ansible_role_package

Manage package installation for a number of packages that sometimes need special handling. Some are built from source, some are appimages, some are special sources like cargo, npm, go, etc.

When defining a workstation role, I had a lot of packages that needed special instructions to properly install and use. I decided to simplify the management of those packages by creating a role with special handling.

Order of precedence for package installation:

System package manager (dnf, apt, homebrew, etc.)
Source built - only in some situations, like for fast moving software (neovim)
Appimage (Linux only)
Flatpak (Linux only)
Snap (Linux only), takes precedence over flatpak on Ubuntu based systems
Language package manager (cargo install, go install, npm install, etc.)

This does not configure installed software, just installs it

To install any of the available packages, they must be part of a list called packages. Dependencies are handled on a best case basis.

Supported Operating Systems

Fedora Linux
MacOS
RHEL based distributions Experimental best effort
Debian Experimental
Alpine linux Experimental *best effort)

Available Packages

air: hot reload for go #devtools #go
alacritty: terminal built in rust #cargo #rust #terminal
ansible-lint: linting for yaml.ansible files #ansible #devtools
ansible: configuration management #ansible #management
ansible_ls: ansible language-server #ansible #devtools
aquamarine: graphics library for hyrpland #c++ #library #hyprland
bashls: bash language server #devtools #node
bat: bat, an ehanced replacement for cat #terminal
bitwarden: password mananger #password #security #gui
blender: 3d modeling, video editing tools #3d #gui #media
broot: a file browser/manager for the cli #cli #cargo #rust
btop: advanced top replacement #cli #monitor
buf: protocol buffer tooling in go #devtools #go
bufls: protocol buffer language server #devtools #go
carapace: universal command completion engine #cli #tool
cheat: cli cheatsheet creator and viewer #cli #tool
checkmake: a linter and analyzer for makefiles #devtools #go
choose: an alternative to cut written in rust #rust #cargo
clangd: the LLVM based C/C++ compiler, langauge server and linter #devtools #c #c++
cmake: build system for C/C++ projects #devtools #c #c++
cmakelang: cmake linter and formatter #devtools #cmake #python
commitlint-cli: linting for git commit messages #git #devtools
commitlint-config-conventional: config for commitlint-cli #git #devtools
consul: service discovery by hashicorp #go #system #hashicorp
cssls: css language server #devtools #css
curlie: enhanced version of curl #devtools #network
dbeaver: database manager gui #devtools #database
direnv: load .env files in the cli #devtools #configuration
dockerls: dockerfile lanaguage server #docker #container #devtools
dotenv-linter: linter for .env files #devtools #rust
duf: a good looking replacement for df #cli #tools #monitor
dust: a better looking version of du #cli #tools #monitor
editorconfig: common editor configuration system #devtools #editor
eslint: ECMA Script linting #devtools #ecma #javascript
eza: a modern ls replacement #cli #tools
fd: a modern replacement for find #cli #tools
firefox: a modern OSS web browser #gui #web
flatpak: universal linux package management system #linux #flatpak #package
fzf: fuzzy find from a list given over stdin #cli #tools
ghostty: a modern advanced terminal emulator #tty #terminal #gui #tools
git: project versioning system #git #devtools #tools
glow: cli markdown parser and viewer #tools #cli
go: the go programming language #go #devtools
godot: the best OSS game making studio/engine #devtools #gaming #gui
gopls: the go language server #go #devtools
gping: graphical pinging on the cli #cli #monitor #network
greetd: a simple system greeter #cli #linux
heroic: heroic games launcher #gui #gaming #linux
htmlls: html language server #devtools #html
htmx-lsp: htmx language server #devtool #html
httpie: a graphical REST client #devtools #gui #network
hugo: static html site generator #cli #html #blog
hyperfine: a cli benchmarking tool #cli #benchmark
hyprcursor: a hyprland support library #hyprland #c++
hyprgraphics: a hyrpland graphics library #hyprland #c++
hypridle: hyprland system idle monitor #hyprland #c++ #system
hyprland: a pretty tiling window manager #hyprland #linux #c++ #windowmanager
hyprland_protocols: a hyprland wayland protocol library #hyprland #c++
hyprland_qt_support: hyprland qt libraries #hyprland #qt #c++
hyprland_qtutils: hyrpland tools in qt: #hyprland #qt #c++ #tools
hyprlang: hyprland configuration language #hyrpland #c++
hyprlock: hyprland screen locker #hyprland #c++ #system
hyprpaper: hyprland wallpaper manager #hyprland #c++ #graphics
hyprpicker: hyprland colour picker #hyprland #tool #c++
hyprpolkitagent: hyprland policy kit agent #hyprland #security #c++
hyprutils: hyprland utilities library #hyprland #c++ #tools
hyprwayland_scanner: hyprland wayland library scanner #hyprland #c++ #wayland
intelephense: php language server, linter and formatter #phpp #devtools
jinja-lsp: the jinja language server #jinga #python #devtools
jq: json cli parser #json #cli #devtools
jsonls: json language server #json #devtools
kitty: high perfomance terminal emulator #gui #terminal #rust
lazygit: git made easy #git #cli #devtools
libreoffice: the free office suite #gui
luals: lua language server #devtools #lua
markdownlint-cli: markdown linter #devtools #markdown
mcfly: cli history manager #cli #shell #tools
minio_client: cli S3 client #cli #network #tools
neovide: graphical interface for neovim in rust #neovim #devtools #rust #cargo
neovim: best vim fork ever #neovim #devtools #cli
nerdfonts: fonts patched with icons and glyphs #font #gui #terminal
nextcloud: nextcloud desktop sync client #gui #tools #network
nginxls: nginx configuration language server #nginx #network #tools
nodejs: javascript runtime engine #javascript #cli #devtools
nomad: application orchestration by hashicorp #go #network #hashicorp
nwg_hello: a greetd greeter #nwg #greetd #linux
packer: machine builder by hashicorp #vm #go #devtools #hashicorp
pandoc: universal document translator #cli #tools
pgadmin: postgresql administration gui #devtools #gui #database
pipx: install pip packages as self contained executables #python #manage
podman: container runtime engine compatible with docker #container #cli
pulumi: infrastructure as code via regular programming languages #iac #cli #manage
pyright: python language server, linter and formatter #python #devtools
python3: python3 language interpreter #python #devtools
quobix-vacuum: openapi linter and sdk written in go #go #network #devtools
revive: a fast and strict linter for go #go #devtools
ripgrep: fast modern grep replacement
rust: the rust programming language #rust #cargo
sd: a modern replacement for sed #cli #tools
sdbus_cpp_2: systmd dbus library version 2 #c++ #linux #systemd #devtools
sqlfluff: sql linter #devtools #sql
sqlls: sql language server #devtools #sql
starship: command line prompt generator #cli #tools #shell
stow: manage dotfiles easily #cli #tools #manage
tailscale: p2p vpn with wireguard #network #tools #security
tailwindcss-languageserver: tailwindcss language server #devtool #css #html
templ: generate HTML using go #go #html #template #devtools
terraform: infrastructre as code via configuration files #network #devtools #cli #hashicorp
terraformls: terraform language server #devtools #terraform #hashicorp
thunderbird: email client from mozilla #email #network #gui
tidy: html linter and formatter #devtools #html
tldr: manpage summarizer #cli #tools
tmux: terminal multiplexer #cli #tools
uwsm: universal wayland system manager #wayland #hyprland #linux
vault: secrets management by hashicorp #secrets #security #hashicorp
xdg_desktop_portal_hyprland: xdg portal for hyprland #hyprland #gui
xh: cli curl replacement #network #cli #tools
yamlls: yaml language server #yaml #devtools
yazi: terminal file manager in rust #cli #tools #rust #cargo
zfs: the zetabyte filesystem #zfs #filesystem #cli #linux
zig: the zig programming language #zig #devtools
zls: the zig language server #zig #devtools
zoxide: easily jump between directories #cli #shell #tools
zsh: Z shell #cli #shell

