====== Orchestration ====== [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:start|Go up to Terms and Definitions]] ===== Discussion ===== Orchestration is the coordinated control of multiple tools, services, processes, resources, or lifecycle activities to produce a defined result. An orchestration process determines the sequence, dependencies, inputs, outputs, conditions, error handling, and handoffs among participating components. Orchestration differs from executing a single tool or command. It coordinates several specialized mechanisms while preserving the relationships and controls required by the overall process. Within Crucible, the Forge command-line utility orchestrates source retrieval, image building, compliance assessment, image upload, platform initialization, infrastructure deployment, provisioning, verification, evidence generation, and teardown. ===== Definition ===== //coordinated control of multiple tools, services, processes, resources, or lifecycle activities to produce a defined result// ===== Source ===== Generalized from distributed systems, workflow automation, cloud computing, platform engineering, and software-delivery usage and specialized for the Crucible architecture and operational model. ===== Note ===== Orchestration does not require a long-running central service. A command-line utility, pipeline engine, workflow system, or other controller may perform orchestration. Orchestration coordinates participating mechanisms but does not replace their specialized functions or responsibilities. ===== Example ===== Crucible orchestrates Packer, QEMU, Ansible, OpenSCAP, OpenTofu, and provider tools to build, scan, upload, deploy, verify, and remove a compliant platform. ---- © 2026 Dido Solutions, Inc. and Jackrabbit Consulting, Inc.