Ansible script generator

Goal of this script is to automate the simples Ansible deployments over AWS, by taking just shell history, and converting it into Ansible deployment script.

Example inputs are in inputs/ directory.

Goal

Create easily maintainable Python script, that takes Bash shell history, and converts it into Ansible deployment script.

It should match patterns line by line, and allow easy extension to new patterns.

When pattern is not recognized - it should issue a warning.

Interface

ansible-gen.py .bash_history -o ansible.yml

Additional options:

• --local ec2-instance - the following history file was recorded locally (not remotely), and refers to remote as ec2-instance
• --remote - the following history file was recorded remotely (default).

Configuration commands supported

Command supported by Ansible modules on remote

Remote system commands supported should include at least:

• cat to crontab, /etc/fstab, and authorized_keys
• pip
• cd
• mkdir
• rm and rm -rf
• apt-get update, apt-get upgrade, apt-get dist-upgrade
• apt-get install
• mount
• curl https://... | sh should be supported to prime installation of essential tools:
  • Stack
  • HomeBrew
  • Nix

On local

• scp

Package management functionality on the remote

• npm install, and npm update
• bower install, and bower update
• cp service file to nginx directory
• docker run, and docker exec
• brew install and brew cask install should install respective packages
• mas install should install MacOS-X Apple Store CLi with brew and then run command

Additional package management options

• --git <directory> option should visit all (direct) subdirectories of a given directory, and add commands to clone them on the new machine (in same directory relative to $HOME, example directory input/git)
• --brew option should run brew list to list installed packages, and use Homebrew module in Ansible to install them (example file: input/mac/brew.list)
• --mas option should run mas list command to list installed Mac App Store apps and install them with mas install $APPID (example file: input/mac/mas.list)
• --npm option should list Node packages installed directly (but not their dependencies!), and install them (example file: input/npm.list)

Git building

If Git repo has a build script on the script below, we should automatically build it. In the background, since it may take long time:

• stack.yaml -> stack build
• pier.yaml -> pier build
• default.nix -> nix-shell --pure default.nix

Ideal use case

User should be able to copy his local, and remote .bash_history file, remove unnecessary commands, and run the ansible-gen.py to get fully functional template of ansible script.

Why

A lot of configuration tasks do not require tuning, and are done just a few times. Investing in development of Ansible scripts to run them seems a waste of time.

AWS functionality

We would also like to copy&paste AWS instance config we make in GUI, and then put it into Git repo. Then we want to setup the instance from scratch with the very Ansible script we generate.

[And we already know instance name, so we should be able to pull Amazon config easily, don't we?]

Mac support

https://github.com/maybevoid/maybevoid.com.git

Future Linux support

There will be additional script that performs unattended Linux install before running the generated configuration script.