Add release notes for #127

release-notes/unreleased/127-expose-tolerations-nodeselector.md

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+# Release Notes for Issue #127: Expose tolerations and nodeSelector in chart values
+
+## New Feature
+
+### What Changed
+`tolerations` and `nodeSelector` are now declared in
+`charts/restate-operator-helm/values.yaml`. The `tolerations` template was
+already wired in `templates/deployment.yaml`; this just makes it discoverable
+via the values file. A matching `nodeSelector` template block was added.
+
+### Why This Matters
+On clusters with node taints — per-workload taint pools, dedicated controller
+node groups, Karpenter-style provisioners — the operator pod previously had no
+way to schedule through Helm values alone. Users had to fork the chart or layer
+a kustomize+helm post-render patch. Declaring these standard pod scheduling
+fields in `values.yaml` brings the chart in line with the typical operator
+chart convention (cert-manager, external-secrets, AWS Load Balancer Controller,
+etc.).
+
+### Impact on Users
+- Existing deployments: No impact, both fields are optional
+- New deployments: Can pin the operator pod to specific nodes or tolerate
+  taints through Helm values, instead of forking the chart or post-rendering
+  with kustomize
+
+### Migration Guidance
+No migration required. To use the new fields:
+
+
+```yaml
+tolerations:
+  - key: "service"
+    operator: "Exists"
+    effect: "NoSchedule"
+
+nodeSelector:
+  workload: controllers
+```
+
+
+### Related Issues
+- Issue #127: Expose tolerations / nodeSelector in restate-operator-helm chart