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SPECIFICTION
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cdist

cdi.st

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Spec score 8.6 #6 of 26 in Configuration Management Tools

What it is

cdist is a free, open-source configuration management system that applies a defined state to computers through shell scripts and cdist types. It is positioned as an alternative to Ansible, Chef, and Puppet. Types provide the extension mechanism, and the project says their results are idempotent, so outcomes do not depend on call order. cdist uses push mode: source computers connect to targets over SSH and apply configuration, without requiring a central server or an agent on the target. A target needs a POSIX-compatible shell and SSH server, while the source needs a POSIX-like shell, Python 3.5 or later, and an SSH client. The project lists a small core, standard types, and parallel execution. Installation is documented through Git or pip. Supported systems include Linux distributions, BSD systems, Mac OS X, and XenServer. Manuals are available in HTML and man-page formats, with community help through Matrix and IRC.

Spec sheet

Purpose
cdist is a configuration management system positioned as an alternative to Ansible, Chef, or Puppet.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdi.st
Intended users
The site describes cdist as used in environments ranging from small to enterprise grade.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdi.st
Audience
The maker says cdist is used in environments ranging from small deployments to enterprise grade environments.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdi.st
Integrations
The project publishes a separate cdist-contrib repository for additional types not included in core cdist.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdi.st
Support
The maker offers community help through a Matrix room and an IRC channel, and says commercial support can be requested from ungleich.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdi.st
Architecture
cdist uses push mode, needs no central server, and can be run from any computer.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdi.st
Configuration
cdist is configured in POSIX shell, a language familiar to UNIX system engineers.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdi.st
Core features
The maker lists a small core, standard types, parallel execution, and no central server among cdist’s features.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdi.st
Deployment model
cdist uses a push model in which one or more source computers connect to target hosts and apply configuration.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdi.st
Documentation
The project provides manuals in HTML and man-page formats, including documentation for community-maintained contrib types.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdi.st
Extensibility
Types are cdist’s extension mechanism, and type and core are kept separate.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdi.st
Idempotence
The maker says results from cdist types are idempotent, so their outcome does not depend on the order in which the types are called.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdi.st
Idempotency
The site says cdist types make configuration results idempotent.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdi.st
Installation
cdist can be installed from Git or as a Python package using pip install cdist.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdi.st
Operating systems
The documentation lists Linux distributions, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Mac OS X, and XenServer among systems cdist was tested or known to run on.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdi.st
Remote requirements
Target hosts need only a POSIX-like shell and an SSH server.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdi.st
Source requirements
The source host needs a POSIX-like shell, Python 3.5 or later, and an SSH client; Sphinx is needed to build documentation.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdi.st
Source verification
The installation guide describes verifying signed source archives with GPG and provides a signing public key.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdi.st
Supported systems
The maker’s supported operating systems list includes Linux distributions and BSD systems, as well as Mac OS X and XenServer.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdi.st
Target requirements
A target host needs a POSIX-compatible shell and an SSH server; cdist says it does not require an agent or an extra open port.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdi.st
Transport and security
cdist uses SSH as its transport protocol, and its push model means target hosts do not need to connect back to the source host.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdi.st

Plans and prices

cdist Free No paid plans or usage limits stated Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdi.st

Every cdist plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free and open source
  • Agentless push model over SSH
  • Idempotent configuration types
  • No central server required
  • Parallel execution supported

Limits

  • Targets require POSIX shell and SSH
  • Sources require Python 3.5 or later
  • No paid plan or usage limits stated

Who it suits

cdist suits administrators managing Linux, BSD, macOS, or XenServer hosts with shell and SSH access. It can fit deployments ranging from small environments to enterprise-grade setups.

Verdict

cdist offers a lightweight, agentless approach to configuration management using shell-based types and SSH push deployment. Its requirements are concentrated on POSIX shells, Python on the source, and SSH connectivity.

Where Specifiction places it

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