# Unit-test Helm charts with YAML assertions before deployment templates reach clusters with helm-unittest

> Render a Helm chart locally and assert on the generated Kubernetes objects before a broken template makes it to a cluster.

- Skill: `agentskillexchange/unit-test-helm-charts-with-yaml-assertions-before-deployment` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add agentskillexchange/unit-test-helm-charts-with-yaml-assertions-before-deployment`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/agentskillexchange/unit-test-helm-charts-with-yaml-assertions-before-deployment/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector CAUTION)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: DevOps & Infra
- Author: agentskillexchange (https://skillmd.com/u/agentskillexchange)
- Updated: 2026-09-08
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/agentskillexchange/unit-test-helm-charts-with-yaml-assertions-before-deployment

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# Unit-test Helm charts with YAML assertions before deployment templates reach clusters with helm-unittest

Render a Helm chart locally and assert on the generated Kubernetes objects before a broken template makes it to a cluster.

## Prerequisites

Helm, the helm-unittest plugin or container image, a Helm chart repository, and chart test files written in YAML.

## Installation

Use the upstream install or setup path that matches your environment:
- docker run -ti --rm -v $(pwd):/apps helmunittest/helm-unittest
- docker run -ti --rm -v $(pwd):/apps helmunittest/helm-unittest:3.11.1-0.3.0
- docker run -ti --rm -v $(pwd):/apps helmunittest/helm-unittest:3.11.1-0.3.0 .
- docker run -ti --rm -v $(pwd):/apps helmunittest/helm-unittest:3.11.1-0.3.0 -o test-output.xml -t junit .

Requirements and caveats from upstream:
- [Docker Usage](#docker-usage)
- <sup>*</sup> for Helm 4, installation using webhooks GPG verification is not supported, so --verify=false is required when installing from git repository. </br>
- ## Docker Usage

Basic usage or getting-started notes:
- [Usage](#usage)
- [Example](#example)
- When not defining any versions, it will install the latest version of binary into helm plugin directory, otherwise it will install the specified version.

- Source: https://github.com/helm-unittest/helm-unittest
- Extracted from upstream docs: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/helm-unittest/helm-unittest/HEAD/README.md

## Documentation

- https://github.com/helm-unittest/helm-unittest

## Source

- [Agent Skill Exchange](https://agentskillexchange.com/skills/unit-test-helm-charts-with-yaml-assertions-before-deployment-templates-reach-clusters-with-helm-unittest/)