.gitlab-ci.yml to include multiple shell functions from multiple yml files - gitlab

Question

I have a Gitlab mono repository with some backend Java and frontend Node.js code. To create a CI, I'm working on a shared approach to build both the applications.
In the application repository, let's call it "A", I have source code as well a .gitlab-ci.yml file as below,
A
├── .gitlab-ci.yml
├── backendapi
└── ui
.gitlab-ci.yml file,
---
include:
- project: 'root/B'
ref: master
file: 'top-level.yml'
- project: 'root/B'
ref: master
file: 'maven.yml'
- project: 'root/B'
ref: master
file: 'node.yml'
I have another repository called "B", where I have all my CI functionalities in three different files.
B
├── maven.yml
├── node.yml
└── top-level.yml
top-level.yml file that has my build stage in it,
---
stages:
- build
variables:
GIT_SSL_NO_VERIFY: "1"
.build_script: &build_script
stage: build
tags:
- default
- docker
java_build:
<<: *build_script
image:
name: maven:latest
script:
- backend_build
node_build:
<<: *build_script
image:
name: node:slim
script:
- frontend_build
maven.yml, that has mvn build function,
.maven_build: &maven_build |-
function backend_build {
cd backendapi
mvn clean package -DskipTests
}
before_script:
- *maven_build
node.yml, with node function in it,
.node_build: &node_build |-
function frontend_build {
cd ui
npm install
npm build
}
before_script:
- *node_build
When the .gitlab-ci.yml file in repository "A" is run, it is calling the top-level.yml, maven.yml and node.yml files from the repository "B" which is good.
The problem here is when it runs the java_build it is unable to find the backend_build function from maven.yml instead it seems like it only loading the frontend_build function from node.yml file or overwriting the backend_build function from maven.yml file. The node_build works as expected, cause it can find the frontend_build function.
the Skipping Git submodules setup
Authenticating with credentials from /root/.docker/config.json
Authenticating with credentials from /root/.docker/config.json
Authenticating with credentials from /root/.docker/config.json
$ function frontend_build { # collapsed multi-line command
$ backend_build
/bin/bash: line 90: backend_build: command not found
I know that I can copy all the functions into one big yml file in repository "B" and include the in .gitlab-ci.yml in the repository "A" but here I'm trying to understand is it even possible to try the above approach.
Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Ok, Finally found a hack but not a complete answer as yaml files cannot act accordingly as I stated in my question, but I took a different approach to solve the problem.
Well, there are no more maven.yml or node.yml, there are only four files in the repository B backend.yml, frontend.yml, hybrid.yml and top-level.yml.
The backend.yml has all the functions (build_app, lint_app, unit_test_app and so on..) that are required and the same follows the frontend.yml with different commands in the functions.
ex: In the backend.yml build_app function I will have the maven command at the same time in the frontend.yml build_app function I will have the nom command. Here the build_app function name is common in both the frontend.yml and backend.yml but the functionality is different.
In the top-level.yml stages, I specified the common function name as build_app in the script key.
stages:
- build
variables:
GIT_SSL_NO_VERIFY: "1"
.build_script: &build_script
stage: build
tags:
- default
- docker
build:
<<: *build_script
image: maven:latest
script:
- build_app
But in the .gitlab-ci.yml, depending on the build I need to do, I include that specific yml file. In the below example I want to build the backend and included the backend.yml same applies for the frontend.
include:
- project: 'root/B'
ref: master
file: 'top-level.yml'
- project: 'root/B'
ref: master
file: 'backend.yml'
If I have to build both the backend and frontend, I will use a hybrid.yml with the same function name as build_app but include both the maven and npm command. I know this is not the right approach but I will suffice the use case I'm trying to solve.
Thank you for helping me with the question!
Happy Automation :)