title: ansible - check if file exists on *local* machine
body: <p>I have a situation where I need to check the status of a file on the local machine (the one where I will call <code>ansible-playbook ...</code>).</p>
  
  <p>If a file that is created by the user exists, it needs to be copied over to the remote host(s). If it doesn't exist, then none of the remote hosts need it.</p>
  
  <p>I know I've done things like :</p>
  
  <pre><code>- name: Check for ~/.blah/config
    stat: path=/home/ubuntu/.blah/config
    register: stat_blah_config
  
  - name: Do something with blah config
    shell: ~/do_something_with_config.sh
    when: stat_aws_config.stat.exists == true
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>But that will only work if the file exists remotely. Is there a way to conditionally execute a task (like copy) only if the file exists <em>locally</em> (have the <code>stat</code> in the first task execute locally instead of remotely), and fail silently if it does not? I'm not sure if ansible has this kind of functionality, but it would be useful.</p>