| type | Skill |
| name | helm-charts |
| title | Helm Charts |
| description | Helm chart authoring patterns including chart libraries, wrapper charts, template helpers, and packaging standards. Use when creating or reviewing Helm charts, building chart library abstractions, packaging Kubernetes applications, or designing multi-environment Helm deployments. |
| tags | ["devops","helm","kubernetes","charts","packaging"] |
| timestamp | "2026-06-14T00:00:00.000Z" |
| id | skill-helm-charts |
| cdr_ref | null |
| created | "2026-01-16T00:00:00.000Z" |
| modified | "2026-06-14T00:00:00.000Z" |
| verified | "2026-05-21T00:00:00.000Z" |
| age_days | 149 |
| evidence | [] |
| instruction_type | Generation |
| priority | Standard |
Helm Charts Skill
What This Skill Provides
Helm chart design patterns including library charts, wrapper charts, template
helper conventions, and packaging and distribution workflows for Kubernetes
applications.
When to Use This Skill
- Creating a new Helm chart or chart library
- Reviewing or refactoring an existing Helm chart
- Packaging and publishing charts to a chart repository or OCI registry
- Designing multi-environment value override strategies
- Building wrapper charts around upstream community charts
Core Patterns
Chart Library Pattern
Rule: Centralize shared templates in a library chart to eliminate
duplication across application charts.
Implementation:
- Create a
type: library chart with shared _helpers.tpl templates
- Application charts declare the library as a dependency
- Store library charts in a dedicated shared chart repository
- Library charts cannot be installed directly — only used as dependencies
References: See @rule:devops/helm_chart_library.md, @rule:devops/helm_template_helpers.md
Wrapper Charts
Rule: Wrap upstream community charts to control versions and apply team
defaults without forking upstream.
Implementation:
- Declare the upstream chart as a
dependencies entry in Chart.yaml
- Override defaults via
values.yaml in the wrapper chart
- Lock the upstream chart version in
Chart.lock
- Add team-standard labels, annotations, and security contexts via the wrapper
References: See @rule:devops/helm_wrapper_charts.md
Template Helpers
Rule: Define reusable naming, labeling, and annotation helpers in _helpers.tpl.
Implementation:
- Use
{{ include "chart.fullname" . }} patterns for consistent resource naming
- Define standard label sets (app, version, managed-by) in a shared helper
- Keep helpers idempotent and side-effect free
References: See @rule:devops/helm_template_helpers.md
Packaging and Distribution
Rule: Package and release charts through an automated CI/CD pipeline.
Implementation:
- Use
helm package and helm push in GitHub Actions on version tag
- Version charts using semantic versioning aligned with app versions
- Publish to an OCI registry (e.g., GHCR) or a dedicated chart repository
References: See @rule:devops/helm_packaging.md
