What Lives Inside a Chart Package
Templates plus default values bundled as one unit.
What Lives Inside a Chart Package is a free Helm Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 1 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Helm Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
What a Chart Is
A chart is a Helm package: a bundle of Kubernetes templates plus default settings that together describe one deployable application. 📦
A Chart Is a Directory
On disk a chart is just a directory with a fixed layout. Helm reads that structure to know how to render and install it.
mychart/
Chart.yaml
values.yaml
templates/Chart.yaml Identifies It
The Chart.yaml file holds the metadata: the chart name, its version, and a short description Helm shows you.
apiVersion: v2
name: mychart
version: 0.1.0The templates Directory
The templates folder holds your Kubernetes manifests written as Go templates. This is where Deployments and Services are defined.
templates/deployment.yaml
templates/service.yamlDefaults Live in values.yaml
The values.yaml file supplies the default configuration. Templates read these values so users can tweak behavior without editing manifests.
replicaCount: 1
image:
repository: nginx
tag: "1.27"Templates Plus Values
The big idea is simple: templates describe the shape, values fill in the blanks. Helm merges them to produce final manifests.
Reading a Value in a Template
Templates pull from values with the .Values object. The double braces mark where Helm substitutes the real value.
spec:
replicas: {{ .Values.replicaCount }}NOTES.txt Greets the User
An optional NOTES.txt in templates prints usage hints after install, like how to reach your app. Helm renders it as a template too.
The charts Subdirectory
A chart can bundle other charts inside a charts folder. These dependencies, called subcharts, install alongside the parent.
mychart/
charts/
redis/One Unit, Versioned
Because everything ships together, a chart is one versioned artifact. Bump the version in Chart.yaml and the whole package moves as one.
Why This Bundling Helps
Packing templates and defaults together means you ship a complete, repeatable application instead of a loose pile of YAML files. 🎯
Quick Check
Let us make sure the chart layout is clear.
Recap
A chart bundles templates, default values, and metadata into one versioned package. Templates shape it, values configure it. ✅
Frequently asked questions
Is the “What Lives Inside a Chart Package” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “What Lives Inside a Chart Package” is free to read here on the web, and the Helm Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Helm Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “What Lives Inside a Chart Package”?
Templates plus default values bundled as one unit. You practise Helm Academy 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 Helm Academy?
No prior experience is required. Helm Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 1 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “What Lives Inside a Chart Package” 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 Helm Academy lesson?
Yes. Every Helm Academy 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
- What Lives Inside a Chart Package
- A Release Is an Installed Chart
- Revisions: Every Change Is Versioned
- One Chart, Many Releases