Chapter 1. Introduction to Ansible content navigator
As a content creator, you can use Automation content navigator to develop Ansible playbooks, collections, and roles that are compatible with the Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform. You can use Automation content navigator in the following environments, with seamless and predictable results across them all:
- Local development machines
- Automation execution environments
Automation content navigator also produces an artifact file you can use to help you develop your playbooks and troubleshoot problem areas.
1.2. Automation content navigator modes
Automation content navigator operates in two modes:
- stdout mode
- Accepts most of the existing Ansible commands and extensions at the command line.
- text-based user interface mode
- Provides an interactive, text-based interface to the Ansible commands. Use this mode to evaluate content, run playbooks, and troubleshoot playbooks after they run using artifact files.
1.2.1. stdout mode
Use the -m stdout subcommand with Automation content navigator to use the familiar Ansible commands, such as ansible-playbook within automation execution environments or on your local development environment. You can use commands you are familiar with for quick tasks.
Automation content navigator also provides extensive help in this mode:
--help-
Accessible from
ansible-navigatorcommand or from any subcommand, such asansible-navigator config --help. - subcommand help
-
Accessible from the subcommand, for example
ansible-navigator config --help-config. This help displays the details of all the parameters supported from the related Ansible command.
1.2.2. Text-based user interface mode
The text-based user interface mode provides enhanced interaction with automation execution environments, collections, playbooks, and inventory. This mode is compatible with integrated development environments (IDE), such as Visual Studio Code.
This mode includes a number of helpful user interface options:
- colon commands
-
You can access all the Automation content navigator commands with a colon, such as
:runor:collections - navigating the text-based interface
-
The screen shows how to page up or down, scroll, escape to a prior screen or access
:help. - output by line number
-
You can access any line number in the displayed output by preceding it with a colon, for example
:12. - color-coded output
- With colors enabled, Automation content navigator displays items, such as deprecated modules, in red.
- pagination and scrolling
- You can page up or down, scroll, or escape by using the options displayed at the bottom of each Automation content navigator screen.
You cannot switch between modes after Automation content navigator is running.
This document uses the text-based user interface mode for most procedures.
