From 065f202d3021ed0a61dbb34be9bce2bc767dba10 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Martin Krizek <martin.krizek@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Sep 2025 16:24:08 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] Remove (de)serialize methods (#85724)

* move task specific from_attrs to Task
* Keep deserialize on PC, add tests
---
 .../scripts/ansible_connection_cli_stub.py    |  2 +-
 lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py         |  2 +-
 lib/ansible/playbook/base.py                  | 53 +-------------
 lib/ansible/playbook/block.py                 | 60 ----------------
 lib/ansible/playbook/handler.py               |  5 --
 lib/ansible/playbook/play.py                  | 30 --------
 lib/ansible/playbook/play_context.py          |  4 ++
 lib/ansible/playbook/role/__init__.py         | 59 ---------------
 lib/ansible/playbook/role/metadata.py         | 10 ---
 lib/ansible/playbook/task.py                  | 58 +++------------
 lib/ansible/plugins/strategy/__init__.py      |  2 +-
 .../targets/connection_persistent/aliases     |  2 +
 .../connection_plugins/persistent.py          | 72 +++++++++++++++++++
 .../targets/connection_persistent/inventory   |  1 +
 .../library/persistent.py                     | 16 +++++
 .../connection_persistent/playbook.yml        |  5 ++
 .../targets/connection_persistent/runme.sh    |  5 ++
 test/units/playbook/test_base.py              | 55 --------------
 18 files changed, 121 insertions(+), 320 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/aliases
 create mode 100644 test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/connection_plugins/persistent.py
 create mode 100644 test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/inventory
 create mode 100644 test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/library/persistent.py
 create mode 100644 test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/playbook.yml
 create mode 100755 test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/runme.sh

diff --git a/lib/ansible/cli/scripts/ansible_connection_cli_stub.py b/lib/ansible/cli/scripts/ansible_connection_cli_stub.py
index adaaedc669d..5c0e9d3577a 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/cli/scripts/ansible_connection_cli_stub.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/cli/scripts/ansible_connection_cli_stub.py
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ def main(args=None):
         options = pickle.loads(opts_data, encoding='bytes')
 
         play_context = PlayContext()
-        play_context.deserialize(pc_data)
+        play_context.from_attrs(pc_data)
 
     except Exception as e:
         rc = 1
diff --git a/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py b/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py
index 98b6b3f0017..8ea93117f32 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py
@@ -1221,7 +1221,7 @@ def start_connection(play_context, options, task_uuid):
     )
 
     write_to_stream(p.stdin, options)
-    write_to_stream(p.stdin, play_context.serialize())
+    write_to_stream(p.stdin, play_context.dump_attrs())
 
     (stdout, stderr) = p.communicate()
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/base.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/base.py
index 5a166929540..e1b2d4af12a 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/base.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/base.py
@@ -659,8 +659,8 @@ class FieldAttributeBase:
         attrs = {}
         for (name, attribute) in self.fattributes.items():
             attr = getattr(self, name)
-            if attribute.isa == 'class' and hasattr(attr, 'serialize'):
-                attrs[name] = attr.serialize()
+            if attribute.isa == 'class':
+                attrs[name] = attr.dump_attrs()
             else:
                 attrs[name] = attr
         return attrs
@@ -674,60 +674,13 @@ class FieldAttributeBase:
                 attribute = self.fattributes[attr]
                 if attribute.isa == 'class' and isinstance(value, dict):
                     obj = attribute.class_type()
-                    obj.deserialize(value)
+                    obj.from_attrs(value)
                     setattr(self, attr, obj)
                 else:
                     setattr(self, attr, value)
             else:
                 setattr(self, attr, value)  # overridden dump_attrs in derived types may dump attributes which are not field attributes
 
