how to have single ansible role for both windows as well as for linux?

Question

I want to achieve a common ansible role. And conditions are : without using gather_facts (which basically allows us to check os_family for linux).

The way I have been doing it is with inventory group [windows] & when condition with playbooks (without roles).

Now, as I am trying very hard to convert all the playbooks to ansible roles, I am just wondering is there any better way to achieve it. Or is it better to have separate roles like windows-rolename & linux-rolename".

Here is how I had it in playbooks, which I can apply to roles as well but I really want a better way if there is any..

My approach:

myplaybook.yml

---

- hosts: target
  tasks:
    - name: This will run on windows
      win_shell: whoami
      when: inventory_hostname in groups ['windows']

    - name: On linux, if ljnux
      shell: whoami
      when: inventory_hostname not in groups ['windows']

myinventory

[target]
xx.xx.xx.xx

[windows:children]
target

[linux:children]
..
...

This is just a basic example/glimpse of what I have

Just imagine it with 100s of playbooks..

Hope I am not overthinking it, my usecase is weird I know... but any help and clarification would be appreciated!! :)

Answer 1

I am answering it too, as this is the only manageable solution I feel I have, I would really appreciate a better idea than this.

1. Create separate roles one for windows & one for linux

roles/
    windows-rolename
    linux-rolename

roles/windows-rolename/tasks/main.yml

- name: This will run on windows
  win_shell: whoami

roles/linux-rolename/tasks/main.yml

- name: On Linux, if linux
  shell: whoami

2. Create a main playbook with when condition to check if the target host is in windows group or linux, based on the condition it will include the corresponding role.

./myplaybook.yml

- hosts: target
  roles:
    - include_role: *windows-rolename*
      when: inventory_hostname in groups ['windows']

    - include_role: *linuxx-rolename*
      when: inventory_hostname not in groups ['windows']

I don't know the better way of achieving it yet.. like with just one role name

Something like this..

roles/
  <rolename>
    ## windows tasks ##
    ## linux tasks ##