Task helpers

Bolt ships with several libraries that can be used to help write tasks. These task helpers include functions for returning structured output, creating error objects, and more. Because Bolt ships with these task helpers, you do not need to install them separately.

The following task helpers are shipped with Bolt:

Language Module
Python python_task_helper
Ruby ruby_task_helper
Bash bash_task_helper
PowerShell powershell_task_helper

Examples

Python task helper

The following task uses the Python task helper to create a simple task that outputs a greeting.

To use the Python task helper, include the python_task_helper/files/task_helper.py file in the task metadata.

Metadata

{
  "files": [
    "python_task_helper/files/task_helper.py"
  ],
  "input_method": "stdin",
  "parameters": {
    "name": {
      "description": "Name to use in greeting",
      "type": "String"
    }
  }
}

Task

#!/usr/bin/env python
import os, sys
sys.path.append(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), '..', '..', 'python_task_helper', 'files'))
from task_helper import TaskHelper

class MyTask(TaskHelper):
  def task(self, args):
    return {'greeting': 'Hi, my name is '+args['name']}

if __name__ == '__main__':
    MyTask().run()

Output

$ bolt task run mymodule::task -n localhost name='Julia'
Started on localhost...
Finished on localhost:
  {
    "greeting": "Hi, my name is Julia"
  }
Successful on 1 target: localhost
Ran on 1 target in 0.12 seconds

Ruby task helper

The following task uses the Ruby task helper to create a simple task that outputs a greeting.

To use the Ruby task helper, include the ruby_task_helper/files/task_helper.rb file in the task metadata.

Metadata

{
  "files": [
    "ruby_task_helper/files/task_helper.rb"
  ],
  "input_method": "stdin",
  "parameters": {
    "name": {
      "description": "Name to use in greeting",
      "type": "String"
    }
  }
}

Task

#!/usr/bin/env ruby
require_relative '../../ruby_task_helper/files/task_helper.rb'

# Example task that is based on the ruby_task_helper
class MyTask < TaskHelper
  def task(name: nil, **kwargs)
    { greeting: "Hi, my name is #{name}" }
  end
end

MyTask.run if $PROGRAM_NAME == __FILE__

Output

$ bolt task run mymodule::mytask -n localhost name="Robert'); DROP TABLE Students;--"
Started on localhost...
Finished on localhost:
  {
    "greeting": "Hi, my name is Robert'); DROP TABLE Students;--"
  }
Successful on 1 target: localhost
Ran on 1 target in 0.12 seconds

PowerShell task helper

The following task uses the PowerShell task helper to create a simple task that outputs a greeting.

To use the PowerShell task helper, include the powershell_task_helper/files/BoltPwshHelper file in the task metadata.

Note: If you're using a version of PowerShell more recent than 3.0, you don't have to write an import statement to load the task helper. Bolt automatically loads the module by adding your task directory to $env:PSModulePath.

Metadata

{
  "files": [
    "powershell_task_helper/files/BoltPwshHelper/"
  ],
  "input_method": "powershell",
  "parameters": {
    "name": {
      "description": "Name of user to run command",
      "type": "String"
    }
  }
}

Task

#!/usr/bin/env pwsh
[CmdletBinding()]
Param(
  [Parameter(Mandatory = $True)]
  [String]
  $Name
)

<#
If using PowerShell 3.0, you will need to add an import statement here:
Import-Module BoltPwshHelper
#>
​
<#
Handle unhandled exceptions using the `trap` keyword
#>
trap {
  Write-BoltError -Message "Generic trap handler" -Exception $_
}

<#
A example of a custom error messages based on a specific use case
#>
if ($name -eq 'Robert') {
  Write-BoltError -Message "User ${name} not allowed"
}
else {
  # TODO
}

<#
An exmaple of returning a full exception stacktrace in Bolt formatted json
You can add a `-Message` if you want
#>
try {
  Write-Output (@{ "greeting" = "Hi, my name is ${name}"} | ConvertTo-JSON)
}
catch {
  Write-BoltError -Exception $_
}

Output

$ bolt task run mymodule::mytask -n localhost name="Robert'); DROP TABLE Students;--"
Started on localhost...
Finished on localhost:
  {
    "greeting": "Hi, my name is Robert'); DROP TABLE Students;--"
  }
Successful on 1 target: localhost
Ran on 1 target in 0.12 seconds

Bash task helper

The following task uses the Bash task helper to create a simple task that outputs a greeting.

To use the Bash task helper, include the bash_task_helper/files/task_helper.sh file in the task metadata.

Metadata

{
  "files": [
    "bash_task_helper/files/task_helper.sh"
  ],
  "input_method": "environment",
  "parameters": {
    "name": {
      "description": "Name to use in greeting",
      "type": "String"
    }
  }
}

Task

#!/usr/bin/env bash

declare PT__installdir
source "$PT__installdir/bash_task_helper/files/task_helper.sh"

if [ "$PT_name" = "Robert" ]; then
  task-fail "You can't sit with us!"
fi

task-succeed "Hello, my name is $PT_name"

Output

$ bolt task run mymodule::mytask -n localhost name="Adam"
Started on localhost...
Finished on localhost:
  {
    "greeting": "Hi, my name is Adam"
  }
Successful on 1 target: localhost
Ran on 1 target in 0.12 seconds