-        # from_attrs is only used to create a finalized task
-        # from attrs from the Worker/TaskExecutor
-        # Those attrs are finalized and squashed in the TE
-        # and controller side use needs to reflect that
-        self._finalized = True
-        self._squashed = True
-
-    def serialize(self):
-        """
-        Serializes the object derived from the base object into
-        a dictionary of values. This only serializes the field
-        attributes for the object, so this may need to be overridden
-        for any classes which wish to add additional items not stored
-        as field attributes.
-        """
-
-        repr = self.dump_attrs()
-
-        # serialize the uuid field
-        repr['uuid'] = self._uuid
-        repr['finalized'] = self._finalized
-        repr['squashed'] = self._squashed
-
-        return repr
-
-    def deserialize(self, data):
-        """
-        Given a dictionary of values, load up the field attributes for
-        this object. As with serialize(), if there are any non-field
-        attribute data members, this method will need to be overridden
-        and extended.
-        """
-
-        if not isinstance(data, dict):
-            raise AnsibleAssertionError('data (%s) should be a dict but is a %s' % (data, type(data)))
-
-        for (name, attribute) in self.fattributes.items():
-            if name in data:
-                setattr(self, name, data[name])
-            else:
-                self.set_to_context(name)
-
-        # restore the UUID field
-        setattr(self, '_uuid', data.get('uuid'))
-        self._finalized = data.get('finalized', False)
-        self._squashed = data.get('squashed', False)
-
 
 class Base(FieldAttributeBase):
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/block.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/block.py
index a47bdc31e45..eb780a4f020 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/block.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/block.py
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ from ansible.playbook.collectionsearch import CollectionSearch
 from ansible.playbook.delegatable import Delegatable
 from ansible.playbook.helpers import load_list_of_tasks
 from ansible.playbook.notifiable import Notifiable
-from ansible.playbook.role import Role
 from ansible.playbook.taggable import Taggable
 
 
@@ -220,65 +219,6 @@ class Block(Base, Conditional, CollectionSearch, Taggable, Notifiable, Delegatab
         new_me.validate()
         return new_me
 
-    def serialize(self):
-        """
-        Override of the default serialize method, since when we're serializing
-        a task we don't want to include the attribute list of tasks.
-        """
-
-        data = dict()
-        for attr in self.fattributes:
-            if attr not in ('block', 'rescue', 'always'):
-                data[attr] = getattr(self, attr)
-
-        data['dep_chain'] = self.get_dep_chain()
-
-        if self._role is not None:
-            data['role'] = self._role.serialize()
-        if self._parent is not None:
-            data['parent'] = self._parent.copy(exclude_tasks=True).serialize()
-            data['parent_type'] = self._parent.__class__.__name__
-
-        return data
-
-    def deserialize(self, data):
-        """
-        Override of the default deserialize method, to match the above overridden
-        serialize method
-        """
-
-        # import is here to avoid import loops
-        from ansible.playbook.task_include import TaskInclude
-        from ansible.playbook.handler_task_include import HandlerTaskInclude
-
-        # we don't want the full set of attributes (the task lists), as that
-        # would lead to a serialize/deserialize loop
-        for attr in self.fattributes:
-            if attr in data and attr not in ('block', 'rescue', 'always'):
-                setattr(self, attr, data.get(attr))
-
-        self._dep_chain = data.get('dep_chain', None)
-
-        # if there was a serialized role, unpack it too
-        role_data = data.get('role')
-        if role_data:
-            r = Role()
-            r.deserialize(role_data)
-            self._role = r
-
-        parent_data = data.get('parent')
-        if parent_data:
-            parent_type = data.get('parent_type')
-            if parent_type == 'Block':
-                p = Block()
-            elif parent_type == 'TaskInclude':
-                p = TaskInclude()
-            elif parent_type == 'HandlerTaskInclude':
-                p = HandlerTaskInclude()
-            p.deserialize(parent_data)
-            self._parent = p
-            self._dep_chain = self._parent.get_dep_chain()
-
     def set_loader(self, loader):
         self._loader = loader
         if self._parent:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/handler.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/handler.py
index 5a212c3f1d4..5038d71258f 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/handler.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/handler.py
@@ -71,8 +71,3 @@ class Handler(Task):
 
     def is_host_notified(self, host):
         return host in self.notified_hosts
-
-    def serialize(self):
-        result = super(Handler, self).serialize()
-        result['is_handler'] = True
-        return result
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
index 032716e90b4..314d73addfb 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
@@ -399,36 +399,6 @@ class Play(Base, Taggable, CollectionSearch):
                 tasklist.append(task)
         return tasklist
 
