Ansible execute task on different hosts in order

Is it possible to use ansible to manage order of programs?
Im trying to find an automated solution which will do the following steps:

• run a program on HostA

• run a command on HostB which requires HostA program to run

• run a program on HostC if 2. step succeed

• run a command on HostD which requires HostC program to run

• run a command on HostE which requires HostC program to run

For example:

---
  - hosts: neededhosts
    roles:
      - startprogram
      - runcommand
      - startsecprgoram
    .
    .
    .

startprogram:
- name: start hostA program
  tasks:
    - name: start program
      hosts: HostA
      shell: /etc/init.d/HostAprogram.sh start

runcommand:
- name: run command on HostB
  tasks:
    - name: run command
      hosts: HostB
      shell: command which using host A

Q: "Is it possible to use Ansible to manage the order of programs?"

A: Yes. It's possible. For example, the playbook below does the job
- hosts: HostA
tasks:
- include_role:
name: startprogram

• hosts: HostB

tasks:
- include_role:
name: runcommand
when: hostvars.HostA.HostAprogram_started|default(false)

• hosts: HostC

tasks:
- include_role:
name: startsecprogram
when: hostvars.HostB.HostBcommand_passed|default(false)

• hosts: HostD,HostE

tasks:
- debug:
msg: command on {{ inventory_hostname }} which requires HostC program to run
when: hostvars.HostC.HostCprogram_started|default(false)


Example of the roles for the purpose of testing
shell> cat roles/startprogram/tasks/main.yml

• debug:

msg: /etc/init.d/HostAprogram.sh start

• set_fact:

HostAprogram_started: true

shell> cat roles/runcommand/tasks/main.yml

• debug:

msg: command which using host A

• set_fact:

HostBcommand_passed: true

shell> cat roles/startsecprogram/tasks/main.yml

• debug:

msg: /etc/init.d/HostCprogram.sh start

• set_fact:

HostCprogram_started: true


Example of the output
ok: [HostA] => {
"msg": "/etc/init.d/HostAprogram.sh start"
}
ok: [HostB] => {
"msg": "command which using host A"
}
ok: [HostC] => {
"msg": "/etc/init.d/HostCprogram.sh start"
}
ok: [HostD] => {
"msg": "command on HostD which requires HostC program to run"
}
ok: [HostE] => {
"msg": "command on HostE which requires HostC program to run"
}


StackExchange DevOps Q#10679, answer score: 8