2013-06-21 14:46:38 -04:00
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---
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layout: "intro"
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page_title: "Use Cases"
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prev_url: "/intro/why.html"
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2013-06-21 15:18:29 -04:00
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next_url: "/intro/platforms.html"
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next_title: "Supported Platforms"
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2013-06-21 14:46:38 -04:00
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---
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# Use Cases
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By now you should know what Packer does and what the benefits of image
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creation are. In this section, we'll enumerate _some_ of the use cases
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for Packer. Note that this is not an exhaustive list by any means. There are
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definitely use cases for Packer not listed here. This list is just meant
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to give you an idea of how Packer may improve your processes.
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### Continuous Delivery
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Packer is lightweight, portable, and command-line driven. This makes it the
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perfect tool to put in the middle of your continuous delivery pipeline. Packer
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can be used to generate new machine images for multiple platforms on every
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change to Chef/Puppet.
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As part of this pipeline, the newly created images can then be launched and
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tested, verifying the infrastructure changes work. If the tests pass, you can
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be confident that that image will work when deployed. This brings a new level
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of stability and testability to infrastructure changes.
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### Dev/Prod Parity
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Packer helps [keep development, staging, and production as similar as possible](http://www.12factor.net/dev-prod-parity).
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Packer can be used to generate images for multiple platforms at the same time.
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So if you use AWS for production and VMware (perhaps with [Vagrant](http://www.vagrantup.com))
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for development, you can generate both an AMI and a VMware machine using
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Packer at the same time from the same template.
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2013-11-07 21:22:25 -05:00
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Mix this in with the continuous delivery use case above, and you have a pretty
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slick system for consistent work environments from development all the
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way through to production.
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### Appliance/Demo Creation
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Since Packer creates consistent images for multiple platforms in parallel,
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it is perfect for creating [appliances](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_appliance)
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and disposable product demos. As your software changes, you can automatically
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2013-07-28 10:49:03 -04:00
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create appliances with the software pre-installed. Potential users can then
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2013-06-21 14:46:38 -04:00
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get started with your software by deploying it to the environment of their
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choice.
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Packaging up software with complex requirements has never been so easy.
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Or enjoyable, if you ask me.
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