helmfile2compose

The distribution that converts Kubernetes manifests into a working docker compose stack. One script, one config file, one command.

He who renders the celestial into the mundane does not ascend — he merely ensures that both realms now share his suffering equally.

— Necronomicon, On the Folly of Downward Translation (I think)

What is this?

helmfile2compose is a dekube distribution — the dekube-engine bundled with 8 extensions into a single helmfile2compose.py. It takes your Kubernetes manifests (from helmfile, Helm, or plain YAML) and produces a compose.yml + whatever configfile your proxy server will use, and everything needed to run your stack with docker compose up.

For the engine internals, extension development, and ecosystem architecture, see docs.dekube.io.

Quick start

# Download the distribution
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dekubeio/dekube-manager/main/dekube-manager.py -o dekube-manager.py
python3 dekube-manager.py

# Convert and run
python3 .dekube/helmfile2compose.py --helmfile-dir ~/my-project -e compose --output-dir .
docker compose up -d

See Getting started for the full setup guide.

Documentation

• Getting started — installation, first run, adapting helmfile2compose for your own helmfile
• Configuration — dekube.yaml deep dive: volumes, overrides, secrets, replacements
• dekube-manager — installing helmfile2compose and extensions via the package manager
• Operations — day-to-day: updating, data management, troubleshooting
• Advanced — cohabiting with existing infrastructure, multiple projects, disabling Caddy
• Known workarounds — sushi recipes for the tentacles that don't fit
• Glossary — terms, acronyms, and Lovecraftian vocabulary decoded
• Limitations — what gets lost in translation

Compatible projects

• stoatchat-platform — 15 services. Chat platform (Revolt rebranded).
• lasuite-platform — 22 services + 11 init jobs. Collaborative suite (La Suite Num.).
• mijn-bureau-infra — ~30 services. Dutch government digital workplace. Requires nginx and bitnami extensions.

The ecosystem

Repo	What it is
kubernetes2simple	Turnkey distribution — helmfile2compose + all extensions + automagic bootstrap script.
dekube-engine	Bare conversion engine — empty registries, no opinions.
helmfile2compose	This distribution — core + 8 bundled extensions → single helmfile2compose.py.
dekube-manager	Package manager — downloads distribution + extensions, resolves dependencies.
Extension catalogue	Single-file modules: providers, converters, transforms, rewriters.
dekube-docs	Engine documentation, extension development guides.