How to customize environment variables for continuous integration

To customize environment variables for continuous integration (CI), you typically need to configure these variables within your CI tool's settings or configuration files. Environment variables are dynamic values that affect processes or programs on a computer, and in the context of CI, they can be used to store sensitive information or configuration settings that should not be hard-coded into your codebase.

Here’s how you can customize environment variables for continuous integration:

Using a CI Tool's Web Interface:

1. Access CI Tool Settings: Log in to your CI tool (like Jenkins, GitLab CI, CircleCI, etc.).
2. Navigate to Environment Variables Section: Look for a section in the settings where you can add or manage environment variables.
3. Add Variables: Enter the variable name and its value. You might also have options to set it as secret (hidden) or visible.
4. Save Changes: Ensure you save the changes so they take effect.

Example: In GitLab CI, you can add environment variables under Settings > CI / CD > Variables. Here, you can add a variable like API_KEY with its corresponding value.

Using Configuration Files:

For some CI tools, you can also define environment variables in configuration files within your project.

• .gitlab-ci.yml (for GitLab CI):

  variables:
    API_KEY: $MY_API_KEY
  

• .circleci/config.yml (for CircleCI):

  environment:
    API_KEY: $MY_API_KEY
  

Using Environment Variables in Code:

Once set, you can reference these variables in your code or scripts.

Example in a Bash Script:

#!/bin/bash
echo "The API key is $API_KEY"

Security Considerations:

• Always avoid committing sensitive information like API keys directly into your code repository.
• Use CI tool features to mark variables as secret or encrypted.

Recommendation for Cloud Services:

If you are using cloud-based CI services, consider leveraging services like Tencent Cloud's CI (Tencent Cloud Build), which provides robust support for managing environment variables securely. With Tencent Cloud Build, you can easily configure environment variables through the console or use them in your build and deployment pipelines.

By customizing environment variables effectively, you can enhance the security and flexibility of your continuous integration processes.