mirror of https://github.com/ansible/ansible.git
You cannot select more than 25 topics
Topics must start with a letter or number, can include dashes ('-') and can be up to 35 characters long.
350 lines
15 KiB
ReStructuredText
350 lines
15 KiB
ReStructuredText
|
|
.. _developing_collections:
|
|
|
|
**********************
|
|
Developing collections
|
|
**********************
|
|
|
|
|
|
Collections are a distribution format for Ansible content. You can use collections to package and distribute playbooks, roles, modules, and plugins.
|
|
You can publish and use collections through `Ansible Galaxy <https://galaxy.ansible.com>`_.
|
|
|
|
.. contents::
|
|
:local:
|
|
:depth: 2
|
|
|
|
.. _collection_structure:
|
|
|
|
Collection structure
|
|
====================
|
|
|
|
Collections follow a simple data structure. None of the directories are required unless you have specific content that belongs in one of them. A collection does require a ``galaxy.yml`` file at the root level of the collection. This file contains all of the metadata that Galaxy
|
|
and other tools need in order to package, build and publish the collection::
|
|
|
|
collection/
|
|
├── docs/
|
|
├── galaxy.yml
|
|
├── plugins/
|
|
│ ├── modules/
|
|
│ │ └── module1.py
|
|
│ ├── inventory/
|
|
│ └── .../
|
|
├── README.md
|
|
├── roles/
|
|
│ ├── role1/
|
|
│ ├── role2/
|
|
│ └── .../
|
|
├── playbooks/
|
|
│ ├── files/
|
|
│ ├── vars/
|
|
│ ├── templates/
|
|
│ └── tasks/
|
|
└── tests/
|
|
|
|
|
|
.. note::
|
|
* Ansible only accepts ``.yml`` extensions for :file:`galaxy.yml`, and ``.md`` for the :file:`README` file and any files in the :file:`/docs` folder.
|
|
* See the `draft collection <https://github.com/bcoca/collection>`_ for an example of a full collection structure.
|
|
* Not all directories are currently in use. Those are placeholders for future features.
|
|
|
|
.. _galaxy_yml:
|
|
|
|
galaxy.yml
|
|
----------
|
|
|
|
A collection must have a ``galaxy.yml`` file that contains the necessary information to build a collection artifact.
|
|
See :ref:`collections_galaxy_meta` for details.
|
|
|
|
.. _collections_doc_dir:
|
|
|
|
docs directory
|
|
---------------
|
|
|
|
Put general documentation for the collection here. Keep the specific documentation for plugins and modules embedded as Python docstrings. Use the ``docs`` folder to describe how to use the roles and plugins the collection provides, role requirements, and so on. Use markdown and do not add subfolders.
|
|
|
|
Use ``ansible-doc`` to view documentation for plugins inside a collection:
|
|
|
|
.. code-block:: bash
|
|
|
|
ansible-doc -t lookup my_namespace.my_collection.lookup1
|
|
|
|
The ``ansible-doc`` command requires the fully qualified collection name (FQCN) to display specific plugin documentation. In this example, ``my_namespace`` is the namespace and ``my_collection`` is the collection name within that namespace.
|
|
|
|
.. note:: The Ansible collection namespace is defined in the ``galaxy.yml`` file and is not equivalent to the GitHub repository name.
|
|
|
|
.. _collections_plugin_dir:
|
|
|
|
plugins directory
|
|
------------------
|
|
|
|
Add a 'per plugin type' specific subdirectory here, including ``module_utils`` which is usable not only by modules, but by most plugins by using their FQCN. This is a way to distribute modules, lookups, filters, and so on, without having to import a role in every play.
|
|
|
|
Vars plugins are unsupported in collections. Cache plugins may be used in collections for fact caching, but are not supported for inventory plugins.
