gistfile1.txt

# attributes/default.rb
default[:my_attribute] = false

# on some machine:
chef-client -j example.json

# example.json
{"run_list": "recipe[example]", "my_attribute": true}

value used in recipe is now true

# after a while, on the same machine (node is existing):
chef-client -j example.json

# example.json
{"run_list": "recipe[example]"}

question: what is the value of my_attribute used in recipe?