feat: use helm status to find helm release (#1640)

* feat: use helm status to find helm release

Signed-off-by: yxxhero <aiopsclub@163.com>

docs/index.md

@@ -534,6 +534,7 @@ Helmfile uses some OS environment variables to override default behaviour:
 * `HELMFILE_DISABLE_INSECURE_FEATURES` - disable insecure features, expecting `true` lower case
 * `HELMFILE_DISABLE_RUNNER_UNIQUE_ID` - disable unique logging ID, expecting any non-empty value
 * `HELMFILE_SKIP_INSECURE_TEMPLATE_FUNCTIONS` - disable insecure template functions, expecting `true` lower case
+* `HELMFILE_USE_HELM_STATUS_TO_CHECK_RELEASE_EXISTENCE` - expecting non-empty value to use `helm status` to check release existence, instead of `helm list` which is the default behaviour 
 * `HELMFILE_EXPERIMENTAL` - enable experimental features, expecting `true` lower case
 * `HELMFILE_ENVIRONMENT` - specify [Helmfile environment](https://helmfile.readthedocs.io/en/latest/#environment), it has lower priority than CLI argument `--environment`
 * `HELMFILE_TEMPDIR` - specify directory to store temporary files

pkg/app/app_test.go

@@ -2729,8 +2729,34 @@ func TestApply(t *testing.T) {
 		diffs             map[exectest.DiffKey]error
 		upgraded          []exectest.Release
 		deleted           []exectest.Release
+		envs              map[string]string
 		log               string
 	}{
+		//
+		// helm-status-check-to-release-existence
+		//
+		{
+			name: "helm-status-check-to-release-existence",
+			loc:  location(),
+			files: map[string]string{
+				"/path/to/helmfile.yaml": `
+releases:
+- name: bar
+  chart: stable/mychart2
+- name: foo_notFound
+  chart: stable/mychart1
+  installed: false
+`,
+			},
+			diffs: map[exectest.DiffKey]error{
+				{Name: "bar", Chart: "stable/mychart2", Flags: "--kube-context default --detailed-exitcode --reset-values"}:          nil,
+				{Name: "foo_notFound", Chart: "stable/mychart1", Flags: "--kube-context default --detailed-exitcode --reset-values"}: nil,
+			},
+			lists:    map[exectest.ListKey]string{},
+			upgraded: []exectest.Release{},
+			deleted:  []exectest.Release{},
+			envs:     map[string]string{"HELMFILE_USE_HELM_STATUS_TO_CHECK_RELEASE_EXISTENCE": "true"},
+		},
 		//
 		// complex test cases for smoke testing
 		//
@@ -3457,73 +3483,6 @@ releases:
 			upgraded: []exectest.Release{},
 			// as we check for log output, set concurrency to 1 to avoid non-deterministic test result
 			concurrency: 1,
-			log: `processing file "helmfile.yaml" in directory "."
-changing working directory to "/path/to"
-first-pass rendering starting for "helmfile.yaml.part.0": inherited=&{default  map[] map[]}, overrode=<nil>
-first-pass uses: &{default  map[] map[]}
-first-pass rendering output of "helmfile.yaml.part.0":
- 0: 
- 1: 
- 2: 
- 3: releases:
- 4: - name: kubernetes-external-secrets
- 5:   chart: incubator/raw
- 6:   namespace: kube-system
- 7: 
- 8: - name: external-secrets
- 9:   chart: incubator/raw
-10:   namespace: default
-11:   labels:
-12:     app: test
-13:   needs:
-14:   - kube-system/kubernetes-external-secrets
-15: 
-16: - name: my-release
-17:   chart: incubator/raw
-18:   namespace: default
-19:   labels:
-20:     app: test
-21:   needs:
-22:   - default/external-secrets
-23: 
-
-first-pass produced: &{default  map[] map[]}
-first-pass rendering result of "helmfile.yaml.part.0": {default  map[] map[]}
-vals:
-map[]
-defaultVals:[]
-second-pass rendering result of "helmfile.yaml.part.0":
- 0: 
- 1: 
- 2: 
- 3: releases:
- 4: - name: kubernetes-external-secrets
- 5:   chart: incubator/raw
- 6:   namespace: kube-system
- 7: 
- 8: - name: external-secrets
- 9:   chart: incubator/raw
-10:   namespace: default
-11:   labels:
-12:     app: test
-13:   needs:
-14:   - kube-system/kubernetes-external-secrets
-15: 
-16: - name: my-release
-17:   chart: incubator/raw
-18:   namespace: default
