Ansible Vs Shell script
Ansible and shell scripts are both tools for automating tasks on servers or other machines. However, they have some key differences that make them suitable for different use cases. Here are some of the main differences:
Ansible is a configuration management tool, which means it can ensure that the state of a system matches a desired specification. For example, Ansible can install packages, create files, modify configuration files, start or stop services, etc. Ansible uses a declarative syntax, which means you specify what you want to achieve, not how to achieve it. Ansible is also idempotent, which means it can be safely run multiple times and it will only make changes if necessary.
Shell scripts are command-line tools, which means they can execute any command that you can type in a terminal. For example, shell scripts can run programs, copy files, perform calculations, etc. Shell scripts use an imperative syntax, which means you specify how to perform each step of the task. Shell scripts are not idempotent, which means they may have different effects depending on the initial state of the system.
Some of the use cases for Ansible are:
Managing multiple servers or machines in a consistent and scalable way.
Deploying applications or services to different environments (e.g., development, testing, production).
Automating common or repetitive tasks (e.g., backup, security updates, monitoring).
Orchestrating complex workflows or processes (e.g., rolling updates, load balancing, failover).
Some of the use cases for shell scripts are:
Performing simple or one-time tasks on a single machine or a small number of machines.
Writing custom logic or functionality that is not supported by Ansible or other tools.
Testing or debugging commands or programs interactively.
Integrating with other tools or systems that use shell commands as inputs or outputs.
We need both Ansible and shell scripts because they complement each other and have different strengths and weaknesses. Ansible is more powerful and easier to maintain for large-scale or complex automation scenarios, but it also has a learning curve and requires some setup and configuration. Shell scripts are more flexible and convenient for small-scale or simple automation scenarios, but they also have more potential for errors and inconsistencies.
Only using Ansible may not be enough for some cases where you need more control or customization over the commands or programs you want to run. For example, if you want to write a script that performs some calculations based on the output of another program, you may find it easier to do it in shell than in Ansible. However, you can also use Ansible to call shell scripts as part of your playbook, so you can combine the best of both worlds.
Useful link:-- https://hvops.com/articles/ansible-vs-shell-scripts/