Do a better job identifying Python locations when connection is local

[mcandre]

SUMMARY

The Ansible BSD documentation currently requires users to explicitly configure the Python interpreter path:

https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/2.5/user_guide/intro_bsd.html

This is annoying, especially when a perfectly good Python interpreter is already available in $PATH. Ansible could do a better job integrating with BSD and other *nix systems, such:

ISSUE TYPE

• Feature Idea

COMPONENT NAME

ansible-playbook

SUGGESTED REMEDIATION STEPS

• Drop the hardcoded absolute path assumption of /usr/bin/python and simply using python instead. This would allow Ansible to succeed for many more operating system environments by default.
• Have the default Ansible inventory configuration specify appropriate values for the ansible_python_interpreter, such as /usr/local/bin/python for FreeBSD. Have user inventories extend this default inventory configuration.
• Detect when ansible-playbook is running on BSD machines, and apply the correct hardcoded absolute path, such as /usr/local/bin/python in FreeBSD. Playbooks are already capable of switching on OS metadata. The base Ansible CLI tools should be able to do this as well.

Any or all of these changes would make for a better out-of-the-box experience with Ansible with BSD machines.

[ansibot]

Files identified in the description:

• lib/ansible/inventory
• lib/ansible/playbook

If these files are inaccurate, please update the component name section of the description or use the !component bot command.

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[sivel]

We are looking into this. It will likely not be default behavior, and will require a toggle within the playbook, and potentially the config to enable searching for the interpreter.

A little bit of work has gone into this recently in #42783

[bcoca]

FYI, the official FreeBSD port changes the default to /usr/local/bin/python, so it depends on your installation method.

[zhushida775]

ansible

[ansibot]

Files identified in the description:

• lib/ansible/modules/cloud/cloudstack/cs_configuration.py
• lib/ansible/modules/notification/hall.py
• lib/ansible/playbook

If these files are inaccurate, please update the component name section of the description or use the !component bot command.

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[ansibot]

cc @bkimble @dpassante @resmo @rhtyd
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[resmo]

!component -lib/ansible/modules/cloud/cloudstack/cs_configuration.py

[ansibot]

Files identified in the description:

• lib/ansible/modules/notification/hall.py
• lib/ansible/playbook

If these files are inaccurate, please update the component name section of the description or use the !component bot command.

click here for bot help

[mkrizek]

Fixed in #50163