-19:   labels:
-20:     app: test
-21:   needs:
-22:   - default/external-secrets
-23: 
-
-merged environment: &{default  map[] map[]}
-2 release(s) matching app=test found in helmfile.yaml
-
-err: release "default/default/external-secrets" depends on "default/kube-system/kubernetes-external-secrets" which does not match the selectors. Please add a selector like "--selector name=kubernetes-external-secrets", or indicate whether to skip (--skip-needs) or include (--include-needs) these dependencies
-changing working directory back to "/path/to"
-`,
 		},
 		{
 			// see https://github.com/roboll/helmfile/issues/919#issuecomment-549831747
@@ -3561,72 +3520,6 @@ releases:
 			error:     "err: no releases found that matches specified selector(app=test_non_existent) and environment(default), in any helmfile",
 			// as we check for log output, set concurrency to 1 to avoid non-deterministic test result
 			concurrency: 1,
-			log: `processing file "helmfile.yaml" in directory "."
-changing working directory to "/path/to"
-first-pass rendering starting for "helmfile.yaml.part.0": inherited=&{default  map[] map[]}, overrode=<nil>
-first-pass uses: &{default  map[] map[]}
-first-pass rendering output of "helmfile.yaml.part.0":
- 0: 
- 1: 
- 2: 
- 3: releases:
- 4: - name: kubernetes-external-secrets
- 5:   chart: incubator/raw
- 6:   namespace: kube-system
- 7: 
- 8: - name: external-secrets
- 9:   chart: incubator/raw
-10:   namespace: default
-11:   labels:
-12:     app: test
-13:   needs:
-14:   - kube-system/kubernetes-external-secrets
-15: 
-16: - name: my-release
-17:   chart: incubator/raw
-18:   namespace: default
-19:   labels:
-20:     app: test
-21:   needs:
-22:   - default/external-secrets
-23: 
-
-first-pass produced: &{default  map[] map[]}
-first-pass rendering result of "helmfile.yaml.part.0": {default  map[] map[]}
-vals:
-map[]
-defaultVals:[]
-second-pass rendering result of "helmfile.yaml.part.0":
- 0: 
- 1: 
- 2: 
- 3: releases:
- 4: - name: kubernetes-external-secrets
- 5:   chart: incubator/raw
- 6:   namespace: kube-system
- 7: 
- 8: - name: external-secrets
- 9:   chart: incubator/raw
-10:   namespace: default
-11:   labels:
-12:     app: test
-13:   needs:
-14:   - kube-system/kubernetes-external-secrets
-15: 
-16: - name: my-release
-17:   chart: incubator/raw
-18:   namespace: default
-19:   labels:
-20:     app: test
-21:   needs:
-22:   - default/external-secrets
-23: 
-
-merged environment: &{default  map[] map[]}
-0 release(s) matching app=test_non_existent found in helmfile.yaml
-
-changing working directory back to "/path/to"
-`,
 		},
 		//
 		// error cases
@@ -3656,45 +3549,6 @@ releases:
 			deleted:     []exectest.Release{},
 			concurrency: 1,
 			error:       `in ./helmfile.yaml: release "default//foo" depends on "default/ns1/bar" which does not match the selectors. Please add a selector like "--selector name=bar", or indicate whether to skip (--skip-needs) or include (--include-needs) these dependencies`,
-			log: `processing file "helmfile.yaml" in directory "."
-changing working directory to "/path/to"
-first-pass rendering starting for "helmfile.yaml.part.0": inherited=&{default  map[] map[]}, overrode=<nil>
-first-pass uses: &{default  map[] map[]}
-first-pass rendering output of "helmfile.yaml.part.0":
- 0: 
- 1: releases:
- 2: - name: bar
- 3:   namespace: ns1
- 4:   chart: mychart3
- 5: - name: foo
- 6:   chart: mychart1
- 7:   needs:
- 8:   - ns1/bar
- 9: 
-
-first-pass produced: &{default  map[] map[]}
-first-pass rendering result of "helmfile.yaml.part.0": {default  map[] map[]}
-vals:
-map[]
-defaultVals:[]
-second-pass rendering result of "helmfile.yaml.part.0":
- 0: 
- 1: releases:
- 2: - name: bar
- 3:   namespace: ns1
- 4:   chart: mychart3
- 5: - name: foo
- 6:   chart: mychart1
- 7:   needs:
- 8:   - ns1/bar
- 9: 
-
