Add a as_string argument

README.md

@@ -75,6 +75,20 @@ Set `value` to `None` to accomplish this:
         value: None
 ```
 
+Sometimes, a number must be saved as a string in the resulting JSON file.
+Setting the `as_string` argument to 'yes' will ensure this:
+
+```yaml
+- hosts: all
+  tasks:
+    - name: Set 'foo' to "25"
+      json_file:
+        dest: /etc/file.conf
+        key: 'foo'
+        value: 25
+        as_string: yes
+```
+
 This module supports all arguments supported by the [Ansible file](http://docs.ansible.com/ansible/file_module.html) module (like 'owner', 'group', 'mode' etcetera).
 
 Acknowledgements

library/json_file

@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ options:
      - the value to be associated with the I(key). May be omitted when removing a I(key).
     required: false
     default: null
+  as_string:
+    description:
+    - should the I(value) be added as a string?
+    default: false
   backup:
     description:
       - Create a backup file including the timestamp information so you can get
@@ -103,7 +107,7 @@ def _json_dumps(s):
     """ Returns the JSON-serialized version of `s` as a str"""
     return json.dumps(s, indent=2, separators=(',', ': '), sort_keys=True)
 
-def do_json(module, filename, key, value=None, state='present', create=False, backup=False):
+def do_json(module, filename, key, value=None, as_string=False, state='present', create=False, backup=False):
     diff = {'before': '',
             'after': ''}
 
@@ -151,7 +155,9 @@ def do_json(module, filename, key, value=None, state='present', create=False, ba
             # it was already gone
             pass
     elif state == 'present':
-        val = _to_type(value)
+        val = value
+        if not as_string:
+            val = _to_type(value)
         if parts[-1] not in ref:
             ref[parts[-1]] = val
             changed = True
@@ -185,6 +191,7 @@ def main():
             dest=dict(required=True),
             key=dict(required=True),
             value=dict(required=False),
+            as_string=dict(default='no', type='bool'),
             backup=dict(default='no', type='bool'),
             state=dict(default='present', choices=['present', 'absent']),
             create=dict(default=True, type='bool')
@@ -199,8 +206,9 @@ def main():
     state = module.params['state']
     backup = module.params['backup']
     create = module.params['create']
+    as_string = module.params['as_string']
 
-    (changed, backup_file, diff, msg) = do_json(module, dest, key, value, state, create, backup)
+    (changed, backup_file, diff, msg) = do_json(module, dest, key, value, as_string, state, create, backup)
 
     if not module.check_mode and os.path.exists(dest):
         file_args = module.load_file_common_arguments(module.params)

tests/test.yml

@@ -81,3 +81,15 @@
       with_items:
         - { 'key': 'a\.b', 'value': 'bar' }
         - { 'key': 'd.a\.b', 'value': 'buzz' }
+
+    - name: Add different types, as string
+      json_file:
+        dest: '/tmp/10.json'
+        key: '{{ item.key }}'
+        value: '{{ item.value }}'
+        as_string: yes
+      with_items:
+        - { 'key': 'integer', 'value': 25 }
+        - { 'key': 'bool1', 'value': true }
+        - { 'key': 'bool2', 'value': false }
+        - { 'key': 'should_be_null', 'value': None }

tests/test_default.py

@@ -80,3 +80,16 @@ def test_dotted(Command):
             'a.b': 'buzz'
         }
     }
+
+def test_types_as_string(Command):
+    stdout = Command("cat /tmp/10.json").stdout
+    data = json.loads(stdout)
+
+    assert data == {
+        'a': 'b',
+        'c': {'d': 'e'},
+        'integer': '25',
+        'bool1': 'True',
+        'bool2': 'False',
+        'should_be_null': 'None'
+    }