Chrome repository setup failing on Linux Mint

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1

Hello,
I have this code to add the Chrome repository:

- name: Add Chrome repository
  become: true
  ansible.builtin.apt_repository:
    repo: deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/linux_signing_key.pub] http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
    state: present
    filename: google-chrome

It works fine on Debian 12 Bookworm but on a fresh Linux Mint install it gives this error:

fatal [localhost]: FAILED! = {“changed”: false, “msg”: “Failed to lock directory /var/lib/apt/lists/: E: Could not get lock /var/lib/apt/lists/lock. It is held by process 42190 (python3)”

The error message is self-explanatory, however, I want to mention that this is a fresh Mint installation with only Ansible installed. Encountering such an error is concerning because the user who will execute the process may lack the expertise to troubleshoot Linux. I want the automation to ensure that everything is configured correctly immediately after installation. Is there a way to address the lock issue directly through Ansible?

Thank you.

2

Is it locked because another instance of Ansible is currently using the apt process? If so, you could do something similar to this Stack Exchange Solution.

Excerpt

- command: /usr/bin/false
  retries: 3
  delay: 3
  register: result
  until: result.rc == 0

Basically, run the command, register the result, and loop till the result code is 0. Or as the comments in the link suggest until: result is not failed.

- name: Add Chrome repository
  become: true
  ansible.builtin.apt_repository:
    repo: deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/linux_signing_key.pub] http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
    state: present
    filename: google-chrome
  retries: 3
  delay: 30
  register: result
  until: result is not failed

That will retry 3 times, waiting 30 seconds between each try. That would give other processes up to 2 minutes to finish and free up the lock.

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