fix(helm): stop litellm-helm from injecting placeholder models into every install (#47056)

Co-authored-by: Devin AI <158243242+devin-ai-integration[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>

helm/litellm-helm/README.md

@@ -70,11 +70,18 @@ proxyConfigMap:
 proxy_config:
   general_settings:
     master_key: os.environ/PROXY_MASTER_KEY
+  model_list: []
+```
+
+The chart ships no models, so add them under `proxy_config.model_list` or from the Admin UI with `store_model_in_db: true`
+
+```
+proxy_config:
   model_list:
-    - model_name: gpt-3.5-turbo
+    - model_name: gpt-5.6
       litellm_params:
-        model: gpt-3.5-turbo
-        api_key: eXaMpLeOnLy
+        model: openai/gpt-5.6
+        api_key: os.environ/OPENAI_API_KEY
 ```
 
 #### Example using existing `proxyConfigMap` instead of creating it:

helm/litellm-helm/tests/deployment_tests.yaml

@@ -270,6 +270,32 @@ tests:
       - matchRegex:
           path: data["config.yaml"]
           pattern: '(?m)^\s*health_check_details:\s*false$'
+  - it: should not render any placeholder models when the user sets proxy_config without model_list
+    template: configmap-litellm.yaml
+    set:
+      proxy_config.general_settings.store_model_in_db: true
+    asserts:
+      - notMatchRegex:
+          path: data["config.yaml"]
+          pattern: 'model_name:'
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: data["config.yaml"]
+          pattern: 'store_model_in_db: true'
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: data["config.yaml"]
+          pattern: 'master_key: os.environ/PROXY_MASTER_KEY'
+  - it: should render a user-supplied model_list as the only models
+    template: configmap-litellm.yaml
+    set:
+      proxy_config.model_list:
+        - model_name: my-model
+          litellm_params:
+            model: openai/my-model
+            api_key: os.environ/OPENAI_API_KEY
+    asserts:
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: data["config.yaml"]
+          pattern: 'model_list:\n- litellm_params:\n    api_key: os.environ/OPENAI_API_KEY\n    model: openai/my-model\n  model_name: my-model\n$'
   - it: should allow overriding liveness, readiness, and startup probes
     template: deployment.yaml
     set:

helm/litellm-helm/values.yaml

@@ -180,17 +180,7 @@ proxyConfigMap:
 #  Examples: https://github.com/BerriAI/litellm/tree/main/litellm/proxy/example_config_yaml
 #  Reference: https://docs.litellm.ai/docs/proxy/configs
 proxy_config:
-  model_list:
-    # At least one model must exist for the proxy to start.
-    - model_name: gpt-3.5-turbo
-      litellm_params:
-        model: gpt-3.5-turbo
-        api_key: eXaMpLeOnLy
-    - model_name: fake-openai-endpoint
-      litellm_params:
-        model: openai/fake
-        api_key: fake-key
-        api_base: https://exampleopenaiendpoint-production.up.railway.app/
+  model_list: []
   general_settings:
     master_key: os.environ/PROXY_MASTER_KEY