Getting Started

This page walks you from a fresh install to your first successful task. Each step links to the page with the details.

From zero to first task

Install Semaphore with your preferred method: Installation.
Log in with the admin user you created during setup, or via the SEMAPHORE_ADMIN_* variables in Docker.
Create a project. A project isolates teams, infrastructures, or applications from each other: Projects.
Connect what your automation needs:
- Source code with playbooks, modules, or scripts: Repositories.
- SSH keys, tokens, and passwords: Key Store.
- Target hosts and connection settings: Inventory.
- Reusable variables: Variable Groups.
Create a task template and run it. Pick the guide for your tool: Ansible, Terraform/OpenTofu, Shell, PowerShell, or Python. Then run and watch it: Tasks.
Automate and operationalize:
- Run on a schedule: Schedules.
- Control who can do what: Teams and custom roles.
- Get alerted on results: Notifications.

These terms appear everywhere in the UI.

Term	Meaning
Project	The main unit of separation. Each project has its own repositories, keys, inventories, templates, and team. Projects
Repository	A Git repository or local path where playbooks, modules, or scripts live. Repositories
Inventory	Hosts, groups, and connection settings for Ansible-style runs. Inventory
Variable Group	Reusable variables and environment configuration, also called Environment. Variable Groups
Key Store	Encrypted credentials such as SSH keys, tokens, and passwords. Key Store
Task Template	The definition of a run: app, repository, inventory, variables, and options. Task Templates
Task	A single execution of a template, with its log and status. Tasks
Workflow	A graph of templates with branching, approvals, and delays. Pro feature. Workflows
Runner	Where tasks execute: the server itself or a remote runner. Runners