Learn CHEF with Real Code Examples

Infrastructure as code (IaC) to manage servers programmatically.

Declarative configuration using Ruby-based DSL (recipes, cookbooks).

Automates provisioning, deployment, and configuration.

Supports multiple platforms: Linux, Windows, cloud providers.

Integrates with CI/CD pipelines for continuous delivery.

Chef Client - runs on nodes to enforce desired state

Chef Server - central repository for cookbooks, roles, and nodes

Cookbooks and Recipes - configuration scripts

Resources and Providers - declarative components for state management

Knife CLI - command-line tool for infrastructure management

Node - a managed server or machine

Cookbook - collection of configuration recipes

Recipe - instructions to configure a resource

Resource - declarative definition of system state

Role/Environment - define node attributes and policies

cookbooks/ - main directory for recipes

recipes/ - individual configuration files

templates/ - configuration templates

attributes/ - define configurable variables

roles/ and environments/ - define node policies

Write recipes and organize into cookbooks

Test locally using Chef Workstation and Test Kitchen

Upload cookbooks to Chef Server

Bootstrap nodes with desired configurations

Monitor and update configurations continuously

Beginner: configure single server with basic packages

Intermediate: multi-node web application deployment

Advanced: hybrid cloud infrastructure management

Expert: continuous delivery with compliance enforcement

Architect: enterprise-scale automated infrastructure management

Chef vs Puppet: Chef uses Ruby DSL, Puppet uses declarative manifests.

Chef vs Ansible: Chef is client-server, Ansible is agentless.

Chef vs SaltStack: Chef emphasizes recipes, SaltStack focuses on remote execution.

Chef vs Terraform: Chef configures systems, Terraform provisions infrastructure.

Chef vs Bash scripts: Chef ensures idempotency and maintainability.

2008 - Chef founded by Adam Jacob

2009 - Initial public release

2010 - Knife CLI introduced

2011 - Chef Server released

2012 - Community cookbooks and Supermarket launched

2015 - Chef Automate introduced

2016 - Windows support enhanced

2018 - InSpec integration for compliance

2021 - Improved Chef Infra Client performance

2025 - Current stable platform with cloud and automation enhancements

Node - server managed by Chef

Cookbook - reusable configuration package

Recipe - set of resources to enforce state

Resource - declarative configuration unit

Environment - defines node attributes and policies