Requirements

nothing by ansible

Role Variables

use_local: Boolean, default true
- When true, uses the following paths:
  - $HOME/.local as the install prefix, placing binaries in $HOME/.local/bin
  - $HOME/.local/appimage for saved appimages, which are then linked to $HOME/.local/bin
  - $HOME/.local/archive for extracted archives linking binaries to $HOME/.local/bin
  - $HOME/.cache for caching downloads
  - $HOME/.cargo for cargo installations, placing binaries in $HOME/.cargo/bin
- When false, uses the following system wide paths:
  - /usr/local as the install prefix, placing binaries in /usr/local/bin
  - /opt/appimage for saved appimages, which are then linked to /usr/local/bin
  - /opt/archive for extracted archives, linking binaries to /usr/local/bin
  - /opt/cache for caching downloads
  - /opt/cargo for rust cargo installations, placing binaries in /opt/cargo/bin
packages: List of strings
- List of packages to install from the Available Packages list
prefer_method: String, default system
- The preferred method of installation an application when multiple options exist
- Valid options are:
  - flatpak - Flatpak, Linux only
  - langtool - Using language tools such as cargo, go, npm or pipx
  - snap - Snap, Linux only
  - source - Prefer building from source. Not recommended
  - system - Default, system package manager (dnf, apt, homebrew, etc.)

Dependencies

Example Playbook

- name: Ensure packages are installed
  vars:
    packages:
      - air
      - go
      - rust
      - neovim
  hosts: devmachines
  gather_facts: true
  tasks:
    - name: Install given packages
      ansible.builtin.inlude_role:
        name: ansible_role_package

License

MIT

Author Information

Matthew Stobbs matthew@stobbs.ca