Helm engineering services
Helm packages a Kubernetes application into one versioned, parameterised unit. Without it, every environment ends up with its own hand-edited manifests and a difference nobody can account for.
Where we use Helm
Helm is part of the stack on this service. Each page covers how we work, what you get and what it costs to start.
Helm in practice
Helm packages a Kubernetes application — deployments, services, ingress, config, secrets — into one versioned unit with parameters. Without it, each environment accumulates its own hand-edited manifests and a set of differences nobody can fully account for.
The release model is the underrated part. Each install is a numbered release with a rollback that is a single command, rather than an exercise in reconstructing what the previous manifests looked like. For third-party components we use upstream charts with pinned versions, which turns installing an ingress controller into a reviewed dependency rather than a copy-paste.
What we build with Helm
Charts covering deployments, services, ingress and configuration as one installable release.
One chart with per-environment values, so staging and production differ only where they are meant to.
Installing and pinning ingress controllers, monitoring stacks and operators from upstream charts.
Is Helm right for you?
Ask usA good fit when
- Applications deployed to more than one Kubernetes environment
- Installing third-party components with a supported upgrade path
- Teams wanting versioned releases and one-command rollback
- Charts shared across several internal teams
Probably not when
- A single small application in one cluster — plain manifests may be enough
- Teams who find the templating harder to read than the YAML it generates
What we run alongside Helm
The rest of the setup, and why each piece is there. We keep this list short on purpose — every dependency is something someone has to maintain.
- ArgoCD
- Renders charts from Git so the cluster matches a reviewed commit.
- helm-docs
- Generated documentation for chart values, so the interface is discoverable.
- helm lint and template
- Validation in CI before anything reaches a cluster.
- Pinned upstream charts
- Third-party components at explicit versions, upgraded deliberately.
Why Helm
Let’s talkVersioned releases
Each install is a numbered release with a rollback that is one command rather than a manifest archaeology exercise.
Templating without duplication
Environment differences live in a values file instead of in three near-identical manifest folders.
A large upstream catalogue
Most infrastructure components ship an official chart, which removes a lot of first-day work.
What we get called in to fix
Get a second opinionUnreadable templates
Nested conditionals producing YAML no one can predict without rendering it.
Values files that diverged
Environments differing in ways nobody intended, because the files were copied not parameterised.
Unpinned dependencies
Charts tracking latest, so a redeploy quietly upgrades a component.
Secrets in values files
Credentials committed to the repository instead of coming from a secret store.
Helm or the alternative
The comparisons we are actually asked to make, answered the way we would answer them on a call.
Helm for packaging, distribution and third-party charts. Kustomize for simple per-environment overlays without templating.
Manifests are fine for one app in one cluster. Helm earns its place at the second environment.
Operators for software needing lifecycle logic — databases, brokers. Helm for ordinary applications.
Ansible
ArgoCD
AWS
Azure
CircleCI
Datadog
Docker
GitHub
GitLab
Go
Google CloudGot an idea? Let’s make it real.
Tell us the short version
This could be the first step towards a new and successful collaboration. A one-line idea and a finished spec are both fine — tell us the problem, the deadline you’re working to and what’s in your way.
Keep looking
Frequently asked questions
Plain manifests are fine for one small application. Helm earns its place as soon as you have multiple environments.
Yes, for the applications we build. For third-party components we prefer upstream charts with pinned versions.
ArgoCD renders the chart from Git, so the deployed state always matches a reviewed commit.
For the applications we build, yes. For third-party components we prefer upstream charts at pinned versions.
helm rollback to a previous release, or reverting the commit if ArgoCD is driving it. Either way it is one action, not a reconstruction.