Helm is an application management tool for Kubernetes that simplifies how applications are defined, deployed, versioned, and maintained inside a Kubernetes cluster. To install Helm on Ubuntu, this guide will cover several methods. On Ubuntu, Helm is commonly used because Ubuntu is a standard operating system for Kubernetes control planes, worker nodes, and DevOps tooling environments.
5 Ways To Install Helm on Ubuntu
Helm functions as a Kubernetes application lifecycle manager, reducing operational complexity, improving deployment consistency, and enabling scalable management of cloud-native workloads on Ubuntu-based systems. There are 5 Methods to install Helm on Ubuntu:
Method 1: Through Helm Repository
The apt package installer doesn’t come with the Helm package, so to install Helm on Ubuntu via apt, its repository needs to be added. First, download Helm GPG key for validation of the package by executing:
curl -fsSL https://packages.buildkite.com/helm-linux/helm-debian/gpgkey | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/helm.gpg > /dev/null
Next, download and save the Helm repository in the sources.list.d directory by executing the following command:
echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/helm.gpg] https://packages.buildkite.com/helm-linux/helm-debian/any/ any main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/helm-stable-debian.list
The last step to add the repository is to run the update command for apt that primarily synchronizes local package metadata with remote repositories by downloading and verifying signed index files:
sudo apt update
Now install Hem on Ubuntu via the apt package installer by executing:
sudo apt-get install helm
To verify the Helm installation, check its version:
helm version
Method 2: Through Helm Source File
Another way to install Helm on Ubuntu is via its source file, which can be downloaded from GitHub. Here, the source files for multiple versions are available. I have downloaded the file for the latest version available:
Alternatively, use the following command to download the Helm source file via terminal:
wget https://github.com/helm/helm/archive/refs/tags/v4.0.4.tar.gz
Next, extract the Helm source file via the tar utility by executing:
sudo tar -zxvf v4.0.4.tar.gz
The source file already has the Makefile, so just install using the Make utility by executing the following:
sudo make install
Now navigate to the bin directory and then run Helm. I have checked the version to verify the installation:
./helm version
To run Helm from any directory, move the file to /usr/sbin/helm. This path might vary in other Linux systems:
sudo mv helm /usr/sbin/helm
Method 3: Through Helm Bash Script
To install Helm on Ubuntu via its bash file is a far easier way, and not only that, it comes with a comparatively recent version. Execute the following command to download the bash script file for Helm:
curl -fsSL -o get_helm.sh https://raw.githubusercontent.com/helm/helm/main/scripts/get-helm-4
Next, change the file permission mode of the script get_helm.sh so that only the file owner can read, write, and execute it:
chmod 700 get_helm.sh
Next, execute the Helm script that will primarily install Helm on Ubuntu:
./get_helm.sh
By default, the installation is done in the local/bin directory, but in my case, the defined directory for Helm is /usr/sbin/, so move the Helm file to the respective directory:
sudo mv helm /usr/sbin/
Method 4: Through Snap Package Installer
Snap is a universal, sandboxed, transactional package manager that delivers self-contained applications with automatic updates and rollback support on Ubuntu. To install Helm on Ubuntu, execute the following command:
sudo snap install helm --classic
List the snap-installed apps on Ubuntu to validate the installation:
sudo snap list
Method 5: Through Ubuntu App Center
The last method to install Helm on Ubuntu is via its App Centre, which, in other words, is a GUI version for installing applications via Debian and the Snap package installer:
After selecting Helm, choose its desired version and then click on Install:
The Helm will be installed in the Snap directory, so to run it, navigate to the snap/bin directory:
cd /snap/bin/
./helm version
To access Helm from anywhere in the system installed via snap on Ubuntu, move it to the usr/sbin directory:
sudo mv helm /usr/sbin/
Conclusion
This guide discusses five methods for installing Helm on Ubuntu, including the Helm repository, source file, bash script, Snap app installer, and Ubuntu App Center. The recommended method for installing Helm on Ubuntu is via the source file, as it allows users to choose the desired version from GitHub.