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Portal | Level: L1: Foundations | Topics: Helm | Domain: DevOps & Tooling

Helm Skill Check

Rate yourself 0-2 on each item: 0 = never done, 1 = done with help, 2 = confident

Chart Management

  • Install a chart from a Helm repo with custom values
  • Upgrade a release with --set and --values overrides
  • Roll back a failed release to a previous revision
  • Uninstall a release and verify cleanup (PVCs, secrets)
  • Use helm template to render manifests locally without installing

Chart Development

  • Create a new chart with helm create and understand the scaffold
  • Write a values.yaml with nested structures and use them in templates
  • Use {{ if }}, {{ range }}, and {{ with }} in templates
  • Define and use named templates (_helpers.tpl) with {{ include }}
  • Use {{ .Release.Name }}, {{ .Chart.Name }}, {{ .Values.x }}
  • Add a pre-install or post-install hook with weight and delete policy

Dependencies and Packaging

  • Add a subchart dependency in Chart.yaml and run helm dependency update
  • Override subchart values from the parent chart
  • Package a chart with helm package and push to a chart repository
  • Use OCI registry for chart storage (helm push/helm pull)

Debugging and Operations

  • Use helm get values to see the values used in a live release
  • Use helm get manifest to see the rendered manifests of a release
  • Debug template rendering with helm template --debug
  • Use helm diff plugin to preview upgrade changes
  • Check release history with helm history and understand revision numbering
  • Diagnose "pending-install" or "pending-upgrade" stuck releases

Testing and Validation

  • Run helm lint to validate chart syntax
  • Write a helm test pod to verify post-install correctness
  • Use --dry-run to validate without applying
  • Validate schema with values.schema.json

Scoring

Score Level
0-10 Beginner — work through the Helm topic pack
11-20 Intermediate — practice chart development drills
21-30 Advanced — focus on packaging, testing, hooks
31+ Expert — mentor others and build shared chart libraries

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