Create Pipeline v1

Generate Harness v1 simplified Pipeline YAML and optionally push to Harness via MCP.

Alpha: This skill is currently in internal testing only.

Instructions

1. Confirm v1 format - User must specifically want v1 syntax. Default to v0 (/create-pipeline) if unclear.
2. Clarify requirements - Pipeline type (CI, CD, or both), language/framework, deployment target
3. Consult the spec reference - Use references/v1-spec-schema.md for the complete v1 schema, step types, action catalog, and examples
4. Select native actions - Always prefer native action and template steps over run: steps. Consult references/native-actions.md for the full mapping. Key rules:

• Docker build/push → use template: uses: buildAndPushToDocker / buildAndPushToECR / buildAndPushToGAR (never run: docker build && docker push)
• K8s deploy → use action: uses: kubernetes-rolling-deploy or template: uses: k8sRollingDeployStep (never run: kubectl apply)
• Helm deploy → use action: uses: helm-deploy or template: uses: helmDeployBasicStep (never run: helm upgrade --install)
• ECS deploy → use template: uses: ecsBluegreenDeployStep (never run: aws ecs update-service)
• Terraform → use template: uses: terraformStep (never run: terraform apply)
• Security scanning → use native STO templates (gitleaksStep, banditStep, sbomOrchestrationStep)
• Uploads → use template: uses: uploadArtifactsToS3 / uploadArtifactsToGCS (never run: aws s3 cp)
• Approvals → use approval: uses: harness or approval: uses: jira (never polling scripts)
• Ticketing → use action: uses: jira-create / snow-create (never run: curl)
• HTTP requests → use action: uses: http or template: uses: httpStep (never run: curl)
• Use run: steps only for custom build/test/lint commands with no native equivalent

1. Generate v1 YAML using flat structure, ${{ }} expressions, script field for run steps, and action/template steps for deployments
2. Optionally create via MCP using harness_create with resource_type pipeline

v1 Key Differences from v0

Pipeline Structure

pipeline:
  name: My Pipeline
  repo:                          # optional: repository config
    connector: account.github
    name: myorg/my-repo
  clone:                         # optional: clone config
    depth: 1
  on:                            # optional: event triggers
  - push:
      branches: [main]
  env:                           # optional: global env vars
    NODE_ENV: production
  inputs:                        # optional: pipeline inputs
    branch:
      type: string
      default: main
  stages:
  - name: build
    steps:
    - run:
        script: go build

No version:, kind:, or spec: wrapper -- pipeline: is the root key.

Stages

Stages have no type field. Their purpose is determined by their keys.

CI Stage

- name: build
  runtime: cloud
  platform:
    os: linux
    arch: arm
  cache:
    path: node_modules
    key: npm.${{ branch }}
  steps:
  - run:
      script: npm ci

Deployment Stage

- name: deploy
  service: my-service
  environment: staging
  steps:
  - action:
      uses: kubernetes-rolling-deploy
      with:
        dry-run: false

Approval (stage-level)

- approval:
    uses: harness
    with:
      timeout: 30m
      message: "Approve deployment?"
      groups: [admins, ops]
      min-approvers: 1

Step Types

Run Step

Uses script: field (not command: or run:).

# long syntax
- run:
    script: npm test

# short syntax
- run: npm test

# with container
- run:
    container: node:18
    script: npm test

# with shell and env
- run:
    shell: bash
    script: |
      npm ci
      npm test
    env:
      NODE_ENV: test

# with output variables
- id: build
  run:
    script: echo "TAG=v1" >> $HARNESS_OUTPUT
    output: [TAG]

Run Test Step

- run-test:
    container: maven
    script: mvn test
    report:
      type: junit
      path: target/surefire-reports/*.xml
    splitting:
      concurrency: 4

Action Step

Actions replace v0 native steps. See references/v1-spec-schema.md for the full action catalog.

# Kubernetes deploy
- action:
    uses: kubernetes-rolling-deploy
    with:
      dry-run: false

# Helm deploy
- action:
    uses: helm-deploy
    with:
      timeout: 10m

# Terraform plan
- action:
    uses: terraform-plan
    with:
      command: apply
      aws-provider: account.aws_connector

# HTTP request
- action:
    uses: http
    with:
      method: GET
      endpoint: https://acme.com

Background Step

- background:
    container: redis
- run:
    script: npm test

Template Step

- template:
    uses: [email protected]
    with:
      push: true
      tags: latest

Approval Step (inline)

- approval:
    uses: jira
    with:
      connector: account.jira
      project: PROJ

Parallel and Group

# parallel steps
- parallel:
    steps:
    - run:
        script: npm run lint
    - run:
        script: npm test

# parallel stages
- parallel:
    stages:
    - steps:
      - run: go test
    - steps:
      - run: npm test

# step group
- group:
    steps:
    - run:
        script: go build
    - run:
        script: go test

Strategy

# matrix (stage-level)
- strategy:
    matrix:
      node: [16, 18, 20]
      os: [linux, macos]
    max-parallel: 3
  steps:
  - run:
      container: node:${{ matrix.node }}
      script: npm test

# matrix (step-level)
- strategy:
    matrix:
      go: [1.19, 1.20, 1.21]
  run:
    container: golang:${{ matrix.go }}
    script: go test

Failure Strategy

# step-level
- run:
    script