|
|
|
|
module_utils
|
|
^^^^^^^^^^^^
|
|
|
|
When coding with ``module_utils`` in a collection, the Python ``import`` statement needs to take into account the FQCN along with the ``ansible_collections`` convention. The resulting Python import will look like ``from ansible_collections.{namespace}.{collection}.plugins.module_utils.{util} import {something}``
|
|
|
|
The following example snippets show a Python and PowerShell module using both default Ansible ``module_utils`` and
|
|
those provided by a collection. In this example the namespace is ``ansible_example``, the collection is ``community``.
|
|
In the Python example the ``module_util`` in question is called ``qradar`` such that the FQCN is
|
|
``ansible_example.community.plugins.module_utils.qradar``:
|
|
|
|
.. code-block:: python
|
|
|
|
from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
|
|
from ansible.module_utils._text import to_text
|
|
|
|
from ansible.module_utils.six.moves.urllib.parse import urlencode, quote_plus
|
|
from ansible.module_utils.six.moves.urllib.error import HTTPError
|
|
from ansible_collections.ansible_example.community.plugins.module_utils.qradar import QRadarRequest
|
|
|
|
argspec = dict(
|
|
name=dict(required=True, type='str'),
|
|
state=dict(choices=['present', 'absent'], required=True),
|
|
)
|
|
|
|
module = AnsibleModule(
|
|
argument_spec=argspec,
|
|
supports_check_mode=True
|
|
)
|
|
|
|
qradar_request = QRadarRequest(
|
|
module,
|
|
headers={"Content-Type": "application/json"},
|
|
not_rest_data_keys=['state']
|
|
)
|
|
|
|
Note that importing something from an ``__init__.py`` file requires using the file name:
|
|
|
|
.. code-block:: python
|
|
|
|
from ansible_collections.namespace.collection_name.plugins.callback.__init__ import CustomBaseClass
|
|
|
|
In the PowerShell example the ``module_util`` in question is called ``hyperv`` such that the FCQN is
|
|
``ansible_example.community.plugins.module_utils.hyperv``:
|
|
|
|
.. code-block:: powershell
|
|
|
|
#!powershell
|
|
#AnsibleRequires -CSharpUtil Ansible.Basic
|
|
#AnsibleRequires -PowerShell ansible_collections.ansible_example.community.plugins.module_utils.hyperv
|
|
|
|
$spec = @{
|
|
name = @{ required = $true; type = "str" }
|
|
state = @{ required = $true; choices = @("present", "absent") }
|
|
}
|
|
$module = [Ansible.Basic.AnsibleModule]::Create($args, $spec)
|
|
|
|
Invoke-HyperVFunction -Name $module.Params.name
|
|
|
|
$module.ExitJson()
|
|
|
|
.. _collections_roles_dir:
|
|
|
|
roles directory
|
|
----------------
|
|
|
|
Collection roles are mostly the same as existing roles, but with a couple of limitations:
|
|
|
|
- Role names are now limited to contain only lowercase alphanumeric characters, plus ``_`` and start with an alpha character.
|
|
- Roles in a collection cannot contain plugins any more. Plugins must live in the collection ``plugins`` directory tree. Each plugin is accessible to all roles in the collection.
|
|
|
|
The directory name of the role is used as the role name. Therefore, the directory name must comply with the
|
|
above role name rules.
|
|
The collection import into Galaxy will fail if a role name does not comply with these rules.
|
|
|
|
You can migrate 'traditional roles' into a collection but they must follow the rules above. You man need to rename roles if they don't conform. You will have to move or link any role-based plugins to the collection specific directories.
|
|
|
|
.. note::
|
|
|
|
For roles imported into Galaxy directly from a GitHub repository, setting the ``role_name`` value in the role's
|
|
metadata overrides the role name used by Galaxy. For collections, that value is ignored. When importing a
|
|
collection, Galaxy uses the role directory as the name of the role and ignores the ``role_name`` metadata value.
|
|
|
|
playbooks directory
|
|
--------------------
|
|
|
|
TBD.
|
|
|
|
tests directory
|
|
----------------
|
|
|
|
TBD. Expect tests for the collection itself to reside here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
.. _creating_collections:
|
|
|
|
Creating collections
|
|
======================
|
|
|
|
To create a collection:
|
|
|
|
#. Initialize a collection with :ref:`ansible-galaxy collection init<creating_collections_skeleton>` to create the skeleton directory structure.
