Last checked and updated on 04 May 2026
What Is New in Helm 3.11 (summary table)
| Category | Highlights |
|---|---|
| New Features | Added helm status --show-resources to display core Kubernetes objects; support for comma‑separated API versions in helm template --api-versions. |
| Improvements | CGO can be overridden at build time; enhanced error messages for linting null values; refined User‑Agent handling; better handling of temporary etcd errors. |
| Bug Fixes | Fixed request/response table misuse, status‑code checks before retries, URL encoding for chart downloads, and several CI‑related flakiness issues. |
| Dependency Updates | Upgraded Kubernetes client to v0.26.0, containerd to 1.6.15, oras‑go to 1.2.2, sprig to 3.2.3, and numerous Go modules (cobra, logrus, etc.). |
| Documentation | Added docs for cli/values.Options, clarified plugin install errors, and updated quick‑start references. |
What are the major change groups in Helm 3.11?
New CLI capabilities
helm status --show-resourcesnow reports the state of Deployments, Services and other core resources.- The
--api-versionsflag accepts a comma‑separated list, simplifying multi‑version templating.
Build and runtime flexibility
- Setting
CGO_ENABLEDduring a source build is now possible, giving more control over binary size and portability. - Improved handling of temporary etcd errors reduces unnecessary retries.
Reliability and bug corrections
- Corrected misuse of Table request/response objects when talking to the Kubernetes API.
- Added status‑code validation before retry loops, preventing endless retries on non‑retryable errors.
- Fixed URL encoding for chart downloads and tightened User‑Agent header logic.
Dependency and CI enhancements
- Upgraded core Go dependencies (cobra, logrus, sprig, etc.) and Kubernetes client libraries to stay compatible with newer clusters.
- CI pipeline adjustments address flakiness and improve test coverage for plugin installation and repo handling.
Documentation updates
- Added reference material for
cli/values.Optionsand clarified linting messages for null array values. - Quick‑start guide link refreshed for easy onboarding.
FAQ
How do I view the resources created by a release?
Run helm status RELEASE_NAME --show-resources and Helm will list Deployments, Services, and other core objects alongside the usual status output.
Can I specify multiple API versions in a single template command?
Yes, pass a comma‑separated list to helm template --api-versions v1,v2 and Helm will enable all listed versions during rendering.
Is it possible to build Helm without CGO?
Set the environment variable CGO_ENABLED=0 before invoking go build; the build system now respects this flag.
What changed in the way Helm talks to the Kubernetes API?
Helm now validates HTTP status codes before retrying and uses a corrected Table request/response format, which reduces malformed calls.
Do I need to update any dependencies after upgrading?
The binary includes updated libraries (e.g., Kubernetes client v0.26.0, sprig 3.2.3). No manual action is required unless you compile from source.