CircleCI Environment Variable Not Set

A required environment variable is missing or not set.

Understanding CircleCI

CircleCI is a leading continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) platform that automates the software development process. It helps developers build, test, and deploy code efficiently, ensuring that software is delivered quickly and reliably. By integrating with various version control systems, CircleCI allows teams to streamline their workflows and improve collaboration.

Identifying the Symptom

One common issue developers encounter when using CircleCI is the error message indicating that an environment variable is not set. This can manifest as a failed build or an error message in the CircleCI dashboard, often stating something like Environment Variable Not Set or Missing Environment Variable. This error can halt the CI/CD pipeline, preventing further progress.

Exploring the Issue

The error occurs when a required environment variable, which is crucial for the build or deployment process, is not defined. Environment variables in CircleCI are used to store sensitive information such as API keys, database credentials, or configuration settings. When these variables are not set, scripts or commands that rely on them will fail, leading to build errors.

Common Causes

  • The environment variable is not defined in the CircleCI project settings.
  • A typo or incorrect variable name is used in the configuration file.
  • The variable is defined in a different context or scope than expected.

Steps to Fix the Issue

To resolve the issue of a missing environment variable in CircleCI, follow these steps:

Step 1: Verify Environment Variables

First, ensure that the required environment variables are correctly defined in your CircleCI project settings:

  1. Log into your CircleCI account and navigate to the project dashboard.
  2. Select the project experiencing the issue.
  3. Go to Project Settings and click on Environment Variables.
  4. Check if the necessary environment variables are listed and correctly spelled.

Step 2: Update Configuration File

Ensure that your config.yml file references the correct environment variable names:

version: 2.1
jobs:
build:
docker:
- image: circleci/node:latest
steps:
- checkout
- run:
name: Check Environment Variable
command: echo $MY_ENV_VAR

Replace MY_ENV_VAR with the actual name of your environment variable.

Step 3: Test the Configuration

After making changes, trigger a new build in CircleCI to test if the issue is resolved. Monitor the build logs to ensure that the environment variable is correctly recognized and utilized.

Additional Resources

For more information on managing environment variables in CircleCI, refer to the official documentation:

By following these steps, you can effectively resolve the issue of missing environment variables in CircleCI, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted CI/CD process.

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