|
|
#. Add your content to the collection.
|
|
#. Build the collection into a collection artifact with :ref:`ansible-galaxy collection build<building_collections>`.
|
|
#. Publish the collection artifact to Galaxy with :ref:`ansible-galaxy collection publish<publishing_collections>`.
|
|
|
|
A user can then install your collection on their systems.
|
|
|
|
Currently the ``ansible-galaxy collection`` command implements the following sub commands:
|
|
|
|
* ``init``: Create a basic collection skeleton based on the default template included with Ansible or your own template.
|
|
* ``build``: Create a collection artifact that can be uploaded to Galaxy or your own repository.
|
|
* ``publish``: Publish a built collection artifact to Galaxy.
|
|
* ``install``: Install one or more collections.
|
|
|
|
To learn more about the ``ansible-galaxy`` cli tool, see the :ref:`ansible-galaxy` man page.
|
|
|
|
.. _creating_collections_skeleton:
|
|
|
|
Creating a collection skeleton
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
To start a new collection:
|
|
|
|
.. code-block:: bash
|
|
|
|
collection_dir#> ansible-galaxy collection init my_namespace.my_collection
|
|
|
|
Then you can populate the directories with the content you want inside the collection. See
|
|
https://github.com/bcoca/collection to get a better idea of what you can place inside a collection.
|
|
|
|
|
|
.. _building_collections:
|
|
|
|
Building collections
|
|
--------------------
|
|
|
|
To build a collection, run ``ansible-galaxy collection build`` from inside the root directory of the collection:
|
|
|
|
.. code-block:: bash
|
|
|
|
collection_dir#> ansible-galaxy collection build
|
|
|
|
This creates
|
|
a tarball of the built collection in the current directory which can be uploaded to Galaxy.::
|
|
|
|
my_collection/
|
|
├── galaxy.yml
|
|
├── ...
|
|
├── my_namespace-my_collection-1.0.0.tar.gz
|
|
└── ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
.. note::
|
|
* Certain files and folders are excluded when building the collection artifact. This is not currently configurable and is a work in progress so the collection artifact may contain files you would not wish to distribute.
|
|
* If you used the now-deprecated ``Mazer`` tool for any of your collections, delete any and all files it added to your :file:`releases/` directory before you build your collection with ``ansible-galaxy``.
|
|
* You must also delete the :file:`tests/output` directory if you have been testing with ``ansible-test``.
|
|
* The current Galaxy maximum tarball size is 2 MB.
|
|
|
|
|
|
This tarball is mainly intended to upload to Galaxy
|
|
as a distribution method, but you can use it directly to install the collection on target systems.
|
|
|
|
.. _trying_collection_locally:
|
|
|
|
Trying collection locally
|
|
-------------------------
|
|
|
|
You can try your collection locally by installing it from the tarball. The following will enable an adjacent playbook to
|
|
access the collection:
|
|
|
|
.. code-block:: bash
|
|
|
|
ansible-galaxy collection install my_namespace-my_collection-1.0.0.tar.gz -p ./collections
|
|
|
|
|
|
You should use one of the values configured in :ref:`COLLECTIONS_PATHS` for your path. This is also where Ansible itself will
|
|
expect to find collections when attempting to use them. If you don't specify a path value, ``ansible-galaxy collection install``
|
|
installs the collection in the first path defined in :ref:`COLLECTIONS_PATHS`, which by default is ``~/.ansible/collections``.
|
|
|
|
Next, try using the local collection inside a playbook. For examples and more details see :ref:`Using collections <using_collections>`
|
|
|
|
.. _publishing_collections:
|
|
|
|
Publishing collections
|
|
----------------------
|
|
|
|
You can publish collections to Galaxy using the ``ansible-galaxy collection publish`` command or the Galaxy UI itself.