-merged environment: &{default  map[] map[]}
-1 release(s) matching name=foo found in helmfile.yaml
-
-err: release "default//foo" depends on "default/ns1/bar" which does not match the selectors. Please add a selector like "--selector name=bar", or indicate whether to skip (--skip-needs) or include (--include-needs) these dependencies
-changing working directory back to "/path/to"
-`,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "non-existent release in needs",
@@ -3720,46 +3574,6 @@ releases:
 			deleted:     []exectest.Release{},
 			concurrency: 1,
 			error:       "in ./helmfile.yaml: release(s) \"default//foo\" depend(s) on an undefined release \"default/ns1/bar\". Perhaps you made a typo in \"needs\" or forgot defining a release named \"bar\" with appropriate \"namespace\" and \"kubeContext\"?",
-			log: `processing file "helmfile.yaml" in directory "."
-changing working directory to "/path/to"
-first-pass rendering starting for "helmfile.yaml.part.0": inherited=&{default  map[] map[]}, overrode=<nil>
-first-pass uses: &{default  map[] map[]}
-first-pass rendering output of "helmfile.yaml.part.0":
- 0: 
- 1: releases:
- 2: - name: baz
- 3:   namespace: ns1
- 4:   chart: mychart3
- 5: - name: foo
- 6:   chart: mychart1
- 7:   needs:
- 8:   - ns1/bar
- 9: 
-
-first-pass produced: &{default  map[] map[]}
-first-pass rendering result of "helmfile.yaml.part.0": {default  map[] map[]}
-vals:
-map[]
-defaultVals:[]
-second-pass rendering result of "helmfile.yaml.part.0":
- 0: 
- 1: releases:
- 2: - name: baz
- 3:   namespace: ns1
- 4:   chart: mychart3
- 5: - name: foo
- 6:   chart: mychart1
- 7:   needs:
- 8:   - ns1/bar
- 9: 
-
-merged environment: &{default  map[] map[]}
-WARNING: release foo needs bar, but bar is not installed due to installed: false. Either mark bar as installed or remove bar from foo's needs
-2 release(s) found in helmfile.yaml
-
-err: release(s) "default//foo" depend(s) on an undefined release "default/ns1/bar". Perhaps you made a typo in "needs" or forgot defining a release named "bar" with appropriate "namespace" and "kubeContext"?
-changing working directory back to "/path/to"
-`,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "duplicate releases",
@@ -3789,56 +3603,17 @@ releases:
 			deleted:     []exectest.Release{},
 			concurrency: 1,
 			error:       "in ./helmfile.yaml: found 2 duplicate releases with ID \"default//foo\"",
-			log: `processing file "helmfile.yaml" in directory "."
-changing working directory to "/path/to"
-first-pass rendering starting for "helmfile.yaml.part.0": inherited=&{default  map[] map[]}, overrode=<nil>
-first-pass uses: &{default  map[] map[]}
-first-pass rendering output of "helmfile.yaml.part.0":
- 0: 
- 1: releases:
- 2: - name: bar
- 3:   namespace: ns1
- 4:   chart: mychart3
- 5: - name: foo
- 6:   chart: mychart2
- 7:   needs:
- 8:   - ns1/bar
- 9: - name: foo
-10:   chart: mychart1
-11:   needs:
-12:   - ns1/bar
-13: 
-
-first-pass produced: &{default  map[] map[]}
-first-pass rendering result of "helmfile.yaml.part.0": {default  map[] map[]}
-vals:
-map[]
-defaultVals:[]
-second-pass rendering result of "helmfile.yaml.part.0":
- 0: 
- 1: releases:
- 2: - name: bar
- 3:   namespace: ns1
- 4:   chart: mychart3
- 5: - name: foo
- 6:   chart: mychart2
- 7:   needs:
- 8:   - ns1/bar
- 9: - name: foo
-10:   chart: mychart1
-11:   needs:
-12:   - ns1/bar
-13: 
-
-merged environment: &{default  map[] map[]}
-err: found 2 duplicate releases with ID "default//foo"
-changing working directory back to "/path/to"
-`,
 		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tc := range testcases {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if tc.envs != nil {
+				for k, v := range tc.envs {
+					os.Setenv(k, v)
+					defer os.Unsetenv(k)
+				}
+			}
 			wantUpgrades := tc.upgraded
 			wantDeletes := tc.deleted
 

