Add body_format for handling of JSON and YAML body

body_format is a new optional argument that enables handling of JSON or
YAML serialization format for the body argument.
When set to either 'json' or 'yaml', the body argument can be a dict or list.
The body will be encoded, and the Content-Type HTTP header will be set,
accordingly to the body_format argument.

Example:

- name: Facette - Create memory graph
  uri:
    method: POST
    url: http://facette/api/v1/library/graphs
    status_code: 201
    body_format: json
    body:
      name: "{{ ansible_fqdn }} - Memory usage"
      attributes:
        Source": "{{ ansible_fqdn }}"
        link: "1947a490-8ac6-4bf2-47c1-ff74272f8b32"

lib/ansible/modules/network/basics/uri.py

@@ -64,6 +64,11 @@ options:
       - The body of the http request/response to the web service.
     required: false
     default: null
+  body_format:
+    description:
+      - The serialization format of the body. Either raw, json, or yaml. When set to json or yaml, encodes the body argument and automatically sets the Content-Type header accordingly.
+    required: false
+    default: raw
   method:
     description:
       - The HTTP method of the request or response.
@@ -238,7 +243,7 @@ def url_filename(url):
     return fn
 
 
-def uri(module, url, dest, user, password, body, method, headers, redirects, socket_timeout):
+def uri(module, url, dest, user, password, body, body_format, method, headers, redirects, socket_timeout):
     # To debug
     #httplib2.debug = 4
 
@@ -335,6 +340,7 @@ def main():
             user = dict(required=False, default=None),
             password = dict(required=False, default=None),
             body = dict(required=False, default=None),
+            body_format = dict(required=False, default='raw', choices=['raw', 'json', 'yaml']),
             method = dict(required=False, default='GET', choices=['GET', 'POST', 'PUT', 'HEAD', 'DELETE', 'OPTIONS', 'PATCH']),
             return_content = dict(required=False, default='no', type='bool'),
             force_basic_auth = dict(required=False, default='no', type='bool'),
@@ -357,6 +363,7 @@ def main():
     user = module.params['user']
     password = module.params['password']
     body = module.params['body']
+    body_format = module.params['body_format']
     method = module.params['method']
     dest = module.params['dest']
     return_content = module.params['return_content']
@@ -367,8 +374,18 @@ def main():
     status_code = [int(x) for x in list(module.params['status_code'])]
     socket_timeout = module.params['timeout']
 
-    # Grab all the http headers. Need this hack since passing multi-values is currently a bit ugly. (e.g. headers='{"Content-Type":"application/json"}')
     dict_headers = {}
+
+    # If body_format is json or yaml, encore the body (wich can be a dict or a list) and automatically sets the Content-Type header
+    if body_format == 'json':
+        body = json.dumps(body)
+        dict_headers['Content-Type'] = 'application/json'
+    elif body_format == 'yaml':
+        body = yaml.dump(body)
+        dict_headers['Content-Type'] = 'application/yaml'
+
+
+    # Grab all the http headers. Need this hack since passing multi-values is currently a bit ugly. (e.g. headers='{"Content-Type":"application/json"}')
     for key, value in module.params.iteritems():
         if key.startswith("HEADER_"):
             skey = key.replace("HEADER_", "")
@@ -400,7 +417,7 @@ def main():
 
 
     # Make the request
-    resp, content, dest = uri(module, url, dest, user, password, body, method, dict_headers, redirects, socket_timeout)
+    resp, content, dest = uri(module, url, dest, user, password, body, body_format, method, dict_headers, redirects, socket_timeout)
     resp['status'] = int(resp['status'])
 
     # Write the file out if requested