I want to set a variable during build, which I can then check during release.

Below is what I have tried after doing my research. I have simplified some logic, as it is not relevant to the question and would just confuse the issue.

1. Add a variable to the build:

2. In the build pipeline, add a “Powershell Script” Task

…with an inline script like this:

Write-Output "##vso[task.setvariable variable=SkipRelease;isOutput=true]true"

3. In the release, add a “Powershell script”

With an inline script like this:

$skipRelease = $env:SkipRelease
Write-Output "SkipRelease variable is: $skipRelease"

I have tried several variations of this, reading the SkipRelease variable:

$skipRelease = "$(Build.DefinitionName.SkipRelease)"

…

$skipRelease = $(SkipRelease)

…

$skipRelease =  $($env:SkipRelease)

None of them work, SkipRelease is either not defined or empty, depending on which method I use – determined by looking in the logs.

1. Can I check if the SkipRelease variable is actually by the build?

2. How can I read it from the release?