloud, and Platform Engineering expert passionate about sharing practical knowledge, real-world experiences, and industry best practices. I have worked at Cotocus and regularly write about technology, travel, investing, health, product reviews, and digital marketing through my various platforms.

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