helm

Helm is a term with several meanings. In nautical contexts, the helm refers to the device used to steer a vessel, typically a wheel or tiller, and to the act of steering itself. The word derives from Old English helm, and the phrase at the helm denotes leadership or command.

In computing, Helm is the package manager for Kubernetes, designed to simplify the installation and management of applications on clusters. It uses charts, which are collections of files that describe a related set of Kubernetes resources. Charts can be stored in repositories and shared within teams or organizations. Users can install, upgrade, and roll back releases with commands such as helm install, helm upgrade, and helm rollback.

Helm is an open-source project governed by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation. The modern Helm, Helm 3, removed the server-side Tiller component and runs entirely on the client, improving security and simplicity. The project packages applications as charts, supports templating and values files to customize deployments, and enables versioned releases and dependency management across clusters.

Beyond computing, Helm appears as a personal name and surname in various cultures. The term’s broader usage as a leader or chief persists in figurative language, as in the phrase at the helm.