Configuring Subcharts from Parent Values
Passing values down by subchart name.
Configuring Subcharts from Parent Values is a free DevOps Bootcamp lesson on CoddyKit. This is lesson 3 of 4. Any 3 lessons of this learning path are free to read in full — after that, CoddyKit PRO unlocks every lesson, plus hands-on practice with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the DevOps Bootcamp learning path, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app. The DevOps Bootcamp course includes 4 lessons in total.
Subcharts Have Their Own Values
Each subchart ships its own values.yaml with its own defaults. From your parent chart you can reach in and override those settings.
Nest Under the Subchart Name
To configure a subchart, add a key in your parent values.yaml matching its name. Everything under that key flows into the subchart.
postgresql:
auth:
username: appuser
database: appdbThe Key Matches name or alias
The parent key must equal the subchart's name from Chart.yaml, or its alias if you set one. A typo silently configures nothing.
Parent Overrides Subchart Defaults
Values you set in the parent take precedence over the subchart's own defaults. The subchart still fills in anything you leave unset.
Override on the CLI Too
You can drive subchart values from the command line with --set, using the same dotted, subchart-prefixed path.
helm install web ./mychart \
--set postgresql.auth.username=appuserMatch the Subchart's Schema
Your nested keys must mirror the subchart's actual values structure. Run helm show values on the subchart to learn the exact paths.
helm show values bitnami/postgresqlConfirm With a Render
Use helm template to render the parent and check the subchart picked up your overrides before you touch a real cluster.
helm template web ./mychart | grep -A3 postgresqlSubcharts Cannot See Parent Keys
A subchart only reads values under its own key, not your parent's top-level fields. To share data across charts you need global values.
Alias Means Alias Key
If you gave a dependency an alias, configure it under that alias. The same chart added twice gets two separate value blocks.
primary-db:
auth:
database: orders
replica-db:
auth:
database: orders-roDocument the Knobs You Expose
Comment the subchart keys in your parent values.yaml. It saves users from digging through the subchart's full schema themselves.
Keep Overrides Minimal
Only override what you must. Leaning on sensible subchart defaults keeps your parent values short and easier to maintain over time.
Quick Check
Your chart depends on a subchart named redis. Where do you set its password?
Recap: Configuring Subcharts
You learned to override subchart settings by nesting them under the subchart's name or alias in parent values, then verifying with a render. 🎛️
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the “Configuring Subcharts from Parent Values” lesson free?
Yes — any 3 lessons of the DevOps Bootcamp learning path, including “Configuring Subcharts from Parent Values”, are free to read in full here on the web. After that, CoddyKit PRO unlocks every lesson, plus interactive practice with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. The DevOps Bootcamp course includes 4 lessons in total.
What will I learn in “Configuring Subcharts from Parent Values”?
Passing values down by subchart name. You practise DevOps Bootcamp with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start DevOps Bootcamp?
No prior experience is required. DevOps Bootcamp on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace. This is lesson 3 of 4.
How long does the “Configuring Subcharts from Parent Values” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this DevOps Bootcamp lesson?
Yes. Every DevOps Bootcamp lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- Declaring Dependencies in Chart.yaml
- Vendoring with helm dependency update
- Configuring Subcharts from Parent Values
- Conditions, Tags, and Global Values