SAP Kyma is an open-source platform that extends SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) by combining Kubernetes with a set of tools and runtimes optimized for building and running cloud-native extensions and applications. It empowers developers to extend SAP solutions using microservices, serverless functions, and event-driven architecture.
One of the core strengths of SAP Kyma lies in its use of Kubernetes for container orchestration, which introduces a powerful deployment model. Within this model, Helm Charts have become an industry-standard for managing Kubernetes applications, simplifying the deployment, versioning, and lifecycle management of cloud-native applications.
This article explores the role of Helm Charts in application deployment within SAP Kyma and how they streamline DevOps practices in SAP environments.
Helm is a package manager for Kubernetes that helps define, install, and upgrade even the most complex Kubernetes applications. Helm Charts are pre-configured Kubernetes resource templates packaged together that represent an application or service.
Key benefits of Helm Charts include:
SAP Kyma leverages Kubernetes extensively, and Helm integrates seamlessly with this infrastructure. Here’s why Helm Charts are preferred for deployments in Kyma:
Complex Application Packaging
Kyma extensions often consist of multiple microservices, configuration maps, event subscriptions, and API definitions. Helm Charts enable packaging all these resources into a single deployable unit.
Lifecycle Management
Kyma applications evolve with feature updates, bug fixes, and configuration changes. Helm’s release management capabilities facilitate smooth lifecycle transitions without downtime.
Consistent Environments
Whether deploying to development, staging, or production namespaces in Kyma, Helm Charts ensure consistency in deployment configurations and resource templates.
Integration with CI/CD Pipelines
Helm supports automation in Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) workflows, crucial for SAP customers embracing DevOps and agile methodologies.
Developers start by defining a Helm Chart that encapsulates all Kubernetes resources required by the Kyma application:
The directory structure typically looks like:
my-kyma-app/
Chart.yaml
values.yaml
templates/
deployment.yaml
service.yaml
event-subscription.yaml
apirule.yaml
The values.yaml file allows defining environment-specific parameters such as image tags, resource limits, URLs, and secret references. This enables flexible deployment across different SAP Kyma namespaces.
Using the Helm CLI:
helm install my-kyma-app ./my-kyma-app -n kyma-integration
This command deploys all the templated Kubernetes resources to the Kyma namespace, orchestrating microservices and their integration points.
To update the application, change the chart or values and run:
helm upgrade my-kyma-app ./my-kyma-app -n kyma-integration
If issues occur, Helm supports rollback:
helm rollback my-kyma-app 1 -n kyma-integration
This ensures minimal downtime and operational risk.
Helm Charts provide an elegant and powerful approach to deploying applications on SAP Kyma. By packaging Kubernetes resources into manageable, version-controlled units, Helm simplifies application lifecycle management and fosters best practices in cloud-native development.
For SAP customers and partners extending their SAP solutions using Kyma, mastering Helm Charts is essential for scalable, reliable, and maintainable application deployment.