Jira (PUP-11505) Unexpected results using stdlib's to_yaml with data containing repeated variables

[Alexander Fisher (Jira)]

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Alexander Fisher created an issue   Puppet / PUP-11505 Unexpected results using stdlib's to_yaml with data containing repeated variables Issue Type: Bug Assignee: Unassigned Created: 2022/04/12 9:23 AM Priority: Normal Reporter: Alexander Fisher Puppet Version: 6/7 ** I wasn't sure where to file this, but I encountered some unexpected behaviour today. Given the following puppet code $array = [ 'one', 'two', 'three']   notice( { 'foo' => $array, 'bar' => $array, 'foobar' => $array, }.to_yaml )   # These `flatten`s look superfluous, but aren't   notice( { 'foo' => $array.flatten, 'bar' => $array.flatten, 'foobar' => $array.flatten, }.to_yaml ) I'd expect to notice the same YAML being output.  Instead, in the version where I don't, (seemingly randomly call `flatten`), I get yaml with anchors (which I happen not to like). ie  ❯ puppet apply -t test.pp Info: Loading facts Notice: Scope(Class[main]): --- foo: &1 - one - two - three bar: *1 foobar: *1   Notice: Scope(Class[main]): --- foo: - one - two - three bar: - one - two - three foobar: - one - two - three Whilst I understand that there's an issue with values being passed to the to_yaml function by reference and `flatten` gets around this by creating 3 new objects, I don't feel this meets the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principle_of_least_astonishment test. I don't think it's documented anywhere that puppet variables can act this way with functions. Add Comment   This message was sent by Atlassian Jira (v8.20.2#820002-sha1:829506d) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Puppet Bugs" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to puppet-bugs+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/puppet-bugs/JIRA.443443.1649780627000.10549.1649780640111%40Atlassian.JIRA.