Ansible and Puppet are both open-source software tools that are used to automate the deployment and management of applications and infrastructure. While they have some similarities, there are also some key differences between the two:

• Language: Ansible uses a simple, human-readable language called YAML (Yet Another Markup Language) to describe the tasks that need to be performed. Puppet uses a declarative language that is based on Ruby.
• Deployment model: ansible uses a push-based model, which means that it connects to servers or devices over SSH (Secure Shell) and runs commands on them. Puppet uses a pull-based model, which means that it checks the servers or devices that it is managing at regular intervals to ensure that they are in the desired state.
• Agentless: ansible does not require agents to be installed on the servers or devices that it manages, which makes it easy to get started with and reduces the maintenance overhead of keeping agents up to date. Puppet requires agents to be installed on the servers or devices that it manages.
• Ease of use: ansible is generally considered to be easier to learn and use than Puppet, due to its simpler syntax and push-based model. Puppet’s declarative language and pull-based model can take some time to get used to.

Ultimately, the choice between ansible and Puppet will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Both tools are widely used and have strong communities of users, so you should be able to find the support and resources you need regardless of which one you choose.

We will use each of these in future lab based articles.