Python 2 Check, importable Ansible playbook snippet to ensure Python 2 is available (for instance, on an Ubuntu xenial target)

_python_2_check.yml

---
# This task list is intended to be imported by playbooks, before any
# other tasks are performed.  It lets us install Python 2 (needed by Ansible)
# before Ansible tries to call anything that would use it.
#
# Execute these tasks as the first thing in a playbook like so:
# - hosts: some-host-group
#   gather_facts: false
#   tasks:
#     - import_tasks: _python_2_check.yml

- name: Python 2 Check | Test whether Python 2 is present
  raw: test -e /usr/bin/python
  register: python2_is_present
  failed_when: python2_is_present.rc not in [0, 1]
  changed_when: false

- name: Python 2 Check | Install Python 2, if necessary
  become: true
  raw: apt-get -y update && apt-get install -y python-minimal
  when: python2_is_present.rc == 1