# Results of survey on various style questions

**URL:** <https://forum.ansible.com/t/results-of-survey-on-various-style-questions/45349>\
**Category:** Guides, FAQs & Howtos\
**Tags:** cfgmgmgtcamp, howto\
**Created:** [February 16, 2026, 8:05pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/results-of-survey-on-various-style-questions/45349 "2026-02-16T20:05:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![volenbovsky](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/volenbovsky/32/10309_2.png) [@volenbovsky](https://forum.ansible.com/u/volenbovsky)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 8:05pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/results-of-survey-on-various-style-questions/45349/1 "2026-02-16T20:05:35Z")

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Hi,

following [CfgMgmtCamp 2026](https://cfgmgmtcamp.org/ghent2026/) conference and a presentation of various questions related to Ansible style:

[Ansible Style Guide,presentation](https://github.com/abacusresearch/ansible-style-guide/blob/main/Ansible_Style_Guide_CfgMgmtCamp2026.pdf)

[Page of this talk on CfgMgmtCamp website](https://cfp.cfgmgmtcamp.org/ghent2026/talk/NNFGN9/)

[Survey, question on certain questions of code style for Ansible](https://volenbovskyi.limesurvey.net/566988)

[Survey in Ansible forum](https://forum.ansible.com/t/survey-on-various-ansible-style-questions-cfgmgmtcamp-follow-up/45302/8)

As of February 2026 around 20 people answered each of the questions; both by people actively contributing to Ansible (core team members, maintainers, etc.) and by Ansible users.

## Results

# Questions with answers on which (almost) everyone agrees on

1. Are the quotes necessary for _all_ strings?

Community answer: no, it is not necessary to quote all strings

So below is just fine:

`apache_package_name: httpd`

1. What is the preferred option when it comes to “external” quotes?

Community answer: Double quotes (`"`)

1. What is the preferred notation for lists and dictionaries?  
Community answer: Block-style notation over flow-style

Block-style:

```auto
Example of a list:
tags: 
  - install
  - configure

Example of a dictionary:
user: 
  name: Alice
  age: 30

```

instead of

```auto
tags: [install,configure]
...
user: {name: Alice, age: 30}

```

### Questions where overwhelming majority has chosen one option over ther other

1. What is preferred inventory format?

Community answer: YAML

1. What are the verb(s) that should be used within a task name, “Install, create, configure” or “Ensure”

Community answer: Prefer `Install`, `Create`, `Configure`, etc. etc. in task names over `Ensure`

### Questions where majority chooses one option over the other one but it is (almost) a tie

1. Is it good practice to prefix internal variables with double undescores (`__`) and/or use `r_` prefix for variables used in `register` task attribute?

Community answer: no, it is not necessary

1. What is the preferred dictionary notation?

Community answer: Dot notation is preferred over bracket notation for dictionaries

`{{ my_dictionary.mykey }}` over `{{ my_dictionary['mykey'] }}`

Other notes:

- `meta/main.yml` file inside of Ansible roles is used and maintained by people in Ansible community

- `meta/argument_specs.yml` file inside of Ansible roles is used and maintained by people in Ansible community