How to Ignore Some Templates in Helm Chart?

Helm is a powerful package manager for Kubernetes that simplifies the deployment and management of applications. Helm Charts, in particular, provide a convenient way to define, install, and upgrade even the most complex Kubernetes applications. However, there are scenarios where you might want to exclude certain templates from being processed during chart rendering. In this article, we'll explore how to effectively ignore specific templates in a Helm Chart.

Understanding the Need to Ignore Templates

Before diving into the process, let's understand why one might need to ignore templates. Helm Charts often consist of multiple YAML files that define various Kubernetes resources. In some cases, there might be templates that are optional or conditional, and you may want to exclude them based on specific requirements.

Commands for Helm Chart Ignorance

Helm provides a way to skip certain templates using the --skip-templates flag during the installation or upgrade process. The syntax for this command is as follows:

helm install [RELEASE_NAME] [CHART] --skip-templates [TEMPLATE_NAMES]

Here, [RELEASE_NAME] is the name you assign to the release, [CHART] is the path to the Helm Chart, and [TEMPLATE_NAMES] is a comma-separated list of template names you wish to skip.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Let's break down the process into a step-by-step guide:

1. Identify Templates to Ignore:
   Before you begin, determine which templates you want to exclude from the Helm Chart. This could be based on specific conditions, environments, or any other criteria relevant to your deployment.

2. Navigate to Helm Chart Directory:
   Change your working directory to where the Helm Chart is located. Use the cd command to navigate to the appropriate directory.

   cd /path/to/your/helm/chart
   

3. Install or Upgrade the Chart:
   Use the helm install or helm upgrade command along with the --skip-templates flag to exclude specific templates during the deployment.

   helm install my-release . --skip-templates template1,template2
   

   Replace my-release with your desired release name and adjust the template names accordingly.

4. Verify the Deployment:
   After the installation or upgrade, verify that the excluded templates are not applied to your Kubernetes cluster. Check the status of your deployment using kubectl commands.

More Examples

Let's consider a practical example where you want to exclude the job and service templates:

helm install my-release . --skip-templates job,service

In this scenario, any templates with the names "job" or "service" will be ignored during the Helm Chart deployment.

Ignoring specific templates in a Helm Chart can be a valuable feature when customizing deployments for different scenarios. Whether you have optional components or conditional resources, the --skip-templates flag provides a flexible solution.