Introduction

In the ever-evolving landscape of IT infrastructure management and automation, staying up-to-date with the latest tools and technologies is essential. One such tool, Ansible, has been a cornerstone for many IT professionals, simplifying tasks and streamlining operations. With the release of Ansible 2.14, there are compelling reasons to consider migrating from previous Ansible versions. In this article, we will explore the major changes and advantages of making this migration.

1. Improved Handler Processing

Ansible’s architecture is designed to be flexible and efficient, ensuring that tasks and actions are executed in the right sequence. One significant change in Ansible 2.14 is the enhancement of handler processing. Handlers are essential for executing specific tasks after playbook execution. With this migration, handler processing has been moved into a new “PlayIterator” phase. This allows you to use the configured strategy more effectively, ensuring that actions are executed in the correct order. The result is more precise and efficient post-playbook processing.

2. Python 3.9 Compatibility

The backbone of Ansible is Python, and staying current with Python versions is crucial for both security and performance. Ansible 2.14 raises the minimum Python requirement to Python 3.9 for CLI utilities and controller code. This ensures that Ansible is compatible with the latest Python versions, taking advantage of performance improvements and security updates. Keeping your Python environment up-to-date is essential for maintaining a robust and reliable automation framework.

3. UTF-8 Encoding and Locale Verification

Character encoding and locale settings might seem like trivial details, but they play a significant role in ensuring smooth and consistent operation. In Ansible 2.14, these settings are checked and verified at startup. If your system’s encoding or locale settings are not correctly configured as UTF-8, the process exits with an error message. This small change can prevent potential issues related to character encoding, ensuring that your automation tasks run seamlessly across different environments.

4. Minor Enhancements

While major changes often grab the spotlight, it’s the minor enhancements that contribute to an improved user experience. Ansible 2.14 introduces several minor improvements:

  • Support for JSON Module Options: Ansible 2.14 allows you to parse module options as JSON, not just key-value arguments. This flexibility can simplify the passing of complex data to modules, making your playbooks more versatile.
  • Kylin Linux Support: The addition of Kylin Linux Advanced Server OS to the RedHat OS Family enhances the range of supported operating systems. This expansion can be particularly beneficial for organizations working in diverse environments.
  • Conditionals with flush_handlers: Ansible 2.14 enables you to use “when” conditionals with “flush_handlers.” This means you can control the executio