A Preview of Ansible Journey in 2024 — Video Tutorial

Introduction Welcome to 2024! In this article, we’ll explore the anticipated releases, community dynamics, and upcoming events in the realm of Ansible, the open-source IT automation platform. I’m Luca Berton, an Ansible Automation Expert, here to provide insights into what the year holds for this dynamic technology. Ansible Overview Ansible, led by Red Hat, is an open-source project integral to IT automation. The Ansible core, serving as the automation engine, powers various releases. The community plays a pivotal role, and transparency is evident through the changelog, illustrating the correspondence between community packages and Ansible core versions. Release Cycle and Events Typically, Ansible witnesses two major releases each year. In 2024, we expect the same pattern: Ansible 2.17 in May and Ansible 2.18 in November. Special attention is given to Ansible 2.9, which is still widely adopted despite reaching end-of-life status, particularly in network devices and special equipment. The first release of 2024 is expected on January 29th, following a December 2023 release addressing a security issue. Community support extends beyond the latest release, Playbooknstrating a commitment to maintaining previous versions. - https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/roadmap/ROADMAP_2_17.html - https://groups.google.com/g/ansible-devel/c/ZMr4uv4TRCY Key Events The first notable event is FOSDEM in Brussels, occurring in February, along with the Configuration Management Camp in Ghent. Additionally, AnsibleFest, hosted in Denver, Colorado, in May, promises an array of sessions and expert insights. The community forum and Ansible Automate Global Tour offer additional avenues for engagement. - https://forum.ansible.com/t/join-us-at-fosdem-and-cfgmgmtcamp-2024/2555 - https://www.redhat.com/en/summit - https://www.redhat.com/en/events/automates?eventlocations=north-america Community Initiatives The Ansible community continues to evolve with the introduction of the Ansible Forum, providing a centralized space for discussions, project contributions, and announcements. Matrix communication and IRC systems facilitate diverse social interactions, while Ansible Community Day events across the globe foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing. - https://forum.ansible.com - https://www.redhat.com/en/technologies/management/ansibleblog/author/the-ansible-community-team Website Revamp A significant development is the overhaul of the Ansible.com website, transitioning to a community-focused platform. Previews showcase a renewed emphasis on the Ansible ecosystem and related projects. The official mailing list, Bullhorn, is promoted for enhanced community engagement. - https://ansible-community-website.readthedocs.io Ansible Automation Platform The commercial counterpart, Ansible Automation Platform, follows a release cycle aligned with the core Ansible releases. Noteworthy is the extended support cycle for Ansible Automation Platform 1.2, incorporating Ans