glossary
Ansible is a server automation software. Ansible has different uses and capabilities, but we use it to "build" our servers according to our needs and specifications. Ansible is agentless — which means it actually runs on our personal computers, rather than the servers.
Here is a metaphor. Let's say we are a collective that builds kids playgrounds on abandoned lots. We decide to put a playground on some lot, which we'll call ServerX. In order to put swings and stuff, first we need a sandbox. So we put out an announcement on our radio station, "Hey, let's go to ServerX and build a sandbox. Bring wood, nails, and sand." If people get there, and there's no sandbox, they'll start building. If there's already a sandbox, they won't do anything.
For Ansible, this broadcast is called running a playbook. Playbooks describe the desired end state (i.e. we want a sandbox, or, we want 2 Docker containers). You describe what sort of environment(s) you want, and if it's not there, your computer running Ansible will built it according to your specifications.
Playbooks contain plays; plays contain tasks; Tasks contain modules. Tasks run sequentially.
To learn more, this short "What is Ansible?" video may be helpful.
Containers are similar to virtual machines in resource isolation and allocation benefits, but function differently because containers virtualize the operating system instead of hardware.
A container is a standard unit of software that packages up code and all its dependencies so the application runs quickly and reliably from one computing environment to another. A Docker container image is a lightweight, standalone, executable package of software that includes everything needed to run an application: code, runtime, system tools, system libraries and settings. Container images become containers at runtime and in the case of Docker containers - images become containers when they run on Docker Engine. Available for both Linux and Windows-based applications, containerized software will always run the same, regardless of the infrastructure. Containers isolate software from its environment and ensure that it works uniformly despite differences for instance between development and staging.
Docker Compose Files are YAML files used for running Docker applications. Run docker-compose in order to start your app.
pip installs packages)package-management system used to install and manage software packages written in Python.
also called Secure Shell or Secure Socket Shell, is a network protocol that gives users, particularly system administrators, a secure way to access a computer over an unsecured network. SSH is typically used to log into a remote machine and execute commands, but it also supports tunneling, and forwarding TCP ports.