5. Tools on ArgoCD Techlab

5.1 Helm

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

This lab explains how to use Helm as manifest format together with Argo CD.

Helm Introduction

Helm is a Cloud Native Foundation project to define, install and manage applications in Kubernetes.

It can be used to package multiple Kubernetes resources into a single logical deployment unit.

Helm Charts are configured using values.yaml files. (e.g. images, image tags, hostnames, …).

When using helm charts together with Argo CD we can specify the values.yaml like this:

5.2 Kustomize

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

This lab explains how to use kustomize as manifest format together with Argo CD.

Kustomize Introduction

Kustomize introduces a template-free way to customize application configuration that simplifies the use of off-the-shelf applications. It is built into kubectl and oc with the command kubectl apply -k or oc apply -k.

It uses a concept called overlays, which allows to reduce redundant configuration for multiple stages (e.g. dev, prod, test) without a use of a template language.

5.3 Jsonnet (Optional)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

This lab explains how to use jsonnet as manifest format together with Argo CD.

Jsonnet

Jsonnet is a templating language which adds the possibility to programmatically work with the underlying data. It basically is a simple extension of JSON .

Let’s have a look at an example first. The following jsonnet file

{
 application1: {
 name: "jsonnet-application1",
 basepath: "/application/test",
 path: self.basepath + "/" + self.name,
 },
 application2: self.application1 { name: "jsonnet-application2" },
}

will render into:

{
 "application1": {
 "basepath": "/application/test",
 "name": "jsonnet-application1",
 "path": "/application/test/jsonnet-application1"
 },
 "application2": {
 "basepath": "/application/test",
 "name": "jsonnet-application2",
 "path": "/application/test/jsonnet-application2"
 }
}

Among many other features, Jsonnet can help to reduce duplications.