I've completed a course on Helm charts but I'm struggling to figure out how to actually develop a Helm chart for an application from scratch, especially since I've been assigned this task at work. I've got the concepts down, but I need advice on transitioning from theory to practical application. For those of you who are experienced with Helm, how did you learn it? What methods worked for you when it came to creating working charts?
3 Answers
Trial and error is really key here! I found the Helm documentation a bit tough to digest, so I focused on mastering Go templating instead. A great way to learn is by exploring Bitnami’s charts repository; they have a lot of charts that are relatively straightforward to follow. Just keep in mind that it can get confusing at times, but that’s all part of the learning process. Good luck!
Practicing on a local Kubernetes cluster is a solid way to start. I recommend using "kind" for this. Plus, tools like ChatGPT can help generate code snippets or mini proofs of concept to understand the basics more easily. Happy learning!
To really nail it down, start with something super simple. Just create a `Chart.yaml` file (it's really short) and copy your existing Kubernetes YAML into it. You've just made a chart! Helm packages up your Kubernetes YAML and lets you add variables to customize it. If you’re not comfortable with Kubernetes YAML yet, get familiar with that first. Basic charts are pretty minimal, so they’re easier to learn from.
Exactly! Once you get the hang of it, you can start making more complex configurations.