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Openshift Helm Chart Deployment

Andrios Robert

• 1 min read

The pods wait. The cluster is ready. You push the helm command, and the deployment rolls out across OpenShift like clockwork.

Openshift Helm Chart Deployment lets you package, configure, and ship applications into OpenShift with speed and repeatability. Using Helm on OpenShift streamlines deployment by wrapping Kubernetes manifests into charts that can be installed, upgraded, or rolled back with a single line. Charts define everything—services, routes, deployments, config maps—so you keep control and keep it consistent.

Why Use Helm with OpenShift

OpenShift is built on Kubernetes, but it adds developer-focused tooling, security, and routing. Helm adds a templating system, version control for deployments, and parameterized configuration. You combine them to:

  • Automate deployment steps across multiple environments
  • Version your application releases
  • Keep manifests DRY and update-ready
  • Integrate CI/CD without manual YAML edits

Preparing Your Environment

Before starting, ensure:

  1. Helm CLI is installed on your workstation (helm version to verify).
  2. You are logged into your OpenShift cluster (oc login).
  3. You have cluster-admin rights if installing into restricted namespaces.

Get the OpenShift route and service definitions aligned with the Helm chart you plan to deploy. Most standard Kubernetes charts work as-is, but OpenShift routes may require custom templates or annotations.

Step-by-Step Deployment

Expose routes if needed:

oc expose svc myapp-service

Validate pods and services:

oc get pods -n mynamespace
oc get svc -n mynamespace

Install the chart into OpenShift:

helm install myapp myrepo/mychart --namespace mynamespace

Add the repository containing your chart:

helm repo add myrepo https://example.com/charts
helm repo update

Customizing Parameters

Use values.yaml or --set key=value options to customize deployment specs for OpenShift requirements. Common parameters:

  • Resource limits to meet project quotas
  • SecurityContext settings to comply with OpenShift’s restricted SCC
  • Route configurations for TLS termination

Maintaining Deployments

Upgrades:

helm upgrade myapp myrepo/mychart --namespace mynamespace

Rollbacks:

helm rollback myapp 1

The integration between OpenShift and Helm means you can promote changes from dev to prod without manual rework and with a documented, reproducible process.

Deploying applications on OpenShift using Helm Charts is not just faster—it’s safer, cleaner, and ready for scale. Skip the hand-built YAML grind and let charts handle the heavy lifting.

Want to see a live OpenShift Helm Chart deployment in minutes? Visit hoop.dev and run it yourself—fast, repeatable, and without the guesswork.