My product deliverables are Helm charts and Container Images. Each component has its own GIT repository. A feature or fix could impact one or multiple components. Helm Charts are published in OCI Registries and consumed form there.
I plan to promote the artifacts first to a preview environment before merging the PR/MR and then merge from one environment to the next.
When it comes to promoting the Container Images, I have two options:
- Promote the Image to the Chart and next promote the chart to a preview environment.
- Promote the Image directly to the preview environment.
Which one do you usually prefer? I see advantages and disadvantages with both:
- The chart carries over the image tags that it was tested with but I need to update it at least twice: first with a pre-release version of the image(s) and then with a release version, after the PR is merged
- it is cheaper in terms of automation but leaves the Helm Chart outdated in terms of container image tags in the default values
