Helm Charts Skill

Overview

Specialized skill for Helm chart development, validation, and lifecycle management. Provides expert capabilities for Kubernetes application packaging using Helm.

Capabilities

Chart Development

• Generate Helm charts from existing Kubernetes manifests
• Create chart templates with proper parameterization
• Implement Helm hooks for lifecycle management
• Design reusable library charts

Chart Validation

• Validate chart structure against Helm best practices
• Lint charts for syntax and semantic errors
• Test template rendering with different value sets
• Verify chart dependencies and requirements

Template Management

• Debug template rendering issues
• Implement complex Go template logic
• Create helper templates (_helpers.tpl)
• Handle conditional resource generation

Release Management

• Manage Helm releases (install, upgrade, rollback)
• Track release history and revisions
• Handle release values and secrets
• Implement atomic deployments

Dependency Management

• Configure chart dependencies
• Manage dependency versions and constraints
• Handle sub-chart overrides
• Implement chart repositories

Target Processes

• kubernetes-setup.js - Kubernetes cluster and workload deployment
• service-mesh.js - Service mesh installation via Helm
• idp-setup.js - Internal developer platform components

Usage Context

This skill is invoked when processes require:

• Creating new Helm charts for applications
• Migrating Kubernetes manifests to Helm
• Validating and testing chart configurations
• Managing Helm releases across environments
• Troubleshooting chart template issues

Dependencies

• Helm CLI (v3.x)
• kubectl for cluster validation
• Chart repository access (if using external charts)

Output Formats

• Helm chart directories (Chart.yaml, templates/, values.yaml)
• Rendered Kubernetes manifests
• Helm lint/test reports
• Release status information