/helm-deploy Skill

Deploy applications to OpenShift using Helm charts. Supports existing charts or creates new ones.

Prerequisites

User logged into OpenShift cluster
Helm chart exists OR user wants to create one
Container image available (from registry or will be built)

When to Use This Skill

User wants to deploy an application using Helm charts on OpenShift
A Helm chart is detected in the project (Chart.yaml found)
User invokes /helm-deploy or asks about Helm-based deployment

Critical: Human-in-the-Loop Requirements

See Human-in-the-Loop Requirements for mandatory checkpoint behavior.

Workflow

Step 1: Check OpenShift Connection

Use kubernetes MCP to verify cluster connection:

## Checking OpenShift Connection...

**Cluster:** [cluster-url]
**User:** [username]
**Namespace:** [namespace]

Is this the correct cluster and namespace? (yes/no)

WAIT for user confirmation before proceeding.

Step 2: Detect Helm Chart

Search for Helm charts using the same priority order as /detect-project:

./Chart.yaml, ./chart/Chart.yaml, ./charts/*/Chart.yaml, ./helm/Chart.yaml, ./deploy/helm/Chart.yaml

Note: If /detect-project was already run, use the HELM_CHART_PATH and HELM_CHART_DETECTED values from session state.

If chart found:

## Helm Chart Detected

**Location:** [chart-path]

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Name | [chart-name] |
| Version | [chart-version] |
| App Version | [app-version] |
| Description | [description] |

**Templates found:**
- [list of template files]

**Values file:** [values.yaml path]

Would you like to:
1. Deploy using this chart (recommended)
2. Customize values before deploying
3. Use a different chart location

WAIT for user to select an option. Do NOT proceed until user makes a choice.

If no chart found:

## No Helm Chart Found

I searched these locations but found no Helm chart:
- ./Chart.yaml
- ./chart/Chart.yaml
- ./charts/*/Chart.yaml
- ./helm/Chart.yaml
- ./deploy/helm/Chart.yaml

**Options:**
1. **Create a new Helm chart** - I'll generate one based on your project
2. **Specify chart path** - Point me to your chart location
3. **Use a different deployment method** - Try /deploy or /containerize-deploy

Which would you prefer?

WAIT for user to select an option. Do NOT proceed until user makes a choice.

Step 3: Create Helm Chart (if needed)

If user chooses to create a chart:

## Creating Helm Chart

I'll create a Helm chart based on your project.

**Detected Project Info:**
| Setting | Value |
|---------|-------|
| App Name | [app-name] |
| Language | [language] |
| Framework | [framework] |
| Port | [port] |

**Chart will include:**
- Chart.yaml with project metadata
- values.yaml with configurable options
- Deployment template
- Service template
- Route template (OpenShift)
- Helper templates

**Target directory:** ./chart/

Proceed with creating the Helm chart? (yes/no)

WAIT for user confirmation before proceeding.

Use templates from templates/helm/ to generate:

Chart.yaml
values.yaml
templates/deployment.yaml
templates/service.yaml
templates/route.yaml
templates/_helpers.tpl
templates/NOTES.txt

Replace ${APP_NAME} placeholders with actual app name in all template files.

Step 4: Check for Existing Release

Before installing, check if a release with the same name exists:

## Checking for Existing Release...

[Use helm_list to check]

If release exists:

## Existing Release Found

A release named '[name]' already exists.

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Status | [status] |
| Revision | [revision] |
| Chart | [chart-name] v[version] |
| Updated | [timestamp] |

**Options:**
1. Upgrade the release with new configuration
2. Rollback to a previous revision
3. Uninstall and reinstall
4. Cancel

Which would you like to do?

WAIT for user to select an option. Do NOT proceed until user makes a choice.

Step 5: Review Values

## Chart Values Configuration

**Current values.yaml:**

```yaml
replicaCount: [value]
image:
  repository: [value]
  tag: [value]
service:
  port: [value]
route:
  enabled: [value]
resources:
  limits:
    memory: [value]

Common customizations:

| Value | Current | Description | |-------|---------|-------------| | replicaCount | 1 | Number of pods | | image.repository | [repo] | Container image | | image.tag | [tag] | Image version | | service.port | [port] | Service port | | resources.limits.memory | 512Mi | Memory limit |

Options:

Deploy with current values
Modify values interactively
Use a custom values file

Which would you prefer?


**WAIT for user to select an option.** Do NOT proceed until user makes a choice.

### Step 6: Pre-Deploy Summary

```markdown
## Helm Deployment Summary

**Release Configuration:**

| Setting | Value |
|---------|-------|
| Release Name | [release-name] |
| Namespace | [namespace] |
| Chart | [chart-path] |
| Chart Version | [version] |

**Resources to be created:**

| Resource | Name |
|----------|------|
| Deployment | [name] |
| Service | [name] |
| Route | [name] (if enabled) |

**Values to apply:**
```yaml
[show customized values or "Using defaults"]

Helm command equivalent:

helm install [release-name] [chart-path] -n [namespace] [--set options]

Proceed with Helm deployment? (yes/no)


**WAIT for user confirmation before proceeding.**

### Step 7: Execute Deployment

Use kubernetes MCP `helm_install` or `helm_upgrade`:

```markdown
## Deploying with Helm...

**Release:** [release-name]
**Chart:** [chart-name] v[version]

[x] Chart validated
[x] Templates rendered
[ ] Installing release...

---

**Installation Progress:**

Waiting for resources to be ready...

| Resource | Status |
|----------|--------|
| Deployment/[name] | [status] |
| Service/[name] | [status] |
| Route/[name] | [status] |

---

Monitor pod status using pods_list_in_namespace until pods are ready or timeout.

Step 8: Deployment Complete

## Helm Deployment Complete!

**Release:** [release-name]
**Status:** deployed
**Revision:** 1
**Namespace:** [namespace]

---

**Resources Created:**

| Resource | Name | Status |
|----------|------|--------|
| Deployment | [name] | [replicas] Ready |
| Service | [name] | Active |
| Route | [name] | Admitted |

**Access URL:** https://[route-host]

---

**Quick Commands:**

```bash
# Check release status
helm status [release-name] -n [namespace]

# View release history
helm history [release-name] -n [namespace]

# Upgrade with new values
helm upgrade [release-name] [chart-path] -n [namespace] -f new-values.yaml

# Rollback to previous version
helm rollback [release-name] 1 -n [namespace]

# Uninstall release
helm uninstall [release-name] -n [namespace]

# View logs
oc logs -l app.kubernetes.io/instance=[release-name] -n [namespace] -f

Your application is live!


## Dependencies

### Required MCP Servers
- `openshift` - Helm install, upgrade, list, and uninstall operations

### Related Skills
- `/deploy` - Alternative deployment without Helm charts
- `/debug-pod` - Troubleshoot pods after Helm deployment
- `/debug-network` - Diagnose networking issues with deployed services

### Reference Documentation
- [docs/builder-images.md](docs/builder-images.md) - Container image references for chart values
- [docs/image-selection-criteria.md](docs/image-selection-criteria.md) - Image variant selection for production deployments
- [docs/prerequisites.md](docs/prerequisites.md) - Required tools (oc, helm)