Helm Diff is a Helm plugin that shows a diff explaining what a helm upgrade would change.
The plugin solves the problem of uncertainty before applying Helm upgrades by generating a preview of changes. It works by comparing the currently deployed version of a release against a newly rendered manifest, either through standard helm template rendering or optionally through helm upgrade with the dry-run flag. This allows operators to review exactly what configuration changes, additions, and deletions will occur before committing them to the cluster.
The tool suits teams that want safety guardrails around Helm deployments, particularly those managing multiple releases or complex chart configurations where unexpected changes could cause problems. It is especially valuable in environments where changes are reviewed before application, as it provides the detailed diff needed for that review process. The plugin also supports comparing two different revisions or versions of a Helm release, making it useful for understanding what changed between deployments.
The project maintains active engagement with its user base through community channels. The codebase is written in Go and remains responsive to issues and pull requests. Installation is straightforward through the Helm plugin manager for recent Helm versions, with offline installation supported through pre-built platform-specific binaries for air-gapped environments.
