helm-env Documentation

helm-env is a version manager for the helm CLI.

It installs multiple helm versions under a single root directory, generates a helm shim, and selects the correct helm binary at runtime based on your configured version.

Where to go next

• New here? Start with Installation and configuration.
• Looking up a flag or command? See the CLI reference.
• Curious how list-remote / latest stay fast and offline-friendly? Read the caching strategy.

Guides

• Installation and configuration
• CLI reference
• Caching strategy

How version selection works

When you run helm ..., the shim selects a version using the following priority:

1. Shell version via HELMENV_VERSION (typically set by helm-env shell after eval "$(helm-env init)").
2. Local version via a .helm-version file in the current directory or any parent directory.
3. Global version via $HELMENV_ROOT/version.

If no version is configured, the shim fails with an actionable error message.

Project layout under HELMENV_ROOT

By default, HELMENV_ROOT is set to ~/.helmenv.

flowchart TD
    ROOT["$HELMENV_ROOT"]
    ROOT --> VERSIONS["versions/"]
    ROOT --> SHIMS["shims/"]
    ROOT --> VFILE["version<br/><small>global version file</small>"]
    VERSIONS --> V1["3.14.0/<br/><small>one directory per installed version</small>"]
    V1 --> BIN["helm<br/><small>installed binary</small>"]
    SHIMS --> SHIM["helm<br/><small>auto-generated shim</small>"]