Add a Variable Only for the develop Branch in GitLab CI/CD

Learn how to conditionally add boolean variables in GitLab CI/CD pipelines specifically for the `develop` branch.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/70365070/ asked by the user 'Gal Yakir' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/8559593/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/70372008/ provided by the user 'Patrick' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/1170451/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Add a Variable Only for the develop Branch in GitLab CI/CD

When working with GitLab CI/CD, it can become necessary to customize your CI configurations based on the branch from which you are running your pipeline. One common scenario is adding a variable that should only be present when the pipeline runs from the develop branch. In this guide, we will explore how to achieve just that by applying the correct syntax in your .gitlab-ci.yml file.

The Problem

Imagine you have a GitLab project structured in a way that utilizes an included CI/CD configuration file and some basic variables. Here's an example snippet of your current CI/CD setup:

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Now, you want a new boolean variable, Say hello, to be added only when your pipeline runs from the develop branch. This means you want Say hello to be true specifically for that branch, alongside your existing variables.

The Solution

To implement this feature, you can leverage the variables along with the rules keyword in your .gitlab-ci.yml file. This allows you you to set conditions based on the branch name, enabling you to control the presence of specific variables. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Define Workflow Rules

If you want your new variable to affect every job in your pipeline when the code is pushed to the develop branch, you can use the workflow keyword. Here’s how to structure it:

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Step 2: Add Variables to Specific Jobs

Alternatively, if you only want the variable to be active within a specific job, you can define the rules keyword within that job definition. Here's an example of how that might look:

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Step 3: Review Your Configuration

By following the above setup, your GitLab CI/CD configuration will now include the conditional variable Say hello, setting it to true whenever the pipeline runs on the develop branch. This practice helps maintain cleaner configurations and ensures that jobs on different branches behave as you expect without unnecessary clutter.

Final Thoughts

Using conditional variables in GitLab CI/CD can greatly enhance your workflow, allowing for tailored builds and tests per branch. Always remember to test your configurations to verify that they work as intended. Whether you are adding variables to every job or to specific ones, understanding how GitLab interprets these rules is crucial for effective CI/CD management.

With this guide, you should now be ready to effectively manage your CI/CD variables in GitLab based on branch conditions. Make your pipelines smarter today!

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