fix: remove Helm charts and standardize on operator-based deployment (#448)

- Remove all Helm chart files and Helm-based deployment infrastructure
from the repository
- Update CLI admin commands, Kubernetes cluster operations, and e2e test
scripts to use operator-only deployment
- Clean up stale references to Helm in Makefiles, CI workflows, and
Python packages

Closes #445

---------

Co-authored-by: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

Author: raballew

.cursor/rules/working-with-operator.mdc

@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ controller/
 │   │   ├── bundle/                  # OLM bundle manifests
 │   │   ├── test/e2e/               # E2E tests
 │   │   └── Makefile                # Operator-specific make targets
-│   └── helm/                       # Helm charts (alternative deployment)
 ├── api/                            # Jumpstarter core CRDs (Client, Exporter, Lease, etc.)
 ├── internal/                       # Controller business logic
 │   └── config/                     # Config structs used by controller

.github/workflows/build-images.yaml

@@ -273,42 +273,3 @@ jobs:
               });
             }
 
-  publish-helm-charts:
-    needs: build-and-push-image
-    if: ${{ github.repository_owner == 'jumpstarter-dev' && (github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' || startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/') || startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/heads/release-')) }}
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
-
-      - name: Get version
-        run: |
-          VERSION=$(git describe --tags)
-          VERSION=${VERSION#v} # remove the leading v prefix for version
-          echo "VERSION=${VERSION}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          echo "VERSION=${VERSION}"
-
-      - name: Build helm charts
-        run: |
-          echo packaging ${VERSION}
-          # patch the sub-chart app-version, because helm package won't do it
-          sed -i "s/^appVersion:.*/appVersion: $VERSION/" controller/deploy/helm/jumpstarter/charts/jumpstarter-controller/Chart.yaml
-          helm package ./controller/deploy/helm/jumpstarter --version "${VERSION}" --app-version "${VERSION}"
-
-      - name: Login helm
-        env:
-          PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.QUAY_TOKEN }}
-          USER: jumpstarter-dev+jumpstarter_ci
-        run:
-          helm registry login quay.io -u ${USER} -p ${PASSWORD}
-
-      - name: Push helm charts
-        run: |
-          helm push jumpstarter-*.tgz oci://${{ env.QUAY_ORG }}/helm
-
-          if [[ "${{ github.ref }}" == "refs/heads/release-*" ]]; then
-            RELEASE_BRANCH_NAME=$(basename "${{ github.ref }}")
-            helm chart save jumpstarter-*.tgz ${{ env.QUAY_ORG }}/helm:${RELEASE_BRANCH_NAME}
-            helm chart push ${{ env.QUAY_ORG }}/helm:${RELEASE_BRANCH_NAME}
-          fi

.github/workflows/controller-kind.yaml

@@ -8,23 +8,16 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   deploy-kind:
-    strategy:
-      matrix:
-        method:
-          - helm
-          - operator
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Checkout repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
 
-      - name: Run make deploy (${{ matrix.method }})
+      - name: Run make deploy
         working-directory: controller
         run: make deploy
-        env:
-          METHOD: ${{ matrix.method }}
 
   e2e-test-operator:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest

.github/workflows/e2e.yaml

@@ -231,7 +231,6 @@ jobs:
         run: make e2e-setup
         env:
           CI: true
-          METHOD: operator
           SKIP_BUILD: "true"
           PREBUILT_WHEELS_DIR: /tmp/python-wheels
           OPERATOR_IMG: quay.io/jumpstarter-dev/jumpstarter-operator:latest
@@ -240,15 +239,13 @@ jobs:
         run: make e2e-run
         env:
           CI: true
-          METHOD: operator
 
   # ============================================================================
   # Compatibility tests: cross-version interop between controller and client/exporter
-  # These jobs can be removed once 0.7.x controller support is no longer needed.
   # ============================================================================
 
   e2e-compat-old-controller:
-    needs: [changes, build-python-wheels]
+    needs: changes
     if: needs.changes.outputs.should_run == 'true' || github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch'
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     timeout-minutes: 60
@@ -264,26 +261,19 @@ jobs:
         with:
           go-version: "1.22"
 
-      - name: Download python wheels
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
-        with:
-          name: python-wheels
-          path: /tmp/python-wheels
-
-      - name: Setup compat environment (old controller v0.7.0)
+      - name: Setup compat environment (old controller v0.8.1)
         run: make e2e-compat-setup COMPAT_SCENARIO=old-controller
         env:
           CI: true
-          COMPAT_CONTROLLER_TAG: v0.7.0
-          PREBUILT_WHEELS_DIR: /tmp/python-wheels
+          COMPAT_CONTROLLER_TAG: v0.8.1
 
