2.1.3

Latest release in branch 2.1
Released 22 Dec 2016 (9 years ago)

SoftwareHelm
Branch2.1
Status
End of life
Initial release2.1.0
13 Dec 2016 (9 years ago)
Latest patch release2.1.3
22 Dec 2016 (9 years ago)
Active support end14 Feb 2017 (Ended 9 years, 2 months ago)
Release noteshttps://github.com/helm/helm/releases/tag/v2.1.3
Source codehttps://github.com/helm/helm/tree/v2.1.3
Downloadhttps://github.com/helm/helm/releases/tag/v2.1.3
Helm 2.1 ReleasesView full list
SEE ALSO: Kubernetes Kubernetes New Terraform Terraform New

What Is New in Helm 2.1?

Category Highlights
New Features
  • Kubernetes 1.5 support (still works with 1.4)
  • Plugin system – write extensions in any language
  • Resource‑policy keep to retain objects on helm delete
  • Enhanced .Files object with Glob, AsConfig, AsSecrets
  • SemVer 2 range handling in requirements.yaml
Improvements
  • Better error messages for chart rendering failures
  • Support for multiple values files via --values
  • New template functions (e.g., trimSuffix, Lines)
  • Increased gRPC message size in Tiller
Bug Fixes
  • Fixed handling of pre‑release versions in SemVer ranges
  • Corrected Windows port‑forward setup
  • Resolved “no release found” spurious errors
  • Adjusted URL comparison logic for repository URLs
Documentation

What Are the Core Changes Introduced in Helm 2.1?

Kubernetes Compatibility

Helm now bundles the client libraries for Kubernetes 1.5 while retaining full compatibility with 1.4. This matters because you can adopt newer cluster features without waiting for a separate Helm release.

Plugin Architecture

The plugin framework lets you extend Helm with scripts written in Bash, Python, or any executable. Plugins are discovered from $HELM_HOME/plugins and can hook into any Helm command.

Resource‑Policy Keep

Adding resource-policy: keep as an annotation prevents Tiller from deleting the annotated resource when the release is removed. Useful for preserving CRDs or external services.

Files Object Enhancements

The .Files template helper now supports Glob for pattern matching and methods AsConfig / AsSecrets to generate ConfigMaps or Secrets directly from file bundles.

SemVer 2 Range Support

Dependencies declared in requirements.yaml can now use full SemVer 2 range syntax, enabling more precise version constraints for sub‑charts.

User‑Facing Improvements

  • Multiple --values files are merged in order.
  • New template functions like trimSuffix and Lines simplify string handling.
  • Enhanced error output points directly to the offending template line.

FAQ

Can I run Helm 2.1 against a Kubernetes 1.4 cluster?
Yes – the release is tested against 1.4 and works without modification.

How do I create a simple plugin for Helm?
Place an executable script in $HELM_HOME/plugins/myplugin with a plugin.yaml manifest; Helm will expose it as helm myplugin.

What does the resource-policy: keep annotation look like?
Add annotations: helm.sh/resource-policy: keep to any manifest you want Helm to leave untouched on delete.

Is there a limit to the number of --values files I can supply?
Helm merges any number of files sequentially; later files override earlier keys.

Do the new .Files.Glob and AsConfig helpers require any chart changes?
Just reference them in your templates, e.g., {{ .Files.Glob "config/*.yaml" | .AsConfig }}, and Helm will create the ConfigMap automatically.

Releases In Branch 2.1

VersionRelease date
2.1.322 Dec 2016
(9 years ago)
2.1.013 Dec 2016
(9 years ago)