-    def serialize(self):
-        data = super(Play, self).serialize()
-
-        roles = []
-        for role in self.get_roles():
-            roles.append(role.serialize())
-        data['roles'] = roles
-        data['included_path'] = self._included_path
-        data['action_groups'] = self._action_groups
-        data['group_actions'] = self._group_actions
-
-        return data
-
-    def deserialize(self, data):
-        super(Play, self).deserialize(data)
-
-        self._included_path = data.get('included_path', None)
-        self._action_groups = data.get('action_groups', {})
-        self._group_actions = data.get('group_actions', {})
-        if 'roles' in data:
-            role_data = data.get('roles', [])
-            roles = []
-            for role in role_data:
-                r = Role()
-                r.deserialize(role)
-                roles.append(r)
-
-            setattr(self, 'roles', roles)
-            del data['roles']
-
     def copy(self):
         new_me = super(Play, self).copy()
         new_me.role_cache = self.role_cache.copy()
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/play_context.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/play_context.py
index 42ffa56a153..72cee34a992 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/play_context.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/play_context.py
@@ -325,3 +325,7 @@ class PlayContext(Base):
                         variables[var_opt] = var_val
             except AttributeError:
                 continue
+
+    def deserialize(self, data):
+        """Do not use this method. Backward compatibility for network connections plugins that rely on it."""
+        self.from_attrs(data)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/__init__.py
index f0384eb0c7b..ba0f1747a90 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/__init__.py
@@ -655,65 +655,6 @@ class Role(Base, Conditional, Taggable, CollectionSearch, Delegatable):
 
         return block_list
 
-    def serialize(self, include_deps=True):
-        res = super(Role, self).serialize()
-
-        res['_role_name'] = self._role_name
-        res['_role_path'] = self._role_path
-        res['_role_vars'] = self._role_vars
-        res['_role_params'] = self._role_params
-        res['_default_vars'] = self._default_vars
-        res['_had_task_run'] = self._had_task_run.copy()
-        res['_completed'] = self._completed.copy()
-
-        res['_metadata'] = self._metadata.serialize()
-
-        if include_deps:
-            deps = []
-            for role in self.get_direct_dependencies():
-                deps.append(role.serialize())
-            res['_dependencies'] = deps
-
-        parents = []
-        for parent in self._parents:
-            parents.append(parent.serialize(include_deps=False))
-        res['_parents'] = parents
-
-        return res
-
-    def deserialize(self, data, include_deps=True):
-        self._role_name = data.get('_role_name', '')
-        self._role_path = data.get('_role_path', '')
-        self._role_vars = data.get('_role_vars', dict())
-        self._role_params = data.get('_role_params', dict())
-        self._default_vars = data.get('_default_vars', dict())
-        self._had_task_run = data.get('_had_task_run', dict())
-        self._completed = data.get('_completed', dict())
-
-        if include_deps:
-            deps = []
-            for dep in data.get('_dependencies', []):
-                r = Role()
-                r.deserialize(dep)
-                deps.append(r)
-            setattr(self, '_dependencies', deps)
-
-        parent_data = data.get('_parents', [])
-        parents = []
-        for parent in parent_data:
-            r = Role()
-            r.deserialize(parent, include_deps=False)
-            parents.append(r)
-        setattr(self, '_parents', parents)
-
-        metadata_data = data.get('_metadata')
-        if metadata_data:
-            m = RoleMetadata()
-            m.deserialize(metadata_data)
-            self._metadata = m
-
-        super(Role, self).deserialize(data)
-
     def set_loader(self, loader):
         self._loader = loader
         for parent in self._parents:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/metadata.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/metadata.py
index 5b07d35ec27..e4567d7269d 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/metadata.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/metadata.py
@@ -105,13 +105,3 @@ class RoleMetadata(Base, CollectionSearch):
                                       collection_search_list=collection_search_list)
         except AssertionError as ex:
             raise AnsibleParserError("A malformed list of role dependencies was encountered.", obj=self._ds) from ex
-
-    def serialize(self):
-        return dict(
-            allow_duplicates=self._allow_duplicates,
-            dependencies=self._dependencies
-        )
-
-    def deserialize(self, data):
-        setattr(self, 'allow_duplicates', data.get('allow_duplicates', False))
-        setattr(self, 'dependencies', data.get('dependencies', []))
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
index 91e410ebc86..0876c0fa0d6 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ from ansible.playbook.conditional import Conditional
 from ansible.playbook.delegatable import Delegatable
 from ansible.playbook.loop_control import LoopControl
 from ansible.playbook.notifiable import Notifiable
-from ansible.playbook.role import Role
 from ansible.playbook.taggable import Taggable
 from ansible._internal import _task
 from ansible._internal._templating import _marker_behaviors
@@ -504,53 +503,6 @@ class Task(Base, Conditional, Taggable, CollectionSearch, Notifiable, Delegatabl
 
