Gitlab evaluates '$CI_SQUAD_TOKEN == null' to true for developer roles

LAVA test jobs was enabled for new MRs with this change !148 (merged) with the below rules.

  rules:
    - if: '$CI_SQUAD_TOKEN == null'
      when: never
    # Run the build when it is scheduled.
    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "schedule"
    # Do not run pipelines for draft merge requests unless manually triggered.
    - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "merge_request_event" && $CI_MERGE_REQUEST_TITLE =~ /^(wip|draft):.*/i'
      when: manual
    # Run the build when a merge request is created.
    - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "merge_request_event"'
    # Run the build when a tag is placed.
    - if: '$CI_COMMIT_TAG'

Lava test jobs will be added to pipeline only when GitLab CI variable $CI_SQUAD_TOKEN is defined so that test job can be submitted successfully.

For me as a reporter role, the token is set on my fork manually, test jobs are added correctly. Example: https://gitlab.eclipse.org/chaseqi/oniro/-/pipelines/5744

For developer roles on the oniro project, the token should be already set as the pipeline runs in the space of the project directly, but test jobs are not added to pipeline. Example: https://gitlab.eclipse.org/eclipse/oniro-core/oniro/-/pipelines/5463

Stevan and I debugged the issue with the MR !194 (diffs). For developer roles, when the token check disabled, test jobs added to pipeline. It proved that GitLab think $CI_SQUAD_TOKEN not set for developers.

@pastanki would you please look into the issue? Let me know if you need any assistance.

CC @sradakovi

added teamtesting label

assigned to @pastanki

I unprotected squad related variables. It worked: https://gitlab.eclipse.org/eclipse/oniro-core/oniro/-/pipelines/6494

closed