How do I use the access_tokens section in a pipeline as code?

Modified on Wed, 21 Jun 2023 at 04:24 PM

The access_tokens section in a pipeline as code allows you to define access tokens that can be used within your pipeline jobs to authenticate and interact with external services or APIs. This feature enables secure integration with external systems without exposing sensitive credentials directly in your pipeline code.

To use the access_tokens section in your pipeline as code, follow these steps:

Define the access tokens you need for your pipeline jobs. Each access token should have a unique name and a corresponding value. You can define multiple access tokens within the access_tokens section.

Add the access_tokens section to your pipeline configuration, and specify the access tokens using the variables keyword. Here's an example:

access_tokens:
  variables:
    GITLAB_TOKEN: your_gitlab_token
    AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID: your_aws_access_key
    AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY: your_aws_secret_key

In the above example, three access tokens are defined: GITLAB_TOKEN, AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID, and AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY. Replace the your_gitlab_token, your_aws_access_key, and your_aws_secret_key with the actual values of your access tokens.

Within your pipeline jobs, you can reference the defined access tokens using the syntax $variable_name. For example, to use the GITLAB_TOKEN access token in a job:

my_job:
  script:
    - some_command --token $GITLAB_TOKEN

In this example, the GITLAB_TOKEN access token is passed as an argument to the some_command command.

By utilizing the access_tokens section in your pipeline as code, you can securely manage and use access tokens within your jobs without exposing sensitive information directly in your pipeline code. This helps protect your credentials and ensures a higher level of security for your pipeline operations.

Note that the availability and behavior of the access_tokens section may depend on the version of GitLab you are using. Make sure to refer to the GitLab documentation or release notes for the specific version you are working with to ensure compatibility and understand any limitations or special considerations.

Using the access_tokens section in your pipeline as code enhances the security and flexibility of your pipeline jobs by allowing you to manage and use access tokens in a centralized and secure manner. It simplifies the integration with external systems and services, enabling you to authenticate and interact with external APIs confidently and efficiently.