         return new_me
 
-    def serialize(self):
-        data = super(Task, self).serialize()
-
-        if not self._squashed and not self._finalized:
-            if self._parent:
-                data['parent'] = self._parent.serialize()
-                data['parent_type'] = self._parent.__class__.__name__
-
-            if self._role:
-                data['role'] = self._role.serialize()
-
-            data['implicit'] = self.implicit
-            data['_resolved_action'] = self._resolved_action
-
-        return data
-
-    def deserialize(self, data):
-
-        # import is here to avoid import loops
-        from ansible.playbook.task_include import TaskInclude
-        from ansible.playbook.handler_task_include import HandlerTaskInclude
-
-        parent_data = data.get('parent', None)
-        if parent_data:
-            parent_type = data.get('parent_type')
-            if parent_type == 'Block':
-                p = Block()
-            elif parent_type == 'TaskInclude':
-                p = TaskInclude()
-            elif parent_type == 'HandlerTaskInclude':
-                p = HandlerTaskInclude()
-            p.deserialize(parent_data)
-            self._parent = p
-            del data['parent']
-
-        role_data = data.get('role')
-        if role_data:
-            r = Role()
-            r.deserialize(role_data)
-            self._role = r
-            del data['role']
-
-        self.implicit = data.get('implicit', False)
-        self._resolved_action = data.get('_resolved_action')
-
-        super(Task, self).deserialize(data)
-
     def set_loader(self, loader):
         """
         Sets the loader on this object and recursively on parent, child objects.
@@ -628,6 +580,16 @@ class Task(Base, Conditional, Taggable, CollectionSearch, Notifiable, Delegatabl
         attrs.update(_resolved_action=self._resolved_action)
         return attrs
 
+    def from_attrs(self, attrs):
+        super().from_attrs(attrs)
+
+        # from_attrs is only used to create a finalized task
+        # from attrs from the Worker/TaskExecutor
+        # Those attrs are finalized and squashed in the TE
+        # and controller side use needs to reflect that
+        self._finalized = True
+        self._squashed = True
+
     def _resolve_conditional(
         self,
         conditional: list[str | bool],
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/strategy/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/strategy/__init__.py
index 7563de66797..28d271186b6 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/strategy/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/strategy/__init__.py
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ class StrategyBase:
                         self._variable_manager.set_nonpersistent_facts(
                             original_host.name,
                             dict(
-                                ansible_failed_task=original_task.serialize(),
+                                ansible_failed_task=original_task.dump_attrs(),
                                 ansible_failed_result=task_result._return_data,
                             ),
                         )
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/aliases b/test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/aliases
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1d28bdb2aa3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/aliases
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+shippable/posix/group5
+context/controller
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/connection_plugins/persistent.py b/test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/connection_plugins/persistent.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ed6ac3314f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/connection_plugins/persistent.py
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+DOCUMENTATION = """
+options:
+  persistent_connect_timeout:
+    type: int
+    default: 30
+    ini:
+    - section: persistent_connection
+      key: connect_timeout
+    env:
+    - name: ANSIBLE_PERSISTENT_CONNECT_TIMEOUT
+    vars:
+    - name: ansible_connect_timeout
+  persistent_command_timeout:
+    type: int
+    default: 30
+    ini:
+      - section: persistent_connection
+        key: command_timeout
+    env:
+      - name: ANSIBLE_PERSISTENT_COMMAND_TIMEOUT
+    vars:
+      - name: ansible_command_timeout
+  persistent_log_messages:
+    type: boolean
+    ini:
+      - section: persistent_connection
+        key: log_messages
+    env:
+      - name: ANSIBLE_PERSISTENT_LOG_MESSAGES
+    vars:
+      - name: ansible_persistent_log_messages
+"""
+
+import json
+import os
+import pickle
+
+from ansible.playbook.play_context import PlayContext
+from ansible.plugins.connection import NetworkConnectionBase
+
+
+class Connection(NetworkConnectionBase):
+    transport = 'persistent'
+    supports_persistence = True
+
+    def _connect(self):
+        self._connected = True
+
+    def update_play_context(self, pc_data):
+        """
+        This is to ensure that the PlayContext.deserialize method remains functional,
+        preventing it from breaking the network connection plugins that rely on it.
+
+        See:
+        https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.netcommon/blob/50fafb6875bb2f57e932a7a50123513b48bd4fd5/plugins/connection/httpapi.py#L258
+        """
+        pc = self._play_context = PlayContext()
+
+        pc.deserialize(
+            pickle.loads(
+                pc_data.encode(errors='surrogateescape')
+            )
+        )
+
+    def get_capabilities(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        return json.dumps({
+            'pid': os.getpid(),
+            'ppid': os.getppid(),
+            **self._play_context.dump_attrs()
+        })
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/inventory b/test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/inventory
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5f4f88b207a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/inventory
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+localhost0 ansible_connection=persistent ansible_python_interpreter={{ansible_playbook_python}}
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/library/persistent.py b/test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/library/persistent.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..87906879d46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/library/persistent.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
+from ansible.module_utils.connection import Connection
+
+
+def main():
+    module = AnsibleModule({})
+
+    connection = Connection(module._socket_path)
+    capabilities = module.from_json(connection.get_capabilities())
+    module.exit_json(**capabilities)
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/playbook.yml b/test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/playbook.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c3cab95892b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/playbook.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+- hosts: all
+  gather_facts: false
+  tasks:
+    - persistent:
+    - persistent:
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/runme.sh b/test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/runme.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..6719ea7a3cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/connection_persistent/runme.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+set -eux
+
+ansible-playbook -i inventory playbook.yml -v "$@"
diff --git a/test/units/playbook/test_base.py b/test/units/playbook/test_base.py
index 135c31b8c08..a3fed9cf65f 100644
--- a/test/units/playbook/test_base.py
+++ b/test/units/playbook/test_base.py
@@ -89,53 +89,6 @@ class TestBase(unittest.TestCase):
         copy = b.copy()
         self._assert_copy(b, copy)
 