       - name: Run compat tests (old controller + new client/exporter)
         run: make e2e-compat-run COMPAT_TEST=old-controller
         env:
           CI: true
 
   e2e-compat-old-client:
-    needs: [changes, build-controller-image, build-python-wheels]
+    needs: [changes, build-controller-image, build-operator-image, build-python-wheels]
     if: needs.changes.outputs.should_run == 'true' || github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch'
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     timeout-minutes: 60
@@ -305,22 +295,33 @@ jobs:
           name: controller-image-amd64
           path: /tmp/artifacts
 
+      - name: Download operator image
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: operator-image-amd64
+          path: /tmp/artifacts
+
       - name: Download python wheels
         uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
         with:
           name: python-wheels
           path: /tmp/python-wheels
 
-      - name: Load controller image
-        run: docker load < /tmp/artifacts/controller-image.tar
+      - name: Load container images and operator manifest
+        run: |
+          docker load < /tmp/artifacts/controller-image.tar
+          docker load < /tmp/artifacts/operator-image.tar
+          mkdir -p controller/deploy/operator/dist
+          cp /tmp/artifacts/operator-install.yaml controller/deploy/operator/dist/install.yaml
 
-      - name: Setup compat environment (old client v0.7.0)
+      - name: Setup compat environment (old client v0.7.4)
         run: make e2e-compat-setup COMPAT_SCENARIO=old-client
         env:
           CI: true
-          COMPAT_CLIENT_VERSION: "0.7.1"
+          COMPAT_CLIENT_VERSION: "0.7.4"
           SKIP_BUILD: "true"
           PREBUILT_WHEELS_DIR: /tmp/python-wheels
+          OPERATOR_IMG: quay.io/jumpstarter-dev/jumpstarter-operator:latest
 
       - name: Run compat tests (new controller + old client/exporter)
         run: make e2e-compat-run COMPAT_TEST=old-client

.github/workflows/lint.yaml

@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     outputs:
       controller: ${{ steps.filter.outputs.controller }}
-      helm: ${{ steps.filter.outputs.helm }}
       protocol: ${{ steps.filter.outputs.protocol }}
       python: ${{ steps.filter.outputs.python }}
     steps:
@@ -31,9 +30,6 @@ jobs:
             controller:
               - 'controller/**'
               - '.github/workflows/lint.yaml'
-            helm:
-              - 'controller/deploy/helm/**'
-              - '.github/workflow/lint.yaml'
             protocol:
               - 'protocol/**'
               - '.github/workflows/lint.yaml'
@@ -60,20 +56,6 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: controller
         run: make lint
 
-  lint-helm:
-    needs: changes
-    if: needs.changes.outputs.helm == 'true'
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - name: Checkout repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
-
-      - name: Run helm linter
-        working-directory: controller
-        run: make lint-helm
-
   lint-protobuf:
     needs: changes
     if: needs.changes.outputs.protocol == 'true'

Makefile

@@ -6,9 +6,6 @@
 # Subdirectories containing projects
 SUBDIRS := python protocol controller e2e
 
-# Deployment method for e2e tests: operator (default) or helm
-METHOD ?= operator
-
 # Default target
 .PHONY: all
 all: build
@@ -33,9 +30,6 @@ help:
 	@echo "  make e2e-full   - Full setup + run (for CI or first time)"
 	@echo "  make e2e-clean  - Clean up e2e test environment (delete cluster, certs, etc.)"
 	@echo ""
-	@echo "  Use METHOD=operator (default) or METHOD=helm to select deployment method"
-	@echo "  Example: make e2e-setup METHOD=helm"
-	@echo ""
 	@echo "Per-project targets:"
 	@echo "  make build-<project>  - Build specific project"
 	@echo "  make test-<project>   - Test specific project"
@@ -121,14 +115,14 @@ test-controller:
 # Setup e2e testing environment (one-time)
 .PHONY: e2e-setup
 e2e-setup:
-	@echo "Setting up e2e test environment (method: $(METHOD))..."
-	@METHOD=$(METHOD) bash e2e/setup-e2e.sh
+	@echo "Setting up e2e test environment..."
+	@bash e2e/setup-e2e.sh
 
 # Run e2e tests
 .PHONY: e2e-run
 e2e-run:
-	@echo "Running e2e tests (method: $(METHOD))..."
-	@METHOD=$(METHOD) bash e2e/run-e2e.sh
+	@echo "Running e2e tests..."
+	@bash e2e/run-e2e.sh
 
 # Convenience alias for running e2e tests
 .PHONY: e2e
@@ -137,7 +131,7 @@ e2e: e2e-run
 # Full e2e setup + run
 .PHONY: e2e-full
 e2e-full:
-	@METHOD=$(METHOD) bash e2e/run-e2e.sh --full
+	@bash e2e/run-e2e.sh --full
 
