Helmfile builds on the concepts of Helm charts. If you are unfamiliar with Helm, try this lab first: Kubernetes Pipelines: Helm .

Helm is a package manager tool that bundles related Kubernetes YAML manifests and context settings for a set of related applications. The packages are grouped into Helm charts that are named, versioned, and stored in Helm registries. Charts along with injected context values are deployed to various Kubernetes targets.

Helmfile is a package manager tool that bundles related Helm charts. The set of related charts is installed, updated, and removed as a complete solution stack. The helpfile CLI tool’s declarative artifact is a YAML file commonly named helmfile.yaml. This infrastructure-as-code file is stored in version control, freeing you from typing or scripting multiple Helm commands with its numerous command-line options.

Helmfile follows a declarative specification for deploying Helm charts. It lets you:

• Keep a directory of chart value files and maintain changes in version control
• Apply CI/CD to configuration changes
• Periodically sync to avoid skew in environments

The helmfile executable delegates to the helm executable.

In this lab, you will learn how to:

    ☐ Create and install a basic Helm chart
    ☐ Install and use the Helmfile CLI tool
    ☐ Install a simple chart with Helmfile
    ☐ Install multiple charts at once with Helmfile