How to access a build's custom variable in script in TFS 2015?

Question

In Team Foundation Server 2015 in build definition I use my custom variables defined on Variables tab. Is there any way to access them in PowerShell build step like predefined variables can be accessed eg "$env:BUILD_DEFINITIONNAME"? Thank you

Answer 1

[disclaimer: I work on the new build system]

I often advise folks to use the cmdline task or a cmd script to print out the variables (call set on windows, env on *nix). There's docs etc... but actually running it will show exactly what is really available.

Add cmdline task (in utility) with tool = cmd and arguments = /k set

Variables on the definitions variable tab should be available as environment variables upper cased

So:

my variable

Is available as the environment variable

MY VARIABLE

There is a current bug, it should be per spec MY_VARIABLE. On the xplat agent/shell script it's MY_VARIABLE

This makes it accessible to cmd, powershell, shell etc... scripts.