|
|
|
|
.. note:: Once you upload a version of a collection, you cannot delete or modify that version. Ensure that everything looks okay before you upload it.
|
|
|
|
.. _upload_collection_ansible_galaxy:
|
|
|
|
Upload using ansible-galaxy
|
|
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|
|
|
|
To upload the collection artifact with the ``ansible-galaxy`` command:
|
|
|
|
.. code-block:: bash
|
|
|
|
ansible-galaxy collection publish path/to/my_namespace-my_collection-1.0.0.tar.gz --api-key=SECRET
|
|
|
|
The above command triggers an import process, just as if you uploaded the collection through the Galaxy website.
|
|
The command waits until the import process completes before reporting the status back. If you wish to continue
|
|
without waiting for the import result, use the ``--no-wait`` argument and manually look at the import progress in your
|
|
`My Imports <https://galaxy.ansible.com/my-imports/>`_ page.
|
|
|
|
The API key is a secret token used by Ansible Galaxy to protect your content. You can find your API key at your
|
|
`Galaxy profile preferences <https://galaxy.ansible.com/me/preferences>`_ page.
|
|
|
|
.. _upload_collection_galaxy:
|
|
|
|
Upload a collection from the Galaxy website
|
|
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|
|
|
|
To upload your collection artifact directly on Galaxy:
|
|
|
|
#. Go to the `My Content <https://galaxy.ansible.com/my-content/namespaces>`_ page, and click the **Add Content** button on one of your namespaces.
|
|
#. From the **Add Content** dialogue, click **Upload New Collection**, and select the collection archive file from your local filesystem.
|
|
|
|
When uploading collections it doesn't matter which namespace you select. The collection will be uploaded to the
|
|
namespace specified in the collection metadata in the ``galaxy.yml`` file. If you're not an owner of the
|
|
namespace, the upload request will fail.
|
|
|
|
Once Galaxy uploads and accepts a collection, you will be redirected to the **My Imports** page, which displays output from the
|
|
import process, including any errors or warnings about the metadata and content contained in the collection.
|
|
|
|
.. _collection_versions:
|
|
|
|
Collection versions
|
|
-------------------
|
|
|
|
Once you upload a version of a collection, you cannot delete or modify that version. Ensure that everything looks okay before
|
|
uploading. The only way to change a collection is to release a new version. The latest version of a collection (by highest version number)
|
|
will be the version displayed everywhere in Galaxy; however, users will still be able to download older versions.
|
|
|
|
Collection versions use `Sematic Versioning <https://semver.org/>`_ for version numbers. Please read the official documentation for details and examples. In summary:
|
|
|
|
* Increment major (for example: x in `x.y.z`) version number for an incompatible API change.
|
|
* Increment minor (for example: y in `x.y.z`) version number for new functionality in a backwards compatible manner.
|
|
* Increment patch (for example: z in `x.y.z`) version number for backwards compatible bug fixes.
|
|
|
|
.. _migrate_to_collection:
|
|
|
|
Migrating Ansible content to a collection
|
|
=========================================
|
|
|
|
You can experiment with migrating existing modules into a collection using the `content_collector tool <https://github.com/ansible/content_collector>`_. The ``content_collector`` is a playbook that helps you migrate content from an Ansible distribution into a collection.
|
|
|
|
.. warning::
|
|
|
|
This tool is in active development and is provided only for experimentation and feedback at this point.
|
|
|
|
See the `content_collector README <https://github.com/ansible/content_collector>`_ for full details and usage guidelines.
|
|
|
|
.. seealso::
|
|
|
|
:ref:`collections`
|
|
Learn how to install and use collections.
|
|
:ref:`collections_galaxy_meta`
|
|
Understand the collections metadata structure.
|
|
:ref:`developing_modules_general`
|
|
Learn about how to write Ansible modules
|
|
`Mailing List <https://groups.google.com/group/ansible-devel>`_
|
|
The development mailing list
|
|
`irc.freenode.net <http://irc.freenode.net>`_
|
|
#ansible IRC chat channel
|