diff --git a/inventories/group_vars/pi.yml b/inventories/group_vars/pi.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9fcd8c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/inventories/group_vars/pi.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+install_packages:
+  - vim
+  - bc
+  - netcat
+  - curl
+  - wget
+  - telnet
+...
diff --git a/inventories/group_vars/seboto.yml b/inventories/group_vars/seboto.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9fcd8c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/inventories/group_vars/seboto.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+install_packages:
+  - vim
+  - bc
+  - netcat
+  - curl
+  - wget
+  - telnet
+...
diff --git a/playbooks/packages.yml b/playbooks/packages.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..08dd716
--- /dev/null
+++ b/playbooks/packages.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+- name: Manage Packages
+  hosts: all
+  remote_user: root
+  roles:
+    - packages
+...
diff --git a/roles/packages/.travis.yml b/roles/packages/.travis.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..129928c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/packages/.travis.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+services: docker
+
+env:
+- distro: centos7
+- distro: centos6
+- distro: fedora27
+- distro: ubuntu1710
+- distro: ubuntu1604
+- distro: ubuntu1404
+
+script:
+  # Configure test script so we can run extra tests after playbook is run.
+  - export container_id=$(date +%s)
+  - export cleanup=false
+
+  # Download test shim.
+  - wget -O ${PWD}/tests/test.sh https://gist.github.com/brentwg/64f90bdda32a51360f71558d3171fcbb/raw/
+  - chmod +x ${PWD}/tests/test.sh
+
+  # Run tests.
+  - ${PWD}/tests/test.sh
+
+notifications:
+  webhooks: https://galaxy.ansible.com/api/v1/notifications/
+
diff --git a/roles/packages/README.md b/roles/packages/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e79a26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/packages/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+# Ansible Role: Packages
+
+[![Build Status](https://travis-ci.org/brentwg/ansible-role-packages.svg?branch=master)](https://travis-ci.org/brentwg/ansible-role-packages)
+
+A simple Ansible role used to install, remove, and update distrobution base repository software packages.  
+
+(No feature currently exists for enabling additional, third-party repositories.)  
+
+## Requirements  
+Ansible minimum version: 2.4  
+
+## Role Variables  
+Available default values are listed below (See `defaults/main.yml`):  
+```
+# for software package updates
+install_all_package_updates: true
+
+# list of packages to install
+install_packages: []
+
+# list of packages to remove
+remove_packages: []
+
+# list of packages to update
+update_packages: []
+
+```  
+Set `install_all_package_updates` to `true` to enable the automated installation of all software package updates. Set it to `false` to disable all updates.  
+
+`install_packages`, `remove_packages`, and `update_packages` expect to receive a list of package names that are specific to whichever Linux distribution you are running.  
+
+**NOTE**: If you've already set `install_all_package_updates` to `true`, then there is naturally no requirement to redundantly list additional packages in `update_packages`; however, program logic would still allow this (since there is *probably* no harm done).  
+## Dependencies  
+None.  
+
+## Example Playbook
+```
+- hosts: all
+
+  vars:
+    install_all_package_updates: true
+    install_packages:
+    - vim-enhanced
+    
+  roles:
+    - brentwg.packages
+```
diff --git a/roles/packages/defaults/main.yml b/roles/packages/defaults/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..31334fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/packages/defaults/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+---
+# for software package updates
+install_all_package_updates: true
+
+# list of packages to install
+install_packages: []
+
+# list of packages to remove
+remove_packages: []
+
+# list of packages to update
+update_packages: []
+
diff --git a/roles/packages/meta/main.yml b/roles/packages/meta/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1ef65cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/packages/meta/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+---
+dependencies: []
+
+galaxy_info:
+  author: brentwg
+  description: A simple Ansible role used to install and update software packages.
+  company: "None"
+  license: "None"
+  min_ansible_version: 2.4
+  platforms:
+  - name: EL
+    versions:
+      - 6
+      - 7
+  - name: Fedora
+    versions:
+      - 26
+  - name: Ubuntu
+    versions:
+      - artful
+      - xenial
+      - trusty
+  galaxy_tags:
+  - system
+  - packages
+  - install
+  - remove
+  - updates
diff --git a/roles/packages/tasks/install-package-updates.yml b/roles/packages/tasks/install-package-updates.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7fd27f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/packages/tasks/install-package-updates.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+---
+- name: "Working around an Ansible/Aptitude issue..."
+  apt:
+    pkg: aptitude
+    state: latest
+  become: true
+  when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
+
+- name: Install all software package updates
+  package:
+    name: "*"
+    state: "latest"
+  become: true
+  when: install_all_package_updates
+
+- name: Install specified software package updates
+  package:
+    name: "{{ item }}"
+    state: latest
+  become: true
+  with_items: "{{ update_packages }}"
diff --git a/roles/packages/tasks/install-remove-packages.yml b/roles/packages/tasks/install-remove-packages.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9bcc3bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/packages/tasks/install-remove-packages.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+---
+- name: Install additional software packages
+  package:
+    name: "{{ item }}"
+    state: present
+  become: true
+  with_items: "{{ install_packages }}"
+
+- name: Remove specified software packages
+  package:
+    name: "{{ item }}"
+    state: absent
+  become: true
+  with_items: "{{ remove_packages }}"
diff --git a/roles/packages/tasks/main.yml b/roles/packages/tasks/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d4e2e09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/packages/tasks/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+---
+- import_tasks: install-package-updates.yml
+
+- import_tasks: install-remove-packages.yml
diff --git a/roles/packages/tests/README.md b/roles/packages/tests/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..095a919
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/packages/tests/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# Ansible Role tests
+
+To run the test playbook(s) in this directory:
+
+  1. Install and start Docker.  
+  1. Download the test shim (see .travis.yml file for the URL) into `tests/test.sh`:  
+`wget -O tests/test.sh https://gist.github.com/brentwg/64f90bdda32a51360f71558d3171fcbb/raw/`  
+  1. Make the test shim executable: `chmod +x tests/test.sh`.  
+  1. Run (from the role's root directory) `distro=[distro] playbook=[playbook] ./tests/test.sh`  
+
+If you **don't** want the container to be automatically deleted after the test playbook is run, then add the following environment variables: `cleanup=false container_id=$(date +%s)`
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/roles/packages/tests/test.yml b/roles/packages/tests/test.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4089b84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/packages/tests/test.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+- hosts: all
+
+  pre_tasks:
+    - name: Update apt cache.
+      apt: update_cache=yes cache_valid_time=600
+      when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
+      changed_when: false
+
+  roles:
+  - role_under_test