Bitbucket yaml file is not running inheritance function

[yosser_mahfoudh]

Hello team,

I'm trying to work with anchors and inheritance in Bitbucket yaml file but I got this error 

There is an error in your bitbucket-pipelines.yml at [pipelines > branches > release > 1]. Step is empty, null, or missing.

  definitions:

    services:

      docker:

        memory: 1024  

    caches:

      sonar: ~/.sonar

      maven:  ~/.m2/repository

    steps:

      - step: &build-release-common

          name: Build and Test with Default Branches

          caches:

            - maven

          size: 2x  

          script:            

                - echo "Building and testing the project with release branches..."

   branches:

      "release":

        - step:

          <<: *build-release-common

          deployment: Staging

          name: "build and test"

          script:

            - echo "Deploying to Staging"

[Theodora Boudale]

Hi Yosser,

This error usually indicates an issue with indentation. Indentation needs to be at least one space from the previous level, and for everything under - step: it needs to be at least three spaces. I normally use two and four spaces respectively.

Additionally, combining a YAML anchor for a step with an additional script is not going to work. Even with correct indentation, the step <<: *build-release-common is not going to be executed. When you use a YAML anchor in a step, you can only use overrides for things like the step name, deployment, trigger. You cannot add another script in that step.

An example that should work with correct indentation and no additional script under the anchor is the following:

definitions:
  services:
    docker:
      memory: 1024 
  caches:
    sonar: ~/.sonar
    maven: ~/.m2/repository
  steps:
    - step: &build-release-common
        name: Build and Test with Default Branches
        caches:
          - maven
        size: 2x  
        script: 
          - echo "Building and testing the project with release branches..."

pipelines:
  branches:
    "release":
      - step:
          <<: *build-release-common
          deployment: Staging
          name: "build and test"

Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions!

Kind regards,
Theodora