Vagrantfile describes the virtual machine and also how to configure and provision the machine. There is one Vagrantfile for each project and it is an asset that can and should be committed into source control. This file will then be available for the team members to download and create environments that are identical with each other.
Upon issuing a ‘vagrant up’ command it will setup the machine as described in the Vagrantfile. Vagrantfile uses the Ruby language for its definition, a working knowledge of Ruby is beneficial however it is not necessary as most changes require simple variable assignment changes.
Vagrantfile loading order – Loading & Merging
Like most environments Vagrant allows for variable definitions at different levels. These are loaded in a specific order and merged (aka overridden) along the way, allowing for varying levels of specificity at the project level and also define generic setting defined at the system level.
The following defines the order of loading of Vagrantfile, if a Vagrantfile is not defined in a specific location below Vagrant continues to the next step.
- Vagrantfile from the gem directory
- Vagrantfile that comes packaged with the box
- Vagrantfile in the Vagrant home directory (~/.vagrant.d)
- Vagrantfile from the project directory
- Multi-machine overrides if defined. (Configurations where a single Vagrantfile defines multiple guest machines where the virtual machines work together or are associated with each other)
- Provider-specific overrides if defined (Configuration options defined by providers to expose distinct functionality that is applicable to the provider)
