diff --git a/octave/defaults/main.yml b/octave/defaults/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..098bfb2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/octave/defaults/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+octave_install: False
+octave_repo: 'ppa:octave/stable'
+octave_pkg_state: latest
+octave_pkgs:
+  - octave
+  
diff --git a/octave/tasks/main.yml b/octave/tasks/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8af3da5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/octave/tasks/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+---
+- block:
+    - name: Install the octave repository
+      apt_repository: repo={{ octave_repo }} update_cache=yes
+
+    - name: Install the octave packages
+      apt: pkg={{ item }} state={{ octave_pkg_state }} update_cache=yes cache_valid_time=3600
+      with_items: '{{ octave_pkgs }}'
+
+  tags: octave
+  when: octave_install
+
+
+- block:
+    - name: Remove the octave repository
+      apt_repository: repo={{ octave_repo }} state=absent
+
+    - name: Remove the octave packages
+      apt: pkg={{ item }} state=absent
+      with_items: '{{ octave_pkgs }}'
+
+  tags: octave
+  when: not octave_install