[chef] Re: dynamically setting attributes

[Mike < >]

This sounds like a perfect use case for Chef Environments [1].

In this scenario, you might have an environment file named 'testing.rb' which would contain an attribute defining the environment-specific modifications.

Thereby, associating a node to a particular environment would switch the associated attribute.

Here's a loose example, based on your variables:

# cookbook:

default[:application][:name] = nil

default[:application][:url] = nil

# role myapp.rb:

default[:application][:name] = ‘myapp’

# environment testing.rb:

default_attributes(

  "application" => {

    "url" => "testingurl.com"

  }

)

# cookbook recipe:

default[:myapp][:install][:url] = "http://#{node[:application][:url]}/#{node[:application][:name]}.git"

Hope this helps,

-M

[1]: http://docs.opscode.com/essentials_environments.html

On Mon, Feb 10, 2014 at 10:00 AM, Jenn Fountain < " target="_blank"> > wrote:

Ohai!

I am trying to create a generic cookbook that will deploy different applications.  Everything about these app installations are the same save the installation URL.  What I want to do may not even be possible or I should do it another way.  I am hoping someone here could give me some suggestions.

Each of these applications has a testing, staging and production environment.  As a result, three different installation URLs.

Each application name is set using this attribute in the role:
default[:application][:name] = nil

And I want to set the install URL in the environment and reference it like this or however I need to reference it (this is where I am not sure :D):

default#{node[:application][:name]}[:install][:url] = nil

For example:

default[:application][:name] = ‘myapp’ in the “myapp” role

default[:myapp][:install][:url] = http://someurl/myapp.git  <<— where :myapp is pulled from the above attribute.

I thought about databags, creating different Roles - "Myapp - Testing role” but I really was hoping to pull it from the name.

Any ideas would be appreciated.  Can I even do this? Should I? :D

Thanks!!!

-J