This document compares the configuration management tools Cfengine, Puppet, and Chef based on their footprint, scalability, documentation, and learning curve. It recommends Puppet for small to mid-scale environments due to its excellent documentation and gentle learning curve. Chef is recommended for mid to large scale environments due to its ability to scale and moderate learning curve. Cfengine is noted as providing job security due to its low footprint but painful learning curve and terrible documentation.

1. Cfengine vs Puppet vs Chef
Ron Toland
SCALE 2013

2. Background

3. Scenario

4. Common Features
● Flexible
● Configuration as Code
● Declarative DSL*
* well, ok, not chef. but let's pretend.

5. Evaluation Criteria
● Footprint
● Scalability
● Documentation
● Learning Curve

6. Cfengine
Footprint: Low

7. Cfengine
Scalability: High

8. Cfengine
Documentation: Terrible

9. Cfengine
Learning Curve: Painful

10. Puppet
Footprint: Ruby

11. Puppet
Scalability: Tricky

12. Puppet
Documentation: Excellent

13. Puppet
Learning Curve: Gentle

14. Chef
Footprint: Ruby + Friends

15. Chef
Scalability: YES

16. Chef
Documentation: Ok

17. Chef
Learning Curve: Moderate

18. Recommendations

19. Small to Mid Scale: Puppet

20. Mid to Large Scale: Chef

21. Job Security: Cfengine

22. Further Reading
● Cfengine: http://cfengine.com/
● Puppet: https://puppetlabs.com/
● Pro Puppet, Turnbull & McCune
● Chef: http://www.opscode.com/chef/