Fixing Pulumi With External Secrets Operator CRDs

Nov 13, 2025 by Alex Johnson 50 views

Fixing Pulumi Errors with External Secrets Operator CRDs

Understanding the Issue: Parsing External Secrets Operator CRDs with Pulumi

When working with Kubernetes and Pulumi, integrating custom resource definitions (CRDs) for operators like the External Secrets Operator is a common task. However, you might encounter issues when attempting to convert the CRDs to Pulumi code using tools like crd2pulumi. This article dives into a specific problem related to parsing the External Secrets Operator CRDs and provides a practical solution. The core issue revolves around how crd2pulumi handles the ClusterSecretStore and SecretStore resources, particularly their interaction with the pulumi provider. The error message error binding type for property "provider": invalid property names indicates a conflict or misunderstanding in how the tool processes the schema definition of the CRDs. Specifically, the tool is having trouble with the provider field within the spec of the ClusterSecretStore and SecretStore resources. This issue arises because the CRD's schema, as defined in the bundle.yaml file, is not fully compatible with how crd2pulumi interprets and translates these definitions into Pulumi code. The tool attempts to bind properties but encounters an invalid naming convention related to the provider within the specifications.

To replicate the issue, you can download the bundle.yaml file from the External Secrets Operator repository and then attempt to convert it using crd2pulumi. The error occurs during the processing of the ClusterSecretStore and SecretStore resources because of a conflict with the pulumi provider declaration within their specifications. The tool's inability to correctly bind properties and the invalid property names error directly point to a mismatch between the expected schema format by crd2pulumi and the actual CRD structure.

The Problem: Provider Conflicts

The root cause of the problem lies in the CRD's specification of the provider property. crd2pulumi seems to struggle with the nested structure and the specific way the provider is defined within the ClusterSecretStore and SecretStore resources. The tool cannot correctly interpret the properties declared under provider, leading to the "invalid property names" error. This failure to parse the provider section results in the entire conversion process halting, preventing the successful generation of Pulumi code. The error message is very specific, focusing on property binding failures within the provider's definition. This highlights a clear need to adjust or modify the CRD file before running it through crd2pulumi.

Troubleshooting and Solutions: Resolving the Parsing Errors

The primary workaround involves modifying the bundle.yaml file before running it through crd2pulumi. Specifically, you need to remove the pulumi provider from the definitions of the ClusterSecretStore and SecretStore resources. This can be achieved using command-line tools such as yq or jq to edit the YAML file. By removing the conflicting pulumi property, you can bypass the parsing error and allow crd2pulumi to generate the code successfully. The core of the solution is to remove the parts of the CRD definition that cause the parsing error. The goal is to make the CRD compliant with what crd2pulumi expects as the input, and this usually involves a bit of preprocessing to eliminate or adjust the conflicting sections. The troubleshooting focuses on the problematic parts of the CRD and how to edit them, typically using external YAML processing tools like yq or jq.

Step-by-Step Solution

Download the bundle.yaml file: Use wget to fetch the CRD definitions:

wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/refs/tags/v1.0.0/deploy/crds/bundle.yaml

Modify the YAML file: Use yq to remove the problematic pulumi property. The command provided in the original issue specifically targets the property causing the error:
```
yq -i 'del(.spec.versions[].schema.openAPIV3Schema.properties.spec.properties.provider.properties.pulumi)' bundle.yaml
```
This command directly modifies the bundle.yaml file by deleting the pulumi property within the specified path. Make sure you have yq installed on your system before executing the command. This command is designed to directly address the error identified. It specifically removes the offending property from the CRD, which then lets crd2pulumi proceed without issues. The importance of direct modifications to the CRD file, particularly related to the properties causing the error.
Run crd2pulumi: After modifying the YAML file, run crd2pulumi on the modified file:
```
crd2pulumi -n bundle.yaml
```
The -n flag tells crd2pulumi to generate code without any modifications. This step uses the modified bundle.yaml to ensure the correct output. If the previous step was successful, this command should complete without errors. This step validates the entire process by attempting to generate the Pulumi code, which would be successful due to the corrected CRD.
Verify the Output: Check the generated code to ensure it accurately reflects the CRDs, now converted without the initial errors. This is crucial to ensure that the generated code is correct and works as expected. The final output is verified to ensure it represents the intended CRDs without the parsing errors.

