--- # it is possible to ask for variables from the user at the start # of a playbook run, for example, as part of a release script. - hosts: all user: root # regular variables are a dictionary of keys and values vars: this_is_a_regular_var: 'moo' so_is_this: 'quack' # prompted variables are a list of variable names and a description # that will be presented to the user. # # alternatively, they can ALSO be passed in from the outside: # ansible-playbook foo.yml --extra-vars="foo=100 bar=101" # or through external inventory scripts (see online API docs) vars_prompt: release_version: "product release version" tasks: # this is just a simple example to show that vars_prompt works, but # you might ask for a tag to use with the git module or perhaps # a package version to use with the yum module. - name: imagine this did something interesting with $release_version action: shell echo foo >> /tmp/$release_version-$alpha