Ansible-lint

FAQ

Don't compare to empty string

• Use `when: var | length > 0` instead of `when: var != ""`.
• Use `when: var | length == 0` instead of `when: var == ""`.

Don't compare to literal True/False

Instead of

when: (foo == 1 and bar == 0) == false

use

when: not (foo == 1 and bar == 0) 

Error messages

WARNING Overriding detected file kind 'yaml' with 'playbook' for given positional argument

Create ~/.ansible-lint with

---
kinds:
  - playbook: "**/*.{yml,yaml}"

The field 'hosts' has an invalid value, which includes an undefined variable.. 'target' is undefined

Add default value:

- hosts: "Template:Target"

(some docs suggest default('localhost') but that looks like asking for trouble)

Use shell only when shell functionality is required

Instead of

shell:

try

command:

Commands should not change things if nothing needs doing

Sometimes fixed by adding

changed_when: false

Lines should be no longer than 160 chars

ignore for now?

Shells that use pipes should set the pipefail option

shell: |
  set -o pipefail
  your command
args:
  executable: /bin/bash

Ansible and APT

Links

• ansible.builtin.apt module – Manages apt-packages

HOWTO

Override needrestart

-name: install something
 ansible.builtin.apt:
   ...

 environment:
   - NEEDRESTART_MODE: automatically

FAQ

Package installs should not use latest

??