Ansible - Repeat a list for N times - list

Question

I have a main playbook that use include to call other playbooks in case conditions are met. That is working fine, but what I need is to execute these playbooks for n times, where n is a user input variable. So, if the user enters "5", the main playbook will call playbooks for 5 times.
This is the example:
---
- name: main playbook
hosts: localhost
connection: local
gather_facts: False
var_files: weqwewq
tasks:
- include: 1.yml
when: x == "aaa"
- include: 2.yml
when: x == "bbb"
- include: 3.yml
when: x == "ccc"
- include: 4.yml
when: x == "ddd"
What I don't need is this:
tasks:
- include: 1.yml
when: x == "aaa"
with_sequence: count= "{{ user_input }}"
- include: 2.yml
when: x == "aaa+bbb"
with_sequence: count= "{{ user_input }}"
- include: 3.yml
when: x == "ccc"
with_sequence: count= "{{ user_input }}"
- include: 4.yml
when: x == "ccc+ddd"
with_sequence: count= "{{ user_input }}"
but instead something like this
tasks:
with_sequence: count= "{{ user_input }}"
- include: 1.yml
when: x == "aaa"
- include: 2.yml
when: x == "aaa+bbb"
- include: 3.yml
when: x == "ccc"
- include: 4.yml
when: x == "ccc+ddd"
but for this I'm getting an error:
"with_sequence is not a valid attribute for a play".
Any idea?
Thanks!

Answer 1

Just add another include level, and add your sequence loop to that task.
First, note that the include module has been deprecated. You should be using include_tasks.
To loop over your tasks with a single loop construct, start with a top-level playbook like this:
- hosts: localhost
gather_facts: false
tasks:
- include_tasks: tasks.yaml
with_sequence: count=5
In tasks.yaml, place your include_tasks with conditions:
- name: show loop index
debug:
var: item
- include_tasks: tasks_1.yaml
when: x = 'aaa'
- include_tasks: tasks_2.yaml
when: x = 'bbb'
- include_tasks: tasks_3.yaml
when: x = 'ccc'
And then create the individual task_N.yaml files as necessary

Answer 2

Welcome to Stackoverflow. You can use Interactive Input to take N as input. Also, you might consider checking this for more information on the usage of variables in ansible.
Also, it is a good practice to use tasks to organize your code.
Check the following code:
Update: I added stride parameter in with_sequence so now increment value can be set other than 1 (default).
Your main playbook file:
---
- name: main playbook
hosts: localhost
connection: local
gather_facts: False
vars_prompt:
- name: counter
prompt: Enter loop counter
private: no
tasks:
- include_tasks: tasks.yml
with_sequence: start=1 end="{{ counter }}" stride="{{ 1 }}"
The additional tasks.yml:
---
- include_tasks: 1.yml
when:
- x is defined
- x = "aaa"
- include_tasks: 2.yml
when:
- x is defined
- x = "bbb"
- include_tasks: 3.yml
when:
- x is defined
- x = "ccc"
- include_tasks: 4.yml
when:
- x is defined
- x = "ddd"
Here in tasks.yml I added conditionals to check whether x is defined.