ansible 2.4 reports an error when extra var is passed

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1

Hi

ansible playbook reports an error when one of the value of the yaml config file imported as var is passed on the command line using -e

Yaml Config File

`

2

ansible playbook reports an error when one of the value of the yaml config
file imported as var is passed on the command line using -e

Yaml Config File

#
# Istio
#
istio:
  github_url: https://api.github.com/repos
  repo: istio/istio

  # Could be a tag "0.2.12" version or be empty "", then in this case, the
latest release will be downloaded
  release_tag_name: "0.2.12"
  
  # Folder where you want to install the distro on your machine. By
default, we will install it here ~/.istio
  dest: "$HOME/.istio"

Command

ansible-playbook ansible/main.yml --extra-vars "{'istio':
{'release_tag_name': 0.3.0}}" -t install-istio -v

Result

TASK [Define var containing Istio dir]
*************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
fatal: [localhost]: FAILED! => {"failed": true, "msg": "The task includes
an option with an undefined variable. The error was: 'dict object' has no
attribute 'dest'\n\nThe error appears to have been in
'/Users/dabou/Code/istio/installation/ansible/istio/set_istio_distro_dir.yml':
line 7, column 3, but may\nbe elsewhere in the file depending on the exact
syntax problem.\n\nThe offending line appears to be:\n\n\n- name: Define
var containing Istio dir\n ^ here\n\nexception type: <class
'ansible.errors.AnsibleUndefinedVariable'>\nexception: 'dict object' has no
attribute 'dest'"}

So, for a reason that I don't know, ansible is not able to find the
istio.dest variable

Because you overwritten the variable on the command line.

The playbook doesn't report error when no '-e' var is passed to the
command !!!!!

I guess it has default dict that include dest.

What could be the issue ?

When you overwrite a dict you need to provide everything since it's not possible to just change part of it.

3

Which strategy do you propose then to be able to override a key=value defined within a yaml ?

4

Instead of using dict, flatten it and use key value.

istio:
   dest: something
   release_tab_name: 0.2.12

Becomes
istio_dest: something
istro_release_tab_name: 0.2.12

Then you can easily override the individual variables.