Rex (software)
(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".
| (R)?ex | |
|---|---|
| Developers | Jan Gehring, Ferenc Erki |
| Initial release | 5 November 2010 |
| Stable release | 1.16.1[1] 
/ 5 July 2025 |
| Written in | Perl |
| Operating system | Linux, Unix-like, Windows |
| Type | Configuration management |
| License | Apache |
| Website | rexify.org |
| Repository | |
(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
[edit]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
[edit]
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
[edit]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
[edit]
- Comparison of open-source configuration management software
- Infrastructure as code (IaC)
- Infrastructure as Code Tools
References
[edit]- ^ "Release 1.16.1". 5 July 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ "Using Modules and Templates". Retrieved April 25, 2018.
- ^ "Rex API documentation". Retrieved February 5, 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "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. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2014.