feat: add --force-gnome flag for headless template builds

When building VM templates via Packer, GNOME is installed but not
running (no active session). The previous pgrep gnome-shell check
caused all GNOME customizations to be skipped.

Changes:
- Add dfe_force_gnome variable (default: false) to defaults/main.yml
- Modify init.yml to skip pgrep check when dfe_force_gnome=true
- Add --force-gnome flag to install.sh that passes -e dfe_force_gnome=true

Usage for template builds:
  ./install.sh --all --force-gnome

Author: Derek

ansible/roles/dfe_developer/defaults/main.yml

@@ -3,6 +3,12 @@
 # All options are now controlled via tags, not variables.
 # Use --skip-tags to disable features, --tags to enable optional ones.
 
+# GNOME detection override for headless/template builds
+# When true, skips the 'pgrep gnome-shell' check and assumes GNOME is available.
+# Use this for Packer template builds where GNOME is installed but not running.
+# Example: ansible-playbook ... -e "dfe_force_gnome=true"
+dfe_force_gnome: false
+
 # Supported platforms (used for validation in init.yml)
 dfe_supported_distros:
   - Fedora

ansible/roles/dfe_developer/tasks/init.yml

@@ -81,12 +81,32 @@
   register: gnome_running_check
   failed_when: false
   changed_when: false
-  when: ansible_distribution != 'MacOSX'
+  when:
+    - ansible_distribution != 'MacOSX'
+    - not (dfe_force_gnome | default(false))
 
-- name: Set GNOME availability fact (Linux)
+- name: Check if GNOME Shell is installed (fallback for headless/template builds)
+  ansible.builtin.stat:
+    path: /usr/bin/gnome-shell
+  register: gnome_shell_installed
+  when:
+    - ansible_distribution != 'MacOSX'
+    - not (dfe_force_gnome | default(false))
+
+- name: Set GNOME availability fact (Linux - running session)
   ansible.builtin.set_fact:
     dfe_has_gnome: "{{ gnome_running_check.rc == 0 }}"
-  when: ansible_distribution != 'MacOSX'
+  when:
+    - ansible_distribution != 'MacOSX'
+    - not (dfe_force_gnome | default(false))
+    - gnome_running_check is defined
+
+- name: Set GNOME availability fact (Linux - forced for headless/template builds)
+  ansible.builtin.set_fact:
+    dfe_has_gnome: true
+  when:
+    - ansible_distribution != 'MacOSX'
+    - dfe_force_gnome | default(false)
 
 - name: Set GNOME availability fact (macOS - N/A)
   ansible.builtin.set_fact:

install.sh

@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ OPTIONS:
   --branch BRANCH      Git branch to use (default: main)
   --core               Shortcut for: --tags developer,base,core,advanced
   --all                Shortcut for: --tags developer,base,core,advanced,vm,optimizer,rdp,winlike
+  --force-gnome        Force GNOME configuration even if no GNOME session is running
+                       (for headless/template builds where GNOME is installed but inactive)
   --help               Show this help message
 
 AVAILABLE TAGS:
@@ -123,6 +125,7 @@ EOF
 ANSIBLE_CHECK=""
 ANSIBLE_TAGS=""
 ANSIBLE_SKIP_TAGS=""
+ANSIBLE_EXTRA_VARS=""
 GIT_BRANCH="main"
 
 while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
@@ -161,6 +164,12 @@ while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
             ANSIBLE_TAGS="--tags developer,base,core,advanced,vm,optimizer,rdp,winlike"
             shift
             ;;
+        --force-gnome)
+            # Force GNOME configuration even if gnome-shell isn't running
+            # Useful for headless/template builds where GNOME is installed but not active
+            ANSIBLE_EXTRA_VARS="-e dfe_force_gnome=true"
+            shift
+            ;;
         --help|-h)
             show_help
             ;;
@@ -330,7 +339,7 @@ fi
 
 # Run Ansible playbook using temp venv Ansible
 print_info "Running Ansible playbook (using isolated venv Ansible)..."
-print_info "Command: $ANSIBLE_BIN playbooks/main.yml -i inventories/localhost/inventory.yml $ANSIBLE_CHECK $ANSIBLE_TAGS $ANSIBLE_SKIP_TAGS_ARG"
+print_info "Command: $ANSIBLE_BIN playbooks/main.yml -i inventories/localhost/inventory.yml $ANSIBLE_CHECK $ANSIBLE_TAGS $ANSIBLE_SKIP_TAGS_ARG $ANSIBLE_EXTRA_VARS"
 
 cd ansible || exit 1
 
@@ -340,7 +349,8 @@ cd ansible || exit 1
     -i inventories/localhost/inventory.yml \
     $ANSIBLE_CHECK \
     $ANSIBLE_TAGS \
-    $ANSIBLE_SKIP_TAGS_ARG || {
+    $ANSIBLE_SKIP_TAGS_ARG \
+    $ANSIBLE_EXTRA_VARS || {
     print_error "Ansible playbook failed"
     exit 1
 }