User Workloads

Custom applications where you provide your own Helm chart values directly.

Overview

Unlike system workloads (which have pre-configured presets), user workloads require you to specify all Helm values yourself. This gives you full control over the chart configuration.

HTTP Service Example

HTTP services use Traefik ingress for routing. No TCP port configuration needed.

workloads:
  http-webhook:
    type: user
    description: HTTP service with Traefik ingress
    chart:
      repo: securecodebox  # From catalog repositories
      name: securecodebox/http-webhook
      version: "5.5.0"
    defaults:
      namespace: default
    values:
      # You provide ALL Helm values (no presets)
      ingress:
        enabled: true
        ingressClassName: traefik
        annotations:
          traefik.ingress.kubernetes.io/router.entrypoints: websecure
          traefik.ingress.kubernetes.io/router.tls: "true"
        hosts:
          - host: echo.${LOKO_APPS_DOMAIN}
            paths: [/]
        tls:
          - hosts:
              - echo.${LOKO_APPS_DOMAIN}

HTTP Service Access: https://echo.${LOKO_APPS_DOMAIN}

---

TCP Service Example

TCP services require port exposure and special routing configuration.

workloads:
  tcp-echo:
    type: user
    description: TCP service requiring port exposure
    chart:
      repo: istio
      name: istio/tcp-echo-server
      version: "1.2.0"
    defaults:
      namespace: default
      ports: [9000]  # Dynamically routed via HAProxy tunnel
    values:
      service:
        type: ClusterIP
        ports:
          - port: 9000
            name: tcp
            protocol: TCP

Requirements:

1. Port exposed via HAProxy tunnel (automatically updated when ports change)
2. DNS host record configuration
3. Traefik TCPIngressRoute for routing (automatically configured)

TCP Service Access: telnet tcp-echo.${LOKO_DOMAIN} 9000

---

Using External Repositories

If your chart is not from a catalog repository, add the Helm repository to your config:

# loko.yaml
workloads:
  helm-repositories:
    - name: my-custom-repo
      url: https://my-charts.example.com/

Then reference it in your workload:

workloads:
  my-app:
    type: user
    chart:
      repo: my-custom-repo
      name: my-custom-repo/my-chart
      version: "1.0.0"
    values:
      # Your chart values here

---

System vs User Workloads

Feature	System Workloads	User Workloads
Presets	Pre-configured values	You provide all values
Secrets	Auto-generated	You manage
Configuration	Simplified	Full Helm control
Use Case	Standard services	Custom applications
Examples	PostgreSQL, RabbitMQ, ArgoCD	Your own apps, custom charts

Deployment

# Add workload to config
loko workloads add my-app

# Enable and deploy
loko workloads enable my-app --now

# Check status
loko workloads status my-app

Next Steps

• Helm Repositories - Available catalog repos
• System Workloads - Pre-configured workloads
• Contributing Guide - Add your workload to the catalog