Convert boolean strings from set_fact to proper boolean values

Also adds integration tests for booleanification of strings

Fixes #8629

lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/set_fact.py

@@ -32,6 +32,16 @@ class ActionModule(object):
         options  = {}
         if complex_args:
             options.update(complex_args)
-        options.update(utils.parse_kv(module_args))
+
+        # parse the k=v arguments and convert any special boolean
+        # strings into proper booleans (issue #8629)
+        parsed_args = utils.parse_kv(module_args)
+        for k,v in parsed_args.iteritems():
+            # convert certain strings to boolean values
+            if isinstance(v, basestring) and v.lower() in ('true', 'false', 'yes', 'no'):
+                parsed_args[k] = utils.boolean(v)
+
+        # and finally update the options with the parsed/modified args
+        options.update(parsed_args)
 
         return ReturnData(conn=conn, result=dict(ansible_facts=options))

library/utilities/set_fact

@@ -46,4 +46,12 @@ EXAMPLES = '''
 - set_fact:
      one_fact: something
      other_fact: "{{ local_var * 2 }}"
+
+# As of 1.8, Ansible will convert boolean strings ('true', 'false', 'yes', 'no')
+# to proper boolean values when using the key=value syntax, however it is still
+# recommended that booleans be set using the complex argument style:
+- set_fact:
+    one_fact: true
+    other_fact: false
+
 '''

test/integration/roles/test_conditionals/tasks/main.yml

@@ -193,3 +193,77 @@
   assert:
     that:
     - "result.skipped == true"
+
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+# proper booleanification tests (issue #8629)
+
+- name: set fact to string 'false'
+  set_fact: bool_test1=false
+
+- name: set fact to string 'False'
+  set_fact: bool_test2=False
+
+- name: set fact to a proper boolean using complex args
+  set_fact:
+    bool_test3: false
+
+- name: "test boolean value 'false' string using 'when: var'"
+  command: echo 'hi'
+  when: bool_test1
+  register: result
+
+- name: assert that the task did not run for 'false'
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - "result.skipped == true"
+
+- name: "test boolean value 'false' string using 'when: not var'"
+  command: echo 'hi'
+  when: not bool_test1
+  register: result
+
+- name: assert that the task DID run for not 'false'
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - "result.changed"
+
+- name: "test boolean value of 'False' string using 'when: var'"
+  command: echo 'hi'
+  when: bool_test2
+  register: result
+
+- name: assert that the task did not run for 'False'
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - "result.skipped == true"
+
+- name: "test boolean value 'False' string using 'when: not var'"
+  command: echo 'hi'
+  when: not bool_test2
+  register: result
+
+- name: assert that the task DID run for not 'False'
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - "result.changed"
+
+- name: "test proper boolean value of complex arg using 'when: var'"
+  command: echo 'hi'
+  when: bool_test3
+  register: result
+
+- name: assert that the task did not run for proper boolean false
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - "result.skipped == true"
+
+- name: "test proper boolean value of complex arg using 'when: not var'"
+  command: echo 'hi'
+  when: not bool_test3
+  register: result
+
+- name: assert that the task DID run for not false
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - "result.changed"
+