Rex (software)
Developer(s) | Jan Gehring, Ferenc Erki |
---|---|
Initial release | 5 November 2010 |
Stable release |
1.4.1 [1]
/ 16 July 2016 |
Written in | Perl |
Operating system | Linux, Unix-like, Windows |
Type | Configuration management |
License | Apache |
Website |
rexify |
(R)?ex or simply Rex is an open source remote execution, configuration management and software deployment tool. It combines Perl and Secure Shell (SSH) for a portable, centralistic approach to its problem domain.
Rex is an acronym for "Remote Execution".
History
Rex originated from the need of a flexible, parallel remote execution application with software deployment and configuration management capabilities. Unsatisfied with available implementations in 2010, the author of Rex, Jan Gehring, decided to implement a Perl based tool to cope with his requirements.
Design
![](../I/m/Rex_configuration_management%2C_example_run.png)
Rex is a stand-alone application executing either a single command or so-called tasks. Tasks are specified on the command line and are defined in Rexfiles. A Rexfile takes a similar role for remote execution as a Makefile does for application installation. It is defined via a small DSL, but is essentially a Perl script. Therefore, it can contain arbitrary Perl as well.
For code reuse, configuration instructions are placed in modules which can be included by a Rexfile. A template system for configuration files is available.[2]
For Rex to be able to work, the managed targets must provide a running SSH server and a Perl 5 interpreter.
Rex serves a variety of applications. Examples are user & group, cron, filesystem, kernel module, process and virtual machine management.[3]
Public recognition
Rex is discussed on conferences and in related press releases. [4] [5]
It was voted under the Best Open Source solutions 2013 by Initiative Mittelstand.[6]
See also
References
- ↑ Github changelog
- ↑ "Rex Howtos - Using Modules and Templates". Retrieved February 4, 2014.
- ↑ "Rex API documentation". Retrieved February 5, 2014.
- ↑ "Rex - Deployment and Configuration Management". YAPC::Europe 2013 “Future Perl”. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
- ↑ "King of Computers: Managing Computers with Rex". Admin Magazine. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
- ↑ "IT-Bestenliste, Open Source, (R)?ex". Initiative Mittelstand. Retrieved January 28, 2014.