@stacksolo/plugin-helm

Helm chart generator plugin for StackSolo. Transforms Kubernetes resource definitions into production-ready Helm charts with templatized values, enabling multi-environment deployments and GitOps workflows.

Features

- Automatic Helm Chart Generation - Converts StackSolo K8s resources to complete Helm charts
- Templatized Values - All configurable values extracted to values.yaml
- Multi-Deployment Support - Single chart manages multiple deployments with individual configurations
- Environment Flexibility - Use values files for dev, staging, and production environments
- Standard Helm Patterns - Follows Helm best practices with _helpers.tpl and proper labeling

Installation

The plugin is included with StackSolo by default. If installing separately:

``bash
npm install @stacksolo/plugin-helm
`

Usage

$3

`bash


Preview the generated chart

stacksolo deploy --helm --preview

Generate and deploy via Helm

stacksolo deploy --helm
`

$3

Add Helm-specific settings in your stacksolo.config.json:

`json
{
"project": {
"name": "my-app",
"backend": "kubernetes",
"plugins": ["@stacksolo/plugin-helm"],
"kubernetes": {
"registry": {
"url": "gcr.io/my-project"
},
"helm": {
"chartVersion": "1.0.0",
"appVersion": "v1.2.3"
}
}
}
}
`

$3

`
.stacksolo/helm-chart/
├── Chart.yaml # Chart metadata
├── values.yaml # Default configuration values
└── templates/
├── _helpers.tpl # Template helper functions
├── namespace.yaml # Namespace resource
├── configmap.yaml # ConfigMap for shared config
├── deployment.yaml # Deployment resources (multi-deployment)
├── service.yaml # Service resources
└── ingress.yaml # Ingress configuration
`

Multi-Environment Deployments

$3

values-dev.yaml
`yaml
replicaCount: 1

deployments:
api:
replicaCount: 1
image:
tag: "dev-latest"
resources:
limits:
cpu: 250m
memory: 256Mi

ingress:
host: "api.dev.example.com"
`

values-staging.yaml
`yaml
replicaCount: 2

deployments:
api:
replicaCount: 2
image:
tag: "staging-v1.2.0"
resources:
limits:
cpu: 500m
memory: 512Mi

ingress:
host: "api.staging.example.com"
`

values-prod.yaml
`yaml
replicaCount: 3

deployments:
api:
replicaCount: 3
image:
tag: "v1.2.0"
resources:
limits:
cpu: 1000m
memory: 1Gi

ingress:
host: "api.example.com"
annotations:
kubernetes.io/ingress.class: "nginx"
cert-manager.io/cluster-issuer: "letsencrypt-prod"
`

$3

`bash


Development

helm install my-app .stacksolo/helm-chart \
-f .stacksolo/helm-chart/values-dev.yaml \
-n dev

Staging

helm install my-app .stacksolo/helm-chart \
-f .stacksolo/helm-chart/values-staging.yaml \
-n staging

Production

helm install my-app .stacksolo/helm-chart \
-f .stacksolo/helm-chart/values-prod.yaml \
-n production
`

$3

`bash


Update image tag in production


helm upgrade my-app .stacksolo/helm-chart \
-f .stacksolo/helm-chart/values-prod.yaml \
--set deployments.api.image.tag=v1.3.0 \
-n production
`

Values Reference

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| Key | Type | Default | Description |
|-----|------|---------|-------------|
| replicaCount | int | 1 | Default replica count for all deployments |
| image.pullPolicy | string | IfNotPresent | Image pull policy |
| resources.limits.cpu | string | 500m | Default CPU limit |
| resources.limits.memory | string | 512Mi | Default memory limit |
| resources.requests.cpu | string | 100m | Default CPU request |
| resources.requests.memory | string | 128Mi | Default memory request |

$3

| Key | Type | Default | Description |
|-----|------|---------|-------------|
| ingress.enabled | bool | true | Enable ingress resource |
| ingress.className | string | nginx | Ingress class name |
| ingress.host | string | - | Hostname for ingress |
| ingress.annotations | object | {} | Ingress annotations |
| ingress.routes | array | - | Path-based routing rules |

$3

Each deployment under deployments.:

| Key | Type | Default | Description |
|-----|------|---------|-------------|
| enabled | bool | true | Enable this deployment |
| replicaCount | int | global | Replica count override |
| image.repository | string | - | Container image repository |
| image.tag | string | latest | Container image tag |
| port | int | 8080 | Container port |
| servicePort | int | 80 | Service port |
| env | object | {} | Environment variables |
| resources | object | global | Resource limits/requests override |

Advanced Usage

$3

After generating the chart, use standard Helm commands:

`bash


Dry run to see generated manifests

helm template my-app .stacksolo/helm-chart

Install with custom values

helm install my-app .stacksolo/helm-chart \
--set deployments.api.replicaCount=5 \
--set ingress.host=myapp.example.com

Check release status

helm status my-app -n my-namespace

View release history

helm history my-app -n my-namespace

Rollback to previous version

helm rollback my-app 1 -n my-namespace

Uninstall release

helm uninstall my-app -n my-namespace
`

$3

The generated Helm chart is compatible with GitOps tools:

ArgoCD Application
`yaml
apiVersion: argoproj.io/v1alpha1
kind: Application
metadata:
name: my-app
spec:
source:
repoURL: https://github.com/myorg/myrepo
path: .stacksolo/helm-chart
helm:
valueFiles:
- values-prod.yaml
destination:
server: https://kubernetes.default.svc
namespace: production
`

Flux HelmRelease
`yaml
apiVersion: helm.toolkit.fluxcd.io/v2beta1
kind: HelmRelease
metadata:
name: my-app
spec:
chart:
spec:
chart: .stacksolo/helm-chart
sourceRef:
kind: GitRepository
name: my-repo
values:
deployments:
api:
image:
tag: v1.2.0
`

Plugin Architecture

This plugin extends StackSolo's plugin system with the OutputFormatter capability:

`typescript
import type { Plugin } from '@stacksolo/core';
import { helmFormatter } from './formatter';

export const plugin: Plugin = {
name: '@stacksolo/plugin-helm',
version: '0.1.0',
outputFormatters: [helmFormatter],
};
`

The OutputFormatter interface:

`typescript
interface OutputFormatter {
id: string; // 'helm'
name: string; // 'Helm Chart'
description: string;
generate: (options: OutputFormatterOptions) => GeneratedOutput[];
}

interface OutputFormatterOptions {
projectName: string;
resources: ResolvedResource[];
config: Record;
outputDir: string;
}

interface GeneratedOutput {
path: string; // Relative path within chart
content: string; // File content
}
``

Contributing

See the main StackSolo repository for contribution guidelines.

License

MIT - see LICENSE for details.