Helm vs kaniko: What are the differences?

Introduction

Helm and Kaniko are two popular tools used in the containerization and deployment process. While both tools serve a similar purpose, there are key differences between them. In this article, we will explore and highlight the main distinctions between Helm and Kaniko.

1. Packaging and Deployment: Helm is primarily a package manager for Kubernetes, allowing users to package, share, and deploy applications on a Kubernetes cluster. It provides a templating engine to define and manage Kubernetes manifests. On the other hand, Kaniko is a tool for building container images from a Dockerfile, especially suited for scenarios where running privileged containers is not feasible, like in a Kubernetes cluster with RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) policies in place.

2. Build Location: Helm builds and deploys packages directly to a Kubernetes cluster. It leverages the Kubernetes API server to manage configurations and apply updates to the cluster. Kaniko, on the other hand, builds container images offline and does not require direct access to the Kubernetes cluster. It can be run on any machine that has access to the container registry and does not need cluster-specific configurations.

3. Containerization Process: Helm focuses on packaging and deploying applications as Kubernetes chart archives. It manages the release lifecycle, making it easy to deploy, upgrade, or rollback versions. Kaniko, on the other hand, focuses on building container images from a given Dockerfile. It supports context-aware builds, allowing it to efficiently utilize cache layers and incrementally build images, resulting in faster builds.

4. Container Registry Access: Helm relies on the Docker client and requires access to the Docker daemon to build and push container images to a registry. This means that it needs to run with appropriate privileges, making it unsuitable for secured environments with strict access controls. Kaniko, however, executes container builds as non-privileged users without needing direct Docker daemon access. It functions as a standalone tool, making it easier to integrate into secure CI/CD pipelines.

5. Resource Utilization: Helm uses the Kubernetes API server to package and deploy applications, which can put additional load on the cluster. This dependence on the Kubernetes API server can sometimes lead to slower deployments if the cluster is under heavy load. Kaniko, on the other hand, operates offline and does not rely on the Kubernetes API server during the build process. This ensures that the cluster's resources are not consumed during the build phase, allowing for more efficient resource utilization.

6. Security and Isolation: Helm assumes that you trust the package maintainers and the Helm chart itself, as it has the ability to run operations with the same permissions as the deploying user. This can introduce security risks, especially when deploying untrusted packages. Kaniko, on the other hand, operates as a non-privileged user and provides better isolation between the build environment and the cluster. This reduces the risk of privilege escalation and unauthorized access to the cluster.

In Summary, Helm is a package manager specifically designed for Kubernetes deployments, while Kaniko focuses on building container images securely and efficiently without the need for privileged access. Helm operates on the Kubernetes API server, while Kaniko works offline, making it suitable for secure environments with RBAC policies.