Detailed Explanation of the Commands and Tools Used

This section explains the commands and tools used in the troubleshooting and solution process. Understanding these can help you adapt and apply these methods to similar problems.

wget: This is a command-line utility for downloading files from the web. In this context, it is used to download the bundle.yaml file, which contains the CRD definitions. wget is simple and efficient for fetching files directly from a URL, making it a critical first step. It is commonly used for fetching configuration files, scripts, or any other resources from remote servers.
yq: yq is a command-line YAML processor. It allows you to parse, modify, and generate YAML files. In this case, yq is used to edit the bundle.yaml file by removing the problematic pulumi property. The -i flag indicates in-place editing. The command provided targets specific elements within the YAML structure to modify the content directly. Its flexibility and ease of use make it an invaluable tool for managing YAML files in automation and scripting tasks. The precision with which yq can manipulate YAML files is essential in situations where small changes can resolve complex issues.
crd2pulumi: This is a tool provided by Pulumi to convert Kubernetes CRD definitions into Pulumi code. It simplifies the process of integrating custom resources into your Pulumi projects. The core function of crd2pulumi is to automate the translation of CRD specifications into usable Pulumi code. This reduces manual effort and increases the efficiency of integrating custom resources. It simplifies the setup and maintenance of the custom resource by automatically generating the necessary code to use it within the Pulumi framework.

Deep Dive into the Error and Its Implications

When crd2pulumi encounters an error like error binding type for property "provider": invalid property names, it highlights a critical issue in the schema translation process. The tool is unable to correctly map the properties defined within the CRD's specification to Pulumi code. This kind of error can arise from inconsistencies between the expected schema format by crd2pulumi and the CRD’s actual structure. It is necessary to understand how CRDs are defined and structured in Kubernetes and how crd2pulumi interprets them. The "invalid property names" error often means that the tool cannot map the CRD's specific fields into the corresponding Pulumi resource properties. This mismatch forces a deep dive into the CRD’s definitions to understand the origin of the problem and to develop suitable fixes. Furthermore, these errors can indicate broader compatibility issues. They highlight potential limitations within the tool's ability to support complex CRD definitions or specific features.

Best Practices and Recommendations

When dealing with CRDs and crd2pulumi, adhering to these best practices will help you minimize errors and ensure a smoother integration process.

Review CRD Definitions: Always review the CRD definitions before running them through crd2pulumi. Understand the structure, particularly the spec sections, which often contain complex nested properties. This process helps identify potential conflicts. A deep understanding of CRD structure is essential for accurate conversion and error prevention. Paying careful attention to the nuances within CRD definitions can prevent issues during conversion.
Use YAML Validation: Use YAML validation tools to check the CRD files for syntax and structural correctness before processing them with crd2pulumi. This ensures that your files are well-formed and can avoid common parsing errors. Validating the YAML files helps to identify issues early in the process. This can often resolve basic issues before they escalate into complex errors during the conversion. Using validation tools helps to ensure that YAML files are syntactically correct and structurally sound, which can reduce the likelihood of errors.
Keep Tools Updated: Ensure you are using the latest versions of crd2pulumi, Pulumi CLI, and any related tools. Updates often include bug fixes and improvements that can resolve compatibility issues. Keeping your tools updated ensures access to the latest features. It also helps to prevent issues caused by outdated software. Staying current with updates is essential for optimal performance and compatibility.
Test Generated Code: After generating Pulumi code from CRDs, thoroughly test the code to ensure it functions as expected. Deploy a test environment. Validate the resources created. This includes deploying the resources into a test environment to verify their proper operation. Rigorous testing ensures that the resources behave as designed. Thorough testing is crucial to verify that converted CRDs function as intended in your Pulumi setup.
Consult Documentation: Refer to the official Pulumi and Kubernetes documentation for detailed explanations of CRDs and the crd2pulumi tool. The documentation provides insights into the tool's capabilities. It also offers guidance on common issues and best practices. Consulting the documentation helps to leverage the tool's full potential and prevents errors. It also provides insights into how the tool processes and interprets different CRD structures.

Conclusion: Successfully Integrating CRDs with Pulumi

Successfully integrating CRDs with Pulumi requires a detailed understanding of the CRD definitions, the capabilities and limitations of crd2pulumi, and the tools available to preprocess and modify these definitions. By understanding the error, applying the suggested solutions, and following the best practices, you can effectively resolve parsing issues and ensure your Kubernetes resources are correctly managed with Pulumi. The key takeaways emphasize the importance of careful planning, thorough testing, and ongoing maintenance to guarantee a smooth and efficient workflow.

For more information, visit the official Pulumi documentation: Pulumi Documentation