pkg/app/testdata/testapply/duplicate_releases/log

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+processing file "helmfile.yaml" in directory "."
+changing working directory to "/path/to"
+first-pass rendering starting for "helmfile.yaml.part.0": inherited=&{default  map[] map[]}, overrode=<nil>
+first-pass uses: &{default  map[] map[]}
+first-pass rendering output of "helmfile.yaml.part.0":
+ 0: 
+ 1: releases:
+ 2: - name: bar
+ 3:   namespace: ns1
+ 4:   chart: mychart3
+ 5: - name: foo
+ 6:   chart: mychart2
+ 7:   needs:
+ 8:   - ns1/bar
+ 9: - name: foo
+10:   chart: mychart1
+11:   needs:
+12:   - ns1/bar
+13: 
+
+first-pass produced: &{default  map[] map[]}
+first-pass rendering result of "helmfile.yaml.part.0": {default  map[] map[]}
+vals:
+map[]
+defaultVals:[]
+second-pass rendering result of "helmfile.yaml.part.0":
+ 0: 
+ 1: releases:
+ 2: - name: bar
+ 3:   namespace: ns1
+ 4:   chart: mychart3
+ 5: - name: foo
+ 6:   chart: mychart2
+ 7:   needs:
+ 8:   - ns1/bar
+ 9: - name: foo
+10:   chart: mychart1
+11:   needs:
+12:   - ns1/bar
+13: 
+
+merged environment: &{default  map[] map[]}
+err: found 2 duplicate releases with ID "default//foo"
+changing working directory back to "/path/to"

pkg/app/testdata/testapply/helm-status-check-to-release-existence/log

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+processing file "helmfile.yaml" in directory "."
+changing working directory to "/path/to"
+first-pass rendering starting for "helmfile.yaml.part.0": inherited=&{default  map[] map[]}, overrode=<nil>
+first-pass uses: &{default  map[] map[]}
+first-pass rendering output of "helmfile.yaml.part.0":
+ 0: 
+ 1: releases:
+ 2: - name: bar
+ 3:   chart: stable/mychart2
+ 4: - name: foo_notFound
+ 5:   chart: stable/mychart1
+ 6:   installed: false
+ 7: 
+
+first-pass produced: &{default  map[] map[]}
+first-pass rendering result of "helmfile.yaml.part.0": {default  map[] map[]}
+vals:
+map[]
+defaultVals:[]
+second-pass rendering result of "helmfile.yaml.part.0":
+ 0: 
+ 1: releases:
+ 2: - name: bar
+ 3:   chart: stable/mychart2
+ 4: - name: foo_notFound
+ 5:   chart: stable/mychart1
+ 6:   installed: false
+ 7: 
+
+merged environment: &{default  map[] map[]}
+2 release(s) found in helmfile.yaml
+
+Checking release existence using `helm status` for release foo_notFound
+invoking preapply hooks for 1 groups of releases in this order:
+GROUP RELEASES
+1     default//bar, default//foo_notFound
+
+invoking preapply hooks for releases in group 1/1: default//bar, default//foo_notFound
+changing working directory back to "/path/to"

pkg/app/testdata/testapply/non-existent_release_in_needs/log

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+processing file "helmfile.yaml" in directory "."
+changing working directory to "/path/to"
+first-pass rendering starting for "helmfile.yaml.part.0": inherited=&{default  map[] map[]}, overrode=<nil>
+first-pass uses: &{default  map[] map[]}
+first-pass rendering output of "helmfile.yaml.part.0":
+ 0: 
+ 1: releases:
+ 2: - name: baz
+ 3:   namespace: ns1
+ 4:   chart: mychart3
+ 5: - name: foo
+ 6:   chart: mychart1
+ 7:   needs:
+ 8:   - ns1/bar
+ 9: 
+
+first-pass produced: &{default  map[] map[]}
+first-pass rendering result of "helmfile.yaml.part.0": {default  map[] map[]}
+vals:
+map[]
+defaultVals:[]
+second-pass rendering result of "helmfile.yaml.part.0":
+ 0: 
+ 1: releases:
+ 2: - name: baz
+ 3:   namespace: ns1
+ 4:   chart: mychart3
+ 5: - name: foo
+ 6:   chart: mychart1
+ 7:   needs:
+ 8:   - ns1/bar
+ 9: 
+
+merged environment: &{default  map[] map[]}
+WARNING: release foo needs bar, but bar is not installed due to installed: false. Either mark bar as installed or remove bar from foo's needs
+2 release(s) found in helmfile.yaml
+
+err: release(s) "default//foo" depend(s) on an undefined release "default/ns1/bar". Perhaps you made a typo in "needs" or forgot defining a release named "bar" with appropriate "namespace" and "kubeContext"?
+changing working directory back to "/path/to"

