Course Outline:

Module 1: Introduction to Helm 

• What is Helm?
• Benefits of using Helm with Kubernetes
• Helm architecture: Charts, Repositories, and Releases
• Understanding Helm’s Client-Server Model (Helm and Tiller in Helm v2 vs. Helm v3)
• Installing Helm and setting up a Helm environment
• Hands-On: Installing Helm on a Kubernetes cluster

Module 2: Working with Helm Charts 

• Overview of Helm charts and their structure
• Anatomy of a Helm chart: Chart.yaml, values.yaml, templates/
• Creating a basic Helm chart
• Understanding Helm templates: Using Go templating in Kubernetes manifests

• Hands-On:
  • Creating a simple Helm chart for a web application
  • Deploying the Helm chart to a Kubernetes cluster

Module 3: Managing Helm Releases 

• Deploying applications using helm install
• Understanding release lifecycle and naming conventions
• Upgrading and managing releases with helm upgrade
• Rollback strategies with helm rollback
• Managing application versions using Helm

• Hands-On:
  • Deploying a multi-environment application with Helm (e.g., staging and production)
  • Performing a rollback on a failed release

Module 4: Customizing Helm Charts 

• Using values.yaml for configuration management
• Overriding default values with custom values.yaml files
• Using environment-specific values and Helm overrides
• Advanced templating with conditionals and loops

• Hands-On:
  • Customizing Helm chart values for different environments
  • Creating reusable and parameterized Helm charts

Module 5: Helm Repositories and CI/CD Integration 

• Using public Helm repositories like ArtifactHub
• Creating and hosting a private Helm repository
• Using Helm in CI/CD pipelines for automated deployments
• Helm best practices for chart versioning and repository management

• Hands-On:
  • Setting up a private Helm repository
  • Automating deployments using Helm with GitHub Actions or Jenkins

Module 6: Structured Activity/Exercises/Case Studies 

• Lab: Creating and deploying a Helm chart for a microservice application
• Lab: Automating Helm chart deployments using CI/CD
• Lab: Managing upgrades and rollbacks of a sample application
• Lab: Hosting and using a private Helm repository for internal applications

Training Material Provided:

• PDF Notes with detailed explanations and code snippets.
• Sample Helm Charts: Example charts for common applications (e.g., NGINX, Redis).
• Hands-On Lab Instructions: Step-by-step guides for practical exercises.
• Reference Links: Access to official Helm and Kubernetes documentation. 

Additional Information:

Labs / Software Installs Required for the Course:

• Kubernetes Cluster: A pre-configured Kubernetes cluster (can be local with Minikube or a cloud-based service like EKS, GKE, or AKS).
• Helm Installation: Participants should have Helm installed on their local machine and configured with the Kubernetes cluster.
• Access to a Container Registry: Required for hosting Helm charts or images (e.g., Docker Hub or a private registry).

Hardware Requirements:

• A machine with at least 8 GB RAM for running local Kubernetes clusters.
• Internet Connection: Required for accessing Helm repositories and performing installations.