Edit, View & Rekey Vault Files
Manage encrypted content safely.
Edit, View & Rekey Vault Files is a free DevOps Bootcamp lesson on CoddyKit. This is lesson 2 of 4. Any 3 lessons of this learning path are free to read in full — after that, CoddyKit PRO unlocks every lesson, plus hands-on practice with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the DevOps Bootcamp learning path, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app. The DevOps Bootcamp course includes 4 lessons in total.
Living With Encrypted Files
Once a file is vaulted you still need to read it, change it and rotate its password. Vault has a subcommand for each job. 🔧
Never Edit by Hand
Opening the ciphertext in a normal editor only corrupts it. Always go through ansible-vault so it decrypts and re-encrypts for you.
Edit a Vaulted File
The ansible-vault edit command decrypts to a temp file, opens your editor, then re-encrypts on save. The plaintext never touches disk.
ansible-vault edit secrets.ymlView Without Changing
To peek at contents without risking edits, use ansible-vault view. It prints the decrypted text to your terminal.
ansible-vault view secrets.ymlDecrypt to Plaintext
ansible-vault decrypt permanently turns the file back into plaintext on disk. Use it with care, never on a tracked secrets file.
ansible-vault decrypt secrets.ymlRekey: Rotate the Password
When a password leaks or a teammate leaves, ansible-vault rekey swaps the old password for a new one in one step.
ansible-vault rekey secrets.ymlRekey Prompts
Rekey first asks for the current password, then for the new one twice. It re-encrypts the same secrets under the fresh key.
Vault password:
New Vault password:
Confirm New Vault password:Operate on Many Files
Most subcommands accept several files at once, so you can rekey a whole folder of secrets in a single run.
ansible-vault rekey group_vars/all/vault.yml host_vars/db/vault.ymlSkip the Prompt with a File
Tired of typing? Point Vault at a password file so commands run without an interactive prompt.
ansible-vault view secrets.yml --vault-password-file .vault_passConfirm It Is Encrypted
Not sure of a file's state? Just look at the first line. If it shows the $ANSIBLE_VAULT header, it is still encrypted.
head -1 secrets.yml
$ANSIBLE_VAULT;1.1;AES256Re-encrypt After Editing
You never call encrypt again after edit. The edit command always re-encrypts on save, so the file stays locked automatically.
Quick Check
A teammate left the company and knew the vault password.
Recap
You can now edit, view, decrypt and rekey vault files, all without ever leaving plaintext on disk. ✨
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the “Edit, View & Rekey Vault Files” lesson free?
Yes — any 3 lessons of the DevOps Bootcamp learning path, including “Edit, View & Rekey Vault Files”, are free to read in full here on the web. After that, CoddyKit PRO unlocks every lesson, plus interactive practice with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. The DevOps Bootcamp course includes 4 lessons in total.
What will I learn in “Edit, View & Rekey Vault Files”?
Manage encrypted content safely. You practise DevOps Bootcamp with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start DevOps Bootcamp?
No prior experience is required. DevOps Bootcamp on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace. This is lesson 2 of 4.
How long does the “Edit, View & Rekey Vault Files” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this DevOps Bootcamp lesson?
Yes. Every DevOps Bootcamp lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- Encrypt a File with ansible-vault create
- Edit, View & Rekey Vault Files
- Encrypt a Single Variable Inline
- Decrypt at Runtime with --ask-vault-pass