Create Dynamic Array Based on OS?

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1

Hello. I am new to Ansible. Is there a way to create a dynamic array called packages.

I currently have the following blow, but I would like to just have it called packages, depending on debian or redhat, and if another OS, packages is empty.

vars:

  • packages_debian:
  • dash
  • bash
  • ksh
  • tcsh
  • gawk
  • perl
  • python
  • php5-cli
  • ruby
  • tcl8.5
  • packages_redhat:
  • dash
  • bash
  • ksh
  • tcsh
  • gawk
  • perl
  • python
  • php-cli
  • ruby
  • tcl
2

I solved it, but if there is better solution for this.

vars:

  • packages:
  • dash
  • bash
  • ksh
  • tcsh
  • gawk
  • perl
  • python
  • php5-cli
  • ruby
  • tcl8.5
    when: ansible_os_family == “Debian”
  • packages:
  • dash
  • bash
  • ksh
  • tcsh
  • gawk
  • perl
  • python
  • php-cli
  • ruby
  • tcl
    when: ansible_os_family == “RedHat”
3

test again, this should just make the 2nd definition overwrite the
first, you can do this with include_vars: "{{ansible_os_family}}.yml"
and have the definition of each in a file or you can do this:

  vars:
    - packages:
       Debian:
        - dash
        - bash
        - ksh
        - tcsh
        - gawk
        - perl
        - python
        - php-cli
        - ruby
        - tcl
      Redhat:
        - dash
        - bash
        - ksh
        - tcsh
        - gawk
        - perl
        - python
        - php5-cli
        - ruby
        - tcl8.5

and access it via packages[ansible_os_family]