MVC_in_chef.rb

###
# Fragile, embedded, deeply tied
###
<% search("foo").each do |n| -%>
  stuff with <%= n %>
<% end %>


###
# Less fragile, not embedded
# In a recipe
###
foo_servers = search("foo")
template "foo" do
  variables(
    :foo_servers => foo_servers
  )
end

# In your template
<% @foo_servers.each do |n| -%>
  stuff with <%= n %>
<% end %>

# The advantage of the latter is that you can now change what @foo_servers contains
# at your whim. You could also pass foo_servers around to N different templates, each
# one doing something different with the data.  ie: if you had two templates that both
# need foo_servers, you simply pass the reference to foo_servers around.