pkg/app/testdata/testapply/unselected_release_in_needs/log

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+processing file "helmfile.yaml" in directory "."
+changing working directory to "/path/to"
+first-pass rendering starting for "helmfile.yaml.part.0": inherited=&{default  map[] map[]}, overrode=<nil>
+first-pass uses: &{default  map[] map[]}
+first-pass rendering output of "helmfile.yaml.part.0":
+ 0: 
+ 1: releases:
+ 2: - name: bar
+ 3:   namespace: ns1
+ 4:   chart: mychart3
+ 5: - name: foo
+ 6:   chart: mychart1
+ 7:   needs:
+ 8:   - ns1/bar
+ 9: 
+
+first-pass produced: &{default  map[] map[]}
+first-pass rendering result of "helmfile.yaml.part.0": {default  map[] map[]}
+vals:
+map[]
+defaultVals:[]
+second-pass rendering result of "helmfile.yaml.part.0":
+ 0: 
+ 1: releases:
+ 2: - name: bar
+ 3:   namespace: ns1
+ 4:   chart: mychart3
+ 5: - name: foo
+ 6:   chart: mychart1
+ 7:   needs:
+ 8:   - ns1/bar
+ 9: 
+
+merged environment: &{default  map[] map[]}
+1 release(s) matching name=foo found in helmfile.yaml
+
+err: release "default//foo" depends on "default/ns1/bar" which does not match the selectors. Please add a selector like "--selector name=bar", or indicate whether to skip (--skip-needs) or include (--include-needs) these dependencies
+changing working directory back to "/path/to"

pkg/app/testdata/testapply/upgrades_with_bad_selector/log

@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+processing file "helmfile.yaml" in directory "."
+changing working directory to "/path/to"
+first-pass rendering starting for "helmfile.yaml.part.0": inherited=&{default  map[] map[]}, overrode=<nil>
+first-pass uses: &{default  map[] map[]}
+first-pass rendering output of "helmfile.yaml.part.0":
+ 0: 
+ 1: 
+ 2: 
+ 3: releases:
+ 4: - name: kubernetes-external-secrets
+ 5:   chart: incubator/raw
+ 6:   namespace: kube-system
+ 7: 
+ 8: - name: external-secrets
+ 9:   chart: incubator/raw
+10:   namespace: default
+11:   labels:
+12:     app: test
+13:   needs:
+14:   - kube-system/kubernetes-external-secrets
+15: 
+16: - name: my-release
+17:   chart: incubator/raw
+18:   namespace: default
+19:   labels:
+20:     app: test
+21:   needs:
+22:   - default/external-secrets
+23: 
+
+first-pass produced: &{default  map[] map[]}
+first-pass rendering result of "helmfile.yaml.part.0": {default  map[] map[]}
+vals:
+map[]
+defaultVals:[]
+second-pass rendering result of "helmfile.yaml.part.0":
+ 0: 
+ 1: 
+ 2: 
+ 3: releases:
+ 4: - name: kubernetes-external-secrets
+ 5:   chart: incubator/raw
+ 6:   namespace: kube-system
+ 7: 
+ 8: - name: external-secrets
+ 9:   chart: incubator/raw
+10:   namespace: default
+11:   labels:
+12:     app: test
+13:   needs:
+14:   - kube-system/kubernetes-external-secrets
+15: 
+16: - name: my-release
+17:   chart: incubator/raw
+18:   namespace: default
+19:   labels:
+20:     app: test
+21:   needs:
+22:   - default/external-secrets
+23: 
+
+merged environment: &{default  map[] map[]}
+0 release(s) matching app=test_non_existent found in helmfile.yaml
+
+changing working directory back to "/path/to"

pkg/app/testdata/testapply/upgrades_with_good_selector_with_--skip-needs=false_--include-needs=true/log

