gistfile1.txt

play.yml:

- hosts: localhost
  connection: local
  gather_facts: false
  vars:
    things:
        - "{{ foo }}"
        - "{{ foob }}"
    foo: "Hello"
  tasks:
    - name: debug things
      debug: var=things

    - debug: var="{{ item }}"
      with_items: a_list

    - name: "things with_items"
      template: src=templates/test.j2 dest=/tmp/{{ item.name }}.txt
      with_items: things
      ignore_errors: True

    - name: "things with_items2"
      template: src=templates/test.j2 dest=/tmp/{{ item.name }}.txt
      with_items: "{{things}}"
      ignore_errors: True

    - name: "things direct template reference"
      template: src=templates/test.j2 dest=/tmp/things.txt


results under 1.7.2:
 [WARNING]: It is unnecessary to use '{{' in loops, leave variables in loop
expressions bare.


PLAY [localhost] ************************************************************** 

TASK: [debug things] ********************************************************** 
ok: [localhost] => {
    "things": [
        "Hello", 
        "{{ foob }}"
    ]
}

TASK: [debug var="{{ item }}"] ************************************************ 
ok: [localhost] => (item=a_list) => {
    "a_list": "{{ a_list }}", 
    "item": "a_list"
}

TASK: [things with_items] ***************************************************** 
fatal: [localhost] => One or more undefined variables: 'unicode object' has no attribute 'name'

FATAL: all hosts have already failed -- aborting

PLAY RECAP ******************************************************************** 
           to retry, use: --limit @/home/bcoca/play.retry

localhost                  : ok=2    changed=0    unreachable=1    failed=0   




results under 1.8.0:
 [WARNING]: It is unnecessary to use '{{' in loops, leave variables in loop
expressions bare.


PLAY [localhost] ************************************************************** 

TASK: [debug things] ********************************************************** 
ok: [localhost] => {
    "things": [
        "Hello", 
        "{{ foob }}"
    ]
}

TASK: [debug var="{{ item }}"] ************************************************ 
skipping: [localhost]

TASK: [things with_items] ***************************************************** 
skipping: [localhost]

TASK: [things with_items2] **************************************************** 
fatal: [localhost] => One or more undefined variables: 'unicode object' has no attribute 'name'

FATAL: all hosts have already failed -- aborting

PLAY RECAP ******************************************************************** 
           to retry, use: --limit @/home/bcoca/play.retry

localhost                  : ok=1    changed=0    unreachable=1    failed=0