Vhandlers

Vhandlers is a term used within some software development communities, particularly those working with virtual machine environments or containerization technologies. It refers to a specific type of program or script that handles the management and execution of virtualized environments or containerized applications. The "v" in vhandler typically signifies "virtual" or "VM."

These handlers are designed to interact with the underlying virtualization or containerization platform, such as VMware, VirtualBox, Docker, or Kubernetes. Their primary function is to abstract away the complexities of the platform, allowing developers or administrators to define, deploy, start, stop, and monitor virtual machines or containers using a more user-friendly interface or command set. Vhandlers can automate repetitive tasks, orchestrate the deployment of complex application stacks, and ensure consistent environments across different stages of the development lifecycle.

The implementation of vhandlers can vary significantly. Some might be simple shell scripts that call platform-specific APIs, while others can be sophisticated software agents or services that provide a rich set of features for managing virtual resources. They are often part of larger automation frameworks or Infrastructure as Code (IaC) solutions, enabling users to define their infrastructure in code and have the vhandlers provision and manage it accordingly. The goal is to improve efficiency, reduce errors, and enhance the scalability of operations involving virtualized or containerized systems.