alternatives

Manages Debian/Ubuntu update-alternatives entries. Installs and sets the active alternative for a given name.

Parameters

Parameter	Required	Default	Description
`name`	Yes	--	Alternatives name (e.g., `editor`, `java`).
`path`	Yes	--	Path to the actual binary (e.g., `/usr/bin/vim`).
`state`	Yes	--	Desired state: `present` or `absent`.
`link`	No	`/usr/bin/<name>`	Symlink location. Defaults to `/usr/bin/<name>`.
`priority`	No	`50`	Priority for this alternative.

States

present -- Install the alternative and set it as active. Uses update-alternatives --install followed by update-alternatives --set.
absent -- Remove the alternative with update-alternatives --remove.

Idempotency

Queries the current alternative value using update-alternatives --query. If the current value matches the desired path, no action is taken. Falls back to reading the /etc/alternatives/<name> symlink.

Examples

Basic

resources:
  - name: Set editor to vim
    type: alternatives
    name: editor
    path: /usr/bin/vim
    priority: "100"

Java alternative

resources:
  - name: Set java to openjdk-17
    type: alternatives
    name: java
    path: /usr/lib/jvm/java-17-openjdk-amd64/bin/java
    link: /usr/bin/java
    priority: "200"

Remove an alternative

resources:
  - name: Remove nano as editor
    type: alternatives
    name: editor
    path: /usr/bin/nano
    state: absent

Platform

Linux only (requires update-alternatives).

Notes

The link parameter defaults to /usr/bin/<name>, which is the standard location for most alternatives.
When state: present, both --install and --set are called to ensure the specified path is the active alternative.
Priority is used by the automatic mode of update-alternatives when no manual selection is made.