@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+processing file "helmfile.yaml" in directory "."
+changing working directory to "/path/to"
+first-pass rendering starting for "helmfile.yaml.part.0": inherited=&{default  map[] map[]}, overrode=<nil>
+first-pass uses: &{default  map[] map[]}
+first-pass rendering output of "helmfile.yaml.part.0":
+ 0: 
+ 1: 
+ 2: 
+ 3: releases:
+ 4: - name: kubernetes-external-secrets
+ 5:   chart: incubator/raw
+ 6:   namespace: kube-system
+ 7: 
+ 8: - name: external-secrets
+ 9:   chart: incubator/raw
+10:   namespace: default
+11:   labels:
+12:     app: test
+13:   needs:
+14:   - kube-system/kubernetes-external-secrets
+15: 
+16: - name: my-release
+17:   chart: incubator/raw
+18:   namespace: default
+19:   labels:
+20:     app: test
+21:   needs:
+22:   - default/external-secrets
+23: 
+
+first-pass produced: &{default  map[] map[]}
+first-pass rendering result of "helmfile.yaml.part.0": {default  map[] map[]}
+vals:
+map[]
+defaultVals:[]
+second-pass rendering result of "helmfile.yaml.part.0":
+ 0: 
+ 1: 
+ 2: 
+ 3: releases:
+ 4: - name: kubernetes-external-secrets
+ 5:   chart: incubator/raw
+ 6:   namespace: kube-system
+ 7: 
+ 8: - name: external-secrets
+ 9:   chart: incubator/raw
+10:   namespace: default
+11:   labels:
+12:     app: test
+13:   needs:
+14:   - kube-system/kubernetes-external-secrets
+15: 
+16: - name: my-release
+17:   chart: incubator/raw
+18:   namespace: default
+19:   labels:
+20:     app: test
+21:   needs:
+22:   - default/external-secrets
+23: 
+
+merged environment: &{default  map[] map[]}
+2 release(s) matching app=test found in helmfile.yaml
+
+err: release "default/default/external-secrets" depends on "default/kube-system/kubernetes-external-secrets" which does not match the selectors. Please add a selector like "--selector name=kubernetes-external-secrets", or indicate whether to skip (--skip-needs) or include (--include-needs) these dependencies
+changing working directory back to "/path/to"

pkg/envvar/const.go

@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@ package envvar
 const (
 	DisableInsecureFeatures = "HELMFILE_DISABLE_INSECURE_FEATURES"
 
+	// use helm status to check if a release exists before installing it
+	UseHelmStatusToCheckReleaseExistence = "HELMFILE_USE_HELM_STATUS_TO_CHECK_RELEASE_EXISTENCE"
+
 	// TODO: Remove this function once Helmfile v0.x
 	SkipInsecureTemplateFunctions = "HELMFILE_SKIP_INSECURE_TEMPLATE_FUNCTIONS"
 

pkg/exectest/helm.go

@@ -138,6 +138,9 @@ func (helm *Helm) DiffRelease(context helmexec.HelmContext, name, chart, namespa
 	return err
 }
 func (helm *Helm) ReleaseStatus(context helmexec.HelmContext, release string, flags ...string) error {
+	if strings.Contains(release, "notFound") {
+		return errors.New("Error: release: not found")
+	}
 	if strings.Contains(release, "error") {
 		return errors.New("error")
 	}

pkg/state/state.go

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/helmfile/helmfile/pkg/argparser"
 	"github.com/helmfile/helmfile/pkg/environment"
+	"github.com/helmfile/helmfile/pkg/envvar"
 	"github.com/helmfile/helmfile/pkg/event"
 	"github.com/helmfile/helmfile/pkg/filesystem"
 	"github.com/helmfile/helmfile/pkg/helmexec"
@@ -698,13 +699,25 @@ func (st *HelmState) prepareSyncReleases(helm helmexec.Interface, additionalValu
 }
 
 func (st *HelmState) isReleaseInstalled(context helmexec.HelmContext, helm helmexec.Interface, release ReleaseSpec) (bool, error) {
+	if os.Getenv(envvar.UseHelmStatusToCheckReleaseExistence) != "" {
+		st.logger.Debugf("Checking release existence using `helm status` for release %s", release.Name)
+
+		flags := st.kubeConnectionFlags(&release)
+		if release.Namespace != "" {
+			flags = append(flags, "--namespace", release.Namespace)
+		}
+		err := helm.ReleaseStatus(context, release.Name, flags...)
+		if err != nil && strings.Contains(err.Error(), "Error: release: not found") {
+			return false, nil
+		}
+		return true, err
+	}
+
 	out, err := st.listReleases(context, helm, &release)
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
-	} else if out != "" {
-		return true, nil
 	}
-	return false, nil
+	return out != "", nil
 }
 
 func (st *HelmState) DetectReleasesToBeDeletedForSync(helm helmexec.Interface, releases []ReleaseSpec) ([]ReleaseSpec, error) {