CODEWITHSUNDEEP
ansibleansible-facts
GP92
GP92

Reputation: 435

Is include_vars and and vars in ansible are same in their usage

I am confused with the usage of include_vars and vars

Example:

- name: "Testing include_vars"
  include_vars: "roles/testrole/vars/test.yml"

The above module works, because I think include_vars is a pre-defined module to include variables from a given file.

The below doesn't work:

- name: "Defining variables locally"
  vars: 
    testvar : "value1"

It throws the following error:

ERROR! no action detected in task. This often indicates a misspelled module name, or incorrect module path

I understand the error that there is no action. But why is there no way to specify variables locally without creating a task. Why a variable has to go with an action - what's the logic or philosophy behind it?

And while it is also possible to set_facts without another action, as set_facts itself is a module, there is no module to set variables locally. Why?

And if you could also add why there can't be multiple actions added on a single task like: set_facts and shell command in same task?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 458

Answers (1)

Vladimir Botka
Vladimir Botka

Reputation: 68104

vars is not a module. It's the declaration of variables. To solve the error add a module to the task. For example debug.

- name: "Defining variables locally"
  vars: 
    testvar: "value1"
  debug:
    var: testvar

You might want to review the Intro to Playbooks.

To answer your question

Why there is no module to just define variables?

Because of the flexibility. Start planning your architecture with the question "Where does the configuration data come from?". You might want to review the Variable precedence: Where should I put a variable?.

Upvotes: 2

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