gitlab-ci.yaml syntax for merging YAML arrays (i.e., script or after_script, rules, etc.)

Update

A solution for this issue was implemented in #266173 (closed) please review it first before adding your comment to this issue

Problem to solve

It is not possible to use multiple anchors to construct scripts or after_scripts, or any array in YAML. This would come in very handy in constructing more complex scripts without code duplication.

Intended users

• Devon (DevOps Engineer)

User experience goal

Proposal

Support defining explicit merge behaviors within the script, before_script, and after_script sections as follows:

.setup:
  script: &setup_script
    - echo creating my environment 
    ...

.teardown:
  script: &teardown_script
    - echo deleting my environment
    ...

test:
  script: !merge
    - *setup_script
    - echo running my own command
    - *teardown_script

Or, for rules:

test:
  rules: !merge
    - *other-rule-1
    - *other-rule-2
    - *other-rule-3

Further details

Permissions and Security

Documentation

Availability & Testing

What does success look like, and how can we measure that?

What is the type of buyer?

Is this a cross-stage feature?

Links / references