diff --git a/defaults.yml b/defaults.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..184975d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/defaults.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# containers during host setup
+container_names:
+  - dev
+  - txt
+  - haskell
+
+# containers tool groups
+container_tools:
+  dev:
+    - cpp
+    - js
+  txt:
+    - txt
+  haskell:
+    - haskell
diff --git a/playbooks/box.yml b/playbooks/box.yml
index 13a9df5..da77359 100644
--- a/playbooks/box.yml
+++ b/playbooks/box.yml
@@ -1,26 +1,30 @@
-- name: Install all required tools into the distrobox dev container
+- name: Configure distrobox dev container
   hosts: localhost
   connection: local
   vars:
-    configue:
-      - bash
-      - cli
-      - git
-      - ssh
-      - scripts
-    apps:
-      - cli
-    # tools:
-    #   - cpp
-    #   - javascript
   vars_prompt:
     - name: tools_in
       prompt: "Specify comma separated list of required tool packages (cpp, js, haskell, txt, lang)"
-  pre_tasks:
-    - ansible.builtin.set_fact:
-        tools: "{{ tools_in.split(',') }}"
   roles:
+    # link and copy dotfiles
     - role: dotfiles
+      vars:
+        configue:
+          - bash
+          - cli
+          - git
+          - ssh
+          - scripts
+
+    # install apps
     - role: installs
+      vars:
+        apps:
+          - cli
+
+    # install and setup dev tools
     - role: dev
+      vars:
+        tools: "{{ tools_in.split(',') }}"
+
     # TODO: repositories
diff --git a/playbooks/host.yml b/playbooks/host.yml
index 8b13789..bc3599a 100644
--- a/playbooks/host.yml
+++ b/playbooks/host.yml
@@ -1 +1,38 @@
+- name: Create distrobox containers on host
+  hosts: localhost
+  connection: local
+  vars:
+  tasks:
+    - name: Create containers
+      include_role:
+        name: dev_host
+      vars:
+        container_name: '{{ item }}'
+      loop: '{{ container_names }}'
 
+- name: Setup containers
+  hosts: containers
+  roles:
+    # link and copy dotfiles
+    - role: dotfiles
+      vars:
+        configue:
+          - bash
+          - cli
+          - git
+          - ssh
+          - scripts
+
+    # install apps
+    - role: installs
+      vars:
+        apps:
+          - cli
+
+    # install and setup dev tools
+    - role: dev
+      vars:
+        tools: "{{ container_tools['{{item}}'] }}"
+
+    # TODO: repositories
+  
diff --git a/roles/dev_host/defaults/main.yml b/roles/dev_host/defaults/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e7acdef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/dev_host/defaults/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+container_name: dev
+container_image: quay.io/fedora/fedora-toolbox
+container_image_tag: latest
diff --git a/roles/dev_host/tasks/main.yml b/roles/dev_host/tasks/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..382884e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/dev_host/tasks/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+# os based on https://github.com/sandorex/config/blob/master/playbooks/container-dev.yml
+
+- name: Check if container already exists
+  containers.podman.podman_container_info:
+    name: '{{ container_name }}'
+    register: container_info
+
+- name: Create container using distrobox
+  ansible.builtin.command:
+  # requires distrobox version 1.7
+  # add python3 to allow ansible to work
+  # add ansible to run local roles without host (?)
+  cmd: >-
+    distrobox create --yes --no-entry --pull
+    --image '{{ container_image }}:{{ container_image_tag }}'
+    --name '{{ container_name }}'
+    --hostname '{{ ansible_hostname }}'
+    --additional-packages 'python3 ansible'
+  when: container_info.containers | length == 0
+
+- name: Start the container
+  ansible.builtin.command:
+    cmd: 'distrobox enter --name {{ container_name }} -- sh -c ''exit'''
+  # start if not running or if not defined
+  when: not (container_info.containers[0].State.Running | default(false))
+
+- name: Add container to host
+  changed_when: no
+  ansible.builtin.add_host:
+    name: '{{ container_name }}' # ??
+    groups: containers
+    ansible_connection: distrobox
+    ansible_host: '{{ container_name }}'
+    ansible_user: '{{ ansible_user_id }}'
+    fedora_version: '{{ container_image_tag }}' # ??
+
+# container setup is done outside (?)