How to Use magic_shell_environment Idempotently?

[kevinmeredith]

Could you please tell me how to use the magic_shell_environment resource idempotently?

Example:

install tomcat using ark cookbook (using put action that doesn't affect $PATH)
add tomcat to the $PATH

Here's how I'm doing the second part:

tomcat_bin = tomcat_path + '/tomcat/bin'
magic_shell_environment "PATH" do
    value tomcat_bin + ":$PATH"
end

However, if I provision this script n times, then my PATH contains n tomcat instances added to the $PATH.

Thanks

[sethvargo]

What is tomcat_path?

[kevinmeredith]

/usr/local/tomcat/bin

basically tomcat_bin represents the path where I've installed tomcat + "/bin"

[sethvargo]

Can I see your whole recipe please? The resource is idempotent, but the string you are building may not be. For example:

# path.sh
export PATH="/bin/bash:$PATH"

And you source that file 10x, you'll have 10 entires.

[kevinmeredith]

tomcat/recipes/default.rb

include_recipe 'ark::default'

# Assumption: node['tomcat']['owner'], the user, already exists

tomcat_path = node['tomcat']['path'] # /usr/local/tomcat-7.0.53

ark 'tomcat' do
   version node['tomcat']['version'] # 7.0.53
   path tomcat_path
   owner node['tomcat']['owner'] # vagrant
  action :put
end

tomcat_bin = tomcat_path + '/tomcat/bin'

magic_shell_environment "PATH" do
       value tomcat_bin + ":$PATH"
end

Thank you.

[sethvargo]

What is the contents of /etc/profile.d/PATH.sh on the target system?