-    def test_serialize(self):
-        ds = {}
-        ds = {'environment': [],
-              'vars': self.assorted_vars
-              }
-        b = self._base_validate(ds)
-        ret = b.serialize()
-        self.assertIsInstance(ret, dict)
-
-    def test_deserialize(self):
-        data = {}
-
-        d = self.ClassUnderTest()
-        d.deserialize(data)
-        self.assertIn('_run_once', d.__dict__)
-        self.assertIn('_check_mode', d.__dict__)
-
-        data = {'no_log': False,
-                'remote_user': None,
-                'vars': self.assorted_vars,
-                'environment': [],
-                'run_once': False,
-                'connection': None,
-                'ignore_errors': False,
-                'port': 22,
-                'a_sentinel_with_an_unlikely_name': ['sure, a list']}
-
-        d = self.ClassUnderTest()
-        d.deserialize(data)
-        self.assertNotIn('_a_sentinel_with_an_unlikely_name', d.__dict__)
-        self.assertIn('_run_once', d.__dict__)
-        self.assertIn('_check_mode', d.__dict__)
-
-    def test_serialize_then_deserialize(self):
-        ds = {'environment': [],
-              'vars': self.assorted_vars}
-        b = self._base_validate(ds)
-        copy = b.copy()
-        ret = b.serialize()
-        b.deserialize(ret)
-        c = self.ClassUnderTest()
-        c.deserialize(ret)
-        # TODO: not a great test, but coverage...
-        self.maxDiff = None
-        self.assertDictEqual(b.serialize(), copy.serialize())
-        self.assertDictEqual(c.serialize(), copy.serialize())
-
     def test_post_validate_empty(self):
         fake_loader = DictDataLoader({})
         templar = TemplateEngine(loader=fake_loader)
@@ -176,14 +129,6 @@ class TestBase(unittest.TestCase):
         b = self._base_validate(ds)
         self.assertEqual(b.port, 'some_port')
 
-    def test_squash(self):
-        data = self.b.serialize()
-        self.b.squash()
-        squashed_data = self.b.serialize()
-        # TODO: assert something
-        self.assertFalse(data['squashed'])
-        self.assertTrue(squashed_data['squashed'])
-
     def test_vars(self):
         # vars as a dict.
         ds = {'environment': [],