From e793321e1ea891cadf794e8f6208a4cad3fdc940 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Virgil <virgil@lethean.io>
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2026 22:56:14 +0000
Subject: [PATCH] Add lineinfile create support

---
 modules.go           |  7 +++++++
 modules_file_test.go | 17 +++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 24 insertions(+)

diff --git a/modules.go b/modules.go
index f7fb0be..c1bb5c1 100644
--- a/modules.go
+++ b/modules.go
@@ -592,6 +592,7 @@ func (e *Executor) moduleLineinfile(ctx context.Context, client sshExecutorClien
 	regexp := getStringArg(args, "regexp", "")
 	state := getStringArg(args, "state", "present")
 	backrefs := getBoolArg(args, "backrefs", false)
+	create := getBoolArg(args, "create", false)
 
 	if state == "absent" {
 		if regexp != "" {
@@ -602,6 +603,12 @@ func (e *Executor) moduleLineinfile(ctx context.Context, client sshExecutorClien
 			}
 		}
 	} else {
+		// Create the file first when requested so regexp-based updates have a
+		// target to operate on.
+		if create {
+			_, _, _, _ = client.Run(ctx, sprintf("touch %q", path))
+		}
+
 		// state == present
 		if regexp != "" {
 			// Replace line matching regexp.
diff --git a/modules_file_test.go b/modules_file_test.go
index a57fd96..28d1b30 100644
--- a/modules_file_test.go
+++ b/modules_file_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package ansible
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"io/fs"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -403,6 +404,22 @@ func TestModulesFile_ModuleLineinfile_Good_RegexpFallsBackToAppend(t *testing.T)
 	assert.True(t, mock.hasExecuted(`echo`))
 }
 
+func TestModulesFile_ModuleLineinfile_Good_CreateFile(t *testing.T) {
+	e, mock := newTestExecutorWithMock("host1")
+
+	result, err := e.moduleLineinfile(context.Background(), mock, map[string]any{
+		"path":   "/etc/example.conf",
+		"regexp": "^setting=",
+		"line":   "setting=value",
+		"create": true,
+	})
+
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.True(t, result.Changed)
+	assert.True(t, mock.hasExecuted(`touch "/etc/example\.conf"`))
+	assert.True(t, mock.hasExecuted(`sed -i`))
+}
+
 func TestModulesFile_ModuleLineinfile_Good_BackrefsReplaceMatchOnly(t *testing.T) {
 	e, mock := newTestExecutorWithMock("host1")