DevOps snack: If condition in YAML code

Case
Can you have an IF condition in your YAML code to make it more flexible? I want to do for example something different for my Data Factory deployment in Development, Test and Production.

IF conditions in YAML?

Solution
Yes the expression language also supports Conditional insertion (IF, ELSE, ELSEIF) which you can use to make your YAML code more flexible. However use it with moderation because it also makes is a bit less readable. The expressions won't get any color formatting in the browser.

If for example you want to adjust a parameter value depending on which branch is triggering the pipeline. Without the IF you would start with something like this:

jobs:
  - template: DeployADF.yml
    parameters:
      environment: tst

Between ${{ and }}: you can add an if construction. In this example it checks whether the name if the branch (that is triggering the pipeline) is equals to 'Development', 'Test' or 'Main'. Note the extra indention on the line below the IF.

jobs:
  - template: DeployADF.yml
    parameters:
      ${{ if eq(variables['Build.SourceBranchName'], 'Development' }}:
        environment: dev
      ${{ if eq(variables['Build.SourceBranchName'], 'Test' }}:
        environment: tst
      ${{ if eq(variables['Build.SourceBranchName'], 'Main' }}:
        environment: Prd

When the line below the IF would normally start with a minus sign then the if should also start with a minus sign. For example with the variable groups. Without the if you would start like below:

variables:
- group: ADFParamsTst

If you want to make the groupname depending on the branch name triggering the pipeline then you can add the IF between ${{ and }}: but the line should then start with a minus and also the line below the IF should start with a minus. Also note the extra indentions.

variables:
- ${{ if eq(variables['Build.SourceBranchName'], 'Development' }}:
  - group: ADFParamsDev
- ${{ if eq(variables['Build.SourceBranchName'], 'Test' }}:
  - group: ADFParamsTst
- ${{ if eq(variables['Build.SourceBranchName'], 'Main' }}:
  - group: ADFParamsPrd

Conclusion

In this blog you learned how to add an IF statement in your YAML code. Don't forget the extra indention on the next line below the IF and add the extra minus symbol before the IF when the line after the IF requires one. And don't make it too complex for your colleagues.

Thanks Collin Mezach for helping out.