How to Use Helm Charts for Kubernetes Deployments

In the dynamic world of Kubernetes, deploying and managing applications efficiently can become complex as clusters grow in size and configuration. That’s where Helm comes into play — a powerful package manager for Kubernetes that simplifies application deployment, scaling, and maintenance. Helm uses reusable templates called Helm Charts to package Kubernetes manifests, making it easier to deploy applications with minimal effort and maximum consistency.

In this blog, we’ll explore what Helm is, why it’s essential, how Helm Charts work, and step-by-step instructions on how to use them for Kubernetes deployments. Whether you’re new to Helm or want to streamline your Kubernetes operations, this guide will give you all the knowledge you need.

What Is Helm in Kubernetes?

Helm is often referred to as the “package manager for Kubernetes.” It provides a structured way to define, install, and upgrade even the most complex Kubernetes applications.

Traditionally, deploying an application to Kubernetes requires managing multiple YAML files for resources like Pods, Services, Deployments, and Ingress. As the number of microservices increases, this process becomes cumbersome. Helm simplifies this by combining all those manifests into a single deployable package — the Helm Chart.

Key Features of Helm

• Templating System: Helm allows you to use variables and reusable templates instead of writing repetitive YAML files.

• Version Control: Each chart version is tracked, allowing easy rollbacks.

• Dependency Management: Helm can manage dependencies between multiple services or microservices.

• Release Management: You can upgrade, rollback, or delete a release with one command.

• Reproducibility: Helm ensures deployments are consistent across environments.

In essence, Helm makes Kubernetes application deployment more modular, maintainable, and automated.

What Are Helm Charts?

A Helm Chart is a collection of files that describe a set of Kubernetes resources. Think of it as a blueprint for deploying an application. Each chart contains metadata, configuration values, templates, and optional dependencies.

A typical Helm Chart has the following directory structure:

mychart/
  Chart.yaml        # Metadata about the chart (name, version, description)
  values.yaml       # Default configuration values
  templates/        # Kubernetes YAML templates
  charts/           # Sub-charts (dependencies)
  README.md         # Documentation about the chart

Important Files Explained

• Chart.yaml: Defines the chart name, version, and app version.

• values.yaml: Contains default configuration values that can be overridden during installation.

• templates/: Includes all Kubernetes manifests (Deployments, Services, etc.) written using Helm’s Go templating syntax.

Helm uses these templates to generate actual Kubernetes manifests dynamically when you install the chart.

Why Use Helm for Kubernetes Deployments?

Helm is a must-have tool for Kubernetes administrators and DevOps engineers. Here’s why:

1. Simplified Deployment

Instead of managing multiple YAML files, you can deploy an entire application stack using a single command.

2. Reusability

Helm Charts can be reused across environments (dev, test, production) by simply overriding configuration values.

3. Versioning and Rollback

Helm automatically versions every deployment, allowing easy rollbacks if something goes wrong.

4. Consistency Across Teams

Teams can use the same chart to deploy identical setups, reducing configuration drift.

5. Easy Application Lifecycle Management

Helm provides commands for upgrading, uninstalling, and managing releases seamlessly.

6. Ecosystem Support

The Helm Hub (Artifact Hub) offers thousands of pre-built charts for popular applications like Nginx, MongoDB, Prometheus, and Grafana.

Installing Helm

Before you use Helm, you need to install it on your local system.

Step 1: Install Helm CLI

You can install Helm using the following command (for Linux or macOS):

curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/helm/helm/main/scripts/get-helm-3 | bash

For Windows, you can use:

choco install kubernetes-helm

Step 2: Verify Installation

Once installed, verify it with:

helm version

You should see output indicating the Helm client version.

Step 3: Configure Helm Repository

Helm uses repositories to find and download charts. Add the default Helm repository:

helm repo add stable https://charts.helm.sh/stable
helm repo update

Now, you’re ready to deploy applications using Helm.

Deploying Applications with Helm Charts

Let’s go through a practical example of deploying an Nginx application using Helm.

Step 1: Search for Available Charts

To find a chart for Nginx, run:

helm search repo nginx

This will list all available Nginx charts.

Step 2: Install the Chart

To install Nginx, use the command:

helm install my-nginx stable/nginx-ingress

Here:

• my-nginx is the release name.

• stable/nginx-ingress is the chart name.

Helm will automatically fetch the chart, create necessary resources, and deploy Nginx in your Kubernetes cluster.

Step 3: Verify Deployment

You can verify if the release was successful using:

helm list
kubectl get all

Step 4: Customize Configuration

To override default settings in values.yaml, create a custom file (e.g., custom-values.yaml):

controller:
  replicaCount: 2
  service:
    type: LoadBalancer

Then install the chart using your configuration:

helm install my-nginx stable/nginx-ingress -f custom-values.yaml

This allows you to tailor your deployment to specific requirements.

Step 5: Upgrading and Rolling Back

Helm makes upgrading and rolling back versions effortless.

Upgrade your release with:

helm upgrade my-nginx stable/nginx-ingress -f custom-values.yaml

Rollback to a previous version with:

helm rollback my-nginx 1

Step 6: Uninstalling a Release

To remove a Helm release and all associated resources:

helm uninstall my-nginx

Helm will clean up everything, leaving your cluster neat and organized.

Creating Your Own Helm Chart

If you want to package your own application as a Helm Chart, follow these steps.

Step 1: Create a New Chart

helm create mychart

This command creates the default Helm Chart directory structure.

Step 2: Edit the Chart Files

Update Chart.yaml with your application metadata:

apiVersion: v2
name: mychart
description: A simple web application chart
version: 1.0.0
appVersion: "1.0"

Step 3: Add Your Kubernetes Manifests

Modify the files in the templates/ directory to include your application’s Deployment, Service, and other resources.

Step 4: Package and Deploy the Chart

Package your chart for distribution:

helm package mychart

Install it in Kubernetes:

helm install myapp ./mychart

This deploys your custom application using Helm’s templating and automation features.

Managing Dependencies in Helm

Helm supports sub-charts, allowing you to manage multi-service applications easily. For example, if your application depends on a database, you can add it as a dependency in your Chart.yaml:

dependencies:
  - name: mysql
    version: 8.0.0
    repository: "https://charts.bitnami.com/bitnami"

Then, run:

helm dependency update

This command pulls the required sub-chart automatically, ensuring seamless integration between services.

Best Practices for Using Helm

1. Keep Values Configurable

Avoid hardcoding values in templates. Use values.yaml for configuration flexibility.

2. Use Version Control

Store Helm Charts in a Git repository to maintain version history.

3. Test Charts Before Deployment

Use Helm’s dry-run mode to validate templates before applying them:

helm install --dry-run --debug myapp ./mychart

4. Secure Your Repositories

If you’re hosting private charts, secure them using authentication and HTTPS.

5. Implement CI/CD Integration

Integrate Helm with CI/CD tools like Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or Argo CD for automated deployments.

6. Manage Rollbacks and Upgrades Carefully

Always verify changes before upgrading or rolling back to prevent inconsistencies.

Advantages of Using Helm

• Consistency: Deploy the same configurations across environments.

• Scalability: Simplifies deployment for large-scale Kubernetes clusters.

• Speed: Reduces manual effort and speeds up releases.

• Portability: Helm Charts can be easily shared or distributed.

• Maintainability: Easy upgrades and rollbacks ensure smooth lifecycle management.

Common Use Cases for Helm

• Deploying complex applications like WordPress, Elasticsearch, or Prometheus.

• Managing microservice dependencies within Kubernetes.

• Automating CI/CD pipelines for cloud-native applications.

• Maintaining consistent development, staging, and production environments.

Conclusion

Helm Charts have become an indispensable tool for modern Kubernetes deployments, providing a structured, repeatable, and automated way to manage application lifecycles. With Helm, you can standardize deployments, manage dependencies, and streamline upgrades with minimal manual intervention.

Whether you’re deploying a single application or managing hundreds of microservices, Helm’s powerful templating, versioning, and rollback features make Kubernetes operations simpler and more reliable.

As Kubernetes continues to evolve, mastering Helm will empower DevOps engineers and developers to deploy applications faster, safer, and more efficiently — turning complex infrastructure management into a seamless, automated process.