Using hostvars to smuggle values into play context is not recommended

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Hi all,
I have experienced exactly the same issue as reported in these two:

https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/31407

https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/36575

In summary something like this…

  • hosts: “{{ hostvars[‘localhost’][‘server_entry_from_cmdb_lookup’] }}”

…actually runs OK, but fails the linter (and therefore our pipeline)

‘Using hostvars to smuggle values into play context is not recommended’ - this was the last entry from Matt Martz

Can somebody please explain to me then how one should consume a variable containing a target host that has been gleaned from another play (i.e. a data access play to query a CMDB?)

The only option I have been able to consider is a '- hosts: all followed by delegate_to: “{{ my_target_server }}” on each task - my play has > 30 tasks and placing a delegate_to an all seems a bit clunky to say the least.

Can somebody please advise?

Thanks in advance…