 # Clean up e2e test environment
 .PHONY: e2e-clean
@@ -172,8 +166,8 @@ test-e2e: e2e-run
 # Compatibility E2E testing (cross-version tests, separate from main e2e)
 COMPAT_SCENARIO ?= old-controller
 COMPAT_TEST ?= old-controller
-COMPAT_CONTROLLER_TAG ?= v0.7.0
-COMPAT_CLIENT_VERSION ?= 0.7.1
+COMPAT_CONTROLLER_TAG ?= v0.8.1
+COMPAT_CLIENT_VERSION ?= 0.7.4
 
 .PHONY: e2e-compat-setup
 e2e-compat-setup:

controller/Makefile

@@ -30,9 +30,6 @@ endif
 # tools. (i.e. podman)
 CONTAINER_TOOL ?= podman
 
-# Deployment method: operator (default) or helm
-METHOD ?= operator
-
 # Cluster type: kind (default) or k3s
 CLUSTER_TYPE ?= kind
 export CLUSTER_TYPE
@@ -67,17 +64,8 @@ help: ## Display this help.
 .PHONY: manifests
 manifests: controller-gen ## Generate WebhookConfiguration, ClusterRole and CustomResourceDefinition objects.
 	$(CONTROLLER_GEN) 	rbac:roleName=jumpstarter-manager-role crd webhook paths="./api/..." paths="./internal/..." \
-						output:crd:artifacts:config=deploy/helm/jumpstarter/charts/jumpstarter-controller/templates/crds/ \
-						output:rbac:artifacts:config=deploy/helm/jumpstarter/charts/jumpstarter-controller/templates/rbac/
-
-	# Add ArgoCD sync-wave annotation to RBAC role for proper deployment ordering (PR #207)
-	@awk '/^  name: jumpstarter-manager-role$$/{print; print "  annotations:"; print "    argocd.argoproj.io/sync-wave: \"-1\""; next}1' \
-		deploy/helm/jumpstarter/charts/jumpstarter-controller/templates/rbac/role.yaml > \
-		deploy/helm/jumpstarter/charts/jumpstarter-controller/templates/rbac/role.yaml.tmp && \
-		mv deploy/helm/jumpstarter/charts/jumpstarter-controller/templates/rbac/role.yaml.tmp \
-		deploy/helm/jumpstarter/charts/jumpstarter-controller/templates/rbac/role.yaml
-
-	cp deploy/helm/jumpstarter/charts/jumpstarter-controller/templates/crds/* deploy/operator/config/crd/bases/
+						output:crd:artifacts:config=deploy/operator/config/crd/bases/ \
+						output:rbac:artifacts:config=deploy/operator/config/rbac/
 
 	# Regenerate operator install.yaml to include updated CRDs
 	$(MAKE) -C deploy/operator build-installer
@@ -188,25 +176,13 @@ uninstall: manifests kustomize ## Uninstall CRDs from the K8s cluster specified
 	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | $(KUBECTL) delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
 
 .PHONY: deploy
-deploy: cluster grpcurl ## Deploy controller using METHOD (operator or helm). Set SKIP_BUILD=1 to skip image builds.
+deploy: cluster grpcurl ## Deploy controller using the operator. Set SKIP_BUILD=1 to skip image builds. Set CLUSTER_TYPE=k3s for k3s.
 ifeq ($(SKIP_BUILD),)
 	$(MAKE) docker-build
-endif
-ifeq ($(METHOD),operator)
-ifeq ($(SKIP_BUILD),)
 	$(MAKE) build-operator
 endif
 	./hack/deploy_with_operator.sh
-else ifeq ($(METHOD),helm)
-	./hack/deploy_with_helm.sh
-else
-	$(error Unknown METHOD=$(METHOD). Use 'operator' or 'helm')
-endif
 
-# Backward compatibility alias
-.PHONY: deploy-with-operator
-deploy-with-operator:
-	$(MAKE) deploy METHOD=operator
 
 .PHONY: deploy-operator
 deploy-operator: docker-build build-operator cluster grpcurl ## Deploy only the operator (without Jumpstarter CR)
@@ -221,17 +197,12 @@ operator-logs:
 
 .PHONY: deploy-with-operator-parallel
 deploy-with-operator-parallel:
-	make deploy METHOD=operator -j5 --output-sync=target
+	make deploy -j5 --output-sync=target
 
 .PHONY: deploy-exporters
 deploy-exporters:
 	./hack/demoenv/prepare_exporters.sh
 
-.PHONY: lint-helm
-lint-helm:
-	helm lint deploy/helm/jumpstarter
-
-
 .PHONY: undeploy
 undeploy: kustomize ## Undeploy controller from the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config. Call with ignore-not-found=true to ignore resource not found errors during deletion.
 	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | $(KUBECTL) delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -