Ansible conditional module arguments

Question

Is it possible to only include module argument when a certain condition is valid, without duplicating the play?

Example:

I have a play that looks like the following:

  - name: Start Container
    docker:
      name: "{{containerName}}"
      state: reloaded
      command: "java -jar {{containerImage}}-{{containerJarVersion}}.jar"

I want to change the value of the command argument depending on if a condition is true of false? Currently, I have to duplicate the whole play and wrap it in a condition, which is horrible as only one argument is different.

Current solution:

  - name: Start Container Debug
    docker:
      name: "{{containerName}}"
      state: reloaded
      command: "java  -Xdebug -Xrunjdwp:server=y,transport=dt_socket,suspend=n,address={{debugPort}} -jar {{containerImage}}-{{containerJarVersion}}.jar"
    when: ({{enableDebug}} == true)

  - name: Start Container
    docker:
      name: "{{containerName}}"
      state: reloaded
      command: "java -jar {{containerImage}}-{{containerJarVersion}}.jar"
    when: ({{enableDebug}} == false)

Answer 1

I think you will still have to use a conditional somewhere (You want to do different things based on a condition in the end..:).

The only thing I can think of is avoid you writing your task twice ( causing all those annoying skipped ), you could do the following:

     # file: play.yml

     - include_vars: debug_vars.yml
        when: enableDebug == True

     - include_vars: prod_vars.yml
        when: enableDebug == False


     - name: Start Container
       docker:
          name: "{{containerName}}"
          state: reloaded
          command: "{{ start_container_command }}"



      # file: debug_vars.yml
        start_container_command: "java  -Xdebug -Xrunjdwp:server=y,transport=dt_socket,suspend=n,address={{debugPort}} -jar {{containerImage}}-{{containerJarVersion}}.jar"

      # file: prod_vars.yml
        start_container_command: "java -jar {{containerImage}}-{{containerJarVersion}}.jar"