enhancement: ansible-lint - Improved activation by checking for `.ansible-lint` config file

[TommyE123]

ansible-lint - Improved activation by checking for .ansible-lint config file

Fixes #1252 and #2132 and #3424 (all 3 already closed)

Context:

While testing a previous issue for ansible-lint I noticed that even using ANSIBLE_DIRECTORY: . I couldn’t get it to activate properly on Gitlab or Azure

Looking at the suggested directory layout I don’t think it makes sense to use the files_sub_directory: ansible as a default as this folder isn’t mentioned. All this appears to be currently doing is acting as a method to keep ansible-lint switched off unless the .mega-linter.yml is adjusted as a workaround to activate.

I’ve avoid checking for the Rules folder as currently there wasn’t a method in megalinter I could see to easily check for this folder. Also setting it to a sub directory could mean false detections and possibly only scanning that one folder. I’m open to suggestions if this sounds like an issue.

Reading others comments I personally think a better approach would be to harness the existing megalinter functionality to check if a file is present. In this case the .ansible-lint.

Changes:

• Removed unrequired default files_sub_directory: ansible property in ansible.megalinter-descriptor.yml • Added: active_only_if_file_found: - ".ansible-lint" • Added a default .ansible-lint file in templates. • Simplified the tests.

Testing:

I've done a mixture of tests through different pipelines.

AZURE

Scenario 1: – Not Activated

No .ansible-lint File

Scenario 2: – Activated

Root .ansible-lint

Scenario 3: – Activated

LINTER_RULES_PATH: "/_Pipelines/LinterRules"

GITHUB

Scenario 1: – Activated

ANSIBLE_ANSIBLE_LINT_RULES_PATH: config

GITLAB

Scenario 1: – Not Activated

No .ansible-lint File

Scenario 2: – Activated

Root .ansible-lint

Scenario 3: – Activated

ANSIBLE_ANSIBLE_LINT_RULES_PATH: "/_Pipelines/LinterRules"

Scenario 4: – Activated (note missing . at front of filename)

ANSIBLE_ANSIBLE_LINT_RULES_PATH: "/_Pipelines/LinterRules" ANSIBLE_ANSIBLE_LINT_CONFIG_FILE: ansible-lint

Scenario 5: – Activated

ANSIBLE_ANSIBLE_LINT_RULES_PATH: config ANSIBLE_ANSIBLE_LINT_CONFIG_FILE: ansible-lint

I'm happy to do more test scenarios on request!

If there are any issues or concerns, please let me know, and I will address them promptly. Thank you for reviewing this PR and I look forward to your feedback. Tom

[echoix]

The reasoning seems good, but I still don't understand completely what are the implications, as ansible is not an ecosystem I understand well. I will try to reread all the issues again later or in a couple days.

Maybe @nvuillam knows better?

[TommyE123]

Hi @alexanderbazhenoff,

I hope you don't mind me reaching out to you directly. Given your expertise with Ansible, I wanted to see if I could get your thoughts on this PR I've been working on.

Would you be willing to take a look and share any input? Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time, Tom

[nvuillam]

Looks good to me but let's wait for a real expert's opinion: @alexanderbazhenoff :)

[alexanderbazhenoff]

Hi @TommyE123 @nvuillam Sorry for late reply.

Overall the tests look good. Improvement of activation by checking for .ansible-lint config file is a good news.