ansible print debug msg variable

Question

I try to print the previously registered mosh_version variable using the ansible debug msg command like this:

- name: Print mosh version
  debug: msg="Mosh Version: {{ mosh_version.stdout }}"

It doesn't work and prints the following error:

Note: The error may actually appear before this position: line 55, column 27

- name: Print mosh version
  debug: msg="Mosh Version: {{ mosh_version.stdout }}"
                          ^
We could be wrong, but this one looks like it might be an issue with
missing quotes.  Always quote template expression brackets when they
start a value. For instance:

    with_items:
      - {{ foo }}

Should be written as:

    with_items:
      - "{{ foo }}"

I tried

- name: Print mosh version
  debug: msg=Mosh Version: "{{ mosh_version.stdout }}"

but this will just print "Mosh".

What's the best way to get this running?

Solution 1

Try this:

- name: Print mosh version
  debug: "msg=Mosh Version: '{{ mosh_version.stdout }}'"

More info in http://docs.ansible.com/YAMLSyntax.html#gotchas

Edited: Something like this works perfect for me:

- name: Check Ansible version
  command: ansible --version
  register: ansibleVersion

- name: Print version
  debug:
    msg: "Ansible Version: {{ ansibleVersion.stdout }}"

http://pastie.org/private/cgeqjucn3l5kxhkkyhtpta

Solution 2

Simplest answer

- debug: var=mosh_version.stdout

Solution 3

I have displayed variable and message in the same debug play.

Ansible Task

- name: Report the /boot/initramfs file status for latest installed kernel
  debug:
    msg: "{{ ansible_hostname }} =  {{INITRAMFS_LAST_KERNEL.stdout}}"
    

Output

TASK [os-upgrade.linux : Report the /boot/initramfs file status for latest installed kernel] *******************************************
ok: [ANSIBLENODE] => {
    "msg": "ANSIBLENODE =  /boot/initramfs-3.10.0-1062.12.1.el7.x86_64.img"
}

Solution 4

Anytime I have problems with special characters in Ansible strings/cmds I do this:

1. Wrap with single quotes
2. Wrap with double curly brackets

So your standard colon becomes {{':'}}

And your task becomes:

- debug: msg="Ansible Version{{':'}} {{ ansibleVersion.stdout }}"

Again this works for most special characters, even strings. Consider the following:

docker ps --format '{{.Names}}'

In order to run this in Ansible, just apply the same logic, the following task executes as expected:

- name: Get the docker container names
  become: yes
  shell: "docker ps --format '{{'{{'}}.Names{{'}}'}}'"
  register: docker_containers

Solution 5

Just remove the colon

debug: msg="Mosh Version {{ mosh_version.stdout }}"

View more solutions

Comments

[Zulakis]

There are no more syntax errors, but it doesn't work either: TASK: [ Print mosh version] ************************************** ok: [127.0.0.1] => { "msg": "Mosh" }

[Zulakis]

ok: [127.0.0.1] => { "var": { "mosh_version.stdout_lines": [ "mosh 1.2.4a [build mosh-1.2.4-57-g9eeb2fb]" ] } } this works, I'd really prefer the custom message though ;-)

[Tom Aac]

Check my updated answer

[Dalibor Filus]

Please note: debug: "msg=Mosh Version: '{{ mosh_version.stdout }}'" will display only "Mosh". The msg="..." must be in quotes, instead of the whole message. But answer from @xddsg works better, as it is more detailed var dump.

[TecHunter]

Honestly, this is not a full solution but still it worked and solved the next issue I had. Can't use the other syntax because I use it with when so removing the colon actually is the simplest way to solve this. so I upvote ;)