Helm Merge Utility Automates Chart Upgrades

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional Helm chart upgrades are error-prone, time-consuming, and unreliable due to the manual updating of thousands of lines of code, making cloud deployments inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A Helm merge utility automatically merges updated master Helm charts with existing charts, removing disabled components and migrating settings, names, and comments, thereby streamlining the deployment process and reducing manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual updating of Helm chart values is performed, then deployment control and customization are maintained, but deployment time increases and error rate increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment reliabilityVSAvoiddeployment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The Helm merge utility performs self-service by automatically merging new Helm chart values with existing values, comparing configurations, and generating updated charts without requiring manual intervention. This automated self-updating process eliminates human errors while maintaining deployment control through configurable merge strategies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The Helm merge utility acts as an intermediary tool between the new Helm chart and the existing deployment configuration. It mediates the merge process by automatically comparing, reconciling, and integrating changes while preserving existing settings, thereby reducing both time and errors compared to manual updating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If manual updating of Helm chart values is performed, then customization control is maintained, but deployment efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment efficiencyVSAvoidease of deployment

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The Helm merge utility enables self-service deployment by automatically handling the complex merge operations between new and existing Helm chart values. This automation significantly improves deployment efficiency and productivity while maintaining ease of operation through simple command-line interface and configurable parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Speed

If automated Helm merge utility is implemented, then deployment speed increases, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment speedVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The Helm merge utility serves as an intermediary automation tool that increases deployment speed by handling complex merge operations automatically. While it adds a tool to the deployment workflow, it simplifies the overall process by eliminating manual intervention and providing consistent, repeatable merge behavior through configurable parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If manual Helm chart updates are performed, then control over each setting is maintained, but error probability increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate reliabilityVSAvoidease of chart update

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The Helm merge utility performs self-service by automatically comparing new Helm chart values with existing configurations and applying merges accordingly. This eliminates human errors in manual updating while maintaining ease of chart updates through simple automated execution with configurable merge strategies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20240362012A1Configurable helm merge utility

Publication Date: 2024.10.31 OPEN TEXT CORP

AI summary

A system and method enable the merging of a new Helm chart with a current Helm chart for ease of update/upgrade deployment. A Helm merge utility merges the new Helm chart with old Helm chart values automatically, while removing disabled components. The Helm merge utility enables users to save valuable time and resources during cloud upgrades, while increasing reliability.