reckoner

Command line helper for helm. This utility adds to the functionality of Helm in multiple ways:

• Creates a declarative syntax to manage multiple releases in one place
• Allows installation of charts from a git commit/branch/release

Requirements

• python >= 2.7
• helm: installed and inited
• $INFRASTRUCTURE_REPO

Installation

As standalone shell command

pip install git+https://github.com/reactiveops/reckoner

As Helm plugin

pip install git+https://github.com/reactiveops/reckoner
helm plugin install https://github.com/reactiveops/reckoner

Usage

As standalone shell command

• Usage: reckoner [OPTIONS] COMMAND [ARGS]...
• Options:
  • --help Show this message and exit.
  • --log-level=TEXT Set the log level for reckoner (defaults to INFO. Set to DEBUG for more details including helm commands)
• Commands:
  • plot FILE: Runs helm based on specified yaml file (see configuration example below)
    • Options:
      • --debug: Pass --debug to helm
      • --dry-run: Pass --dry-run to helm so no action is taken. Also includes --debug
      • --heading <chart>: Run only the specified chart out of the course.yml
      • --helm-args <helm-arg>: Pass arbitrary flags and parameters to all helm chart commands in your course.yml. Example: --helm-args --set=foo=toast, or --helm-args --recreate-pods. Multiples are supported but only one parameter per --helm-args is supported. Note that specifying this flag will override helm_args in the course.yml file. WARNING: This cannot be used for arguments that specify how Helm connects to tiller such as tiller-namespace
      • --local-development: Run reckoner in local-development mode where Tiller is not required and no helm commands are run. Useful for rapid or offline development.
  • generate: Generates example file course.yml with extensive descriptions
  • version: Output reckoner version

As helm plugin

• Usage: helm reckoner [OPTIONS] COMMAND [ARGS]...
• Options: --help Show this message and exit.
• Commands:
  • plot: Runs helm based on yaml file descriptors
  • Argument:
    • file: YAML file with description of charts to load
  • generate: Generates example file course.yml with extensive descriptions
  • version: Output reckoner version

Example configuration file:

There is an example file in reckoner/example-course.yml

Further customization is documented below.

Options

Global Options

namespace

The default namespace to deploy into. Defaults to kube-system

repository

Repository to download chart from, defaults to 'stable'

context

Optional. The kubectl cluster context to use for installing, defaults to the current context.

repositories

Where to get charts from. We recommend at least the stable and incubator charts.

repositories:
  incubator:
    url: https://kubernetes-charts-incubator.storage.googleapis.com
  stable:
    url: https://kubernetes-charts.storage.googleapis.com

helm_args

A list of arguments to pass to helm each time reckoner is run. Arguments are applied for every chart install in your course. This cannot be used for args that specify how Helm connects to the tiller.

helm_args:
  - --recreate-pods

Options for Charts

values

In-line values overrides for this chart. By default these are set using --set. This introduces some interesting behavior. Make sure to read the Caveats

values-strings

This is a wrapper around the helm functionality --set-string. Allows the specification of variables that would normally be interpreted as boolean or int as strings.

charts:
  chartname:
    values:
      some.value: test
    values-strings:
      some.value.that.you.need.to.be.a.string: '1'

files

Use a values file(s) rather than leaving them in-line:

charts:
  chart_name:
    files:
      - /path/to/values/file.yml

Note: The file paths will be interpreted as relative to the working directory of the shell calling reckoner.

namespace

Override the default namespace.

hooks

Hooks are run locally. For complex hooks, use an external script or Runner task.

charts:
  chart_name:
      pre_install:
        - ls
        - env
      post_install:
        - rm testfile
        - cp file1 file2

version

The version of the chart to use

Repository Options

name

Optional, name of repository.

url

Optional if repository is listed above. Url of repository to add if not already included in above repositories section.

git

Git url where chart exists. Supercedes url argument

path

Path where chart is in the git repository. NOTE: If the chart folder is in the root, leave this blank.

charts:
  chart_name:
    repository: repository to download chart from, overrides global value
      name: Optional, name of repository.
      url: Optional if repository is listed above. Url of repository to add if not already included in above repositories section
      git: Git url where chart exists. Supercedes url argument
      path: Path where chart is in git repository. If the chart is at the root, leave blank
    namespace: namespace to install chart in, overrides above value

Caveats

Escaping

Keys and Values that have dots in the name need to be escaped. Have a look at the helm docs on escaping complicated values.

Example:

charts:
  grafana:
    namespace: grafana
    values:
      datasources:
        datasources\.yaml:
          apiVersion: 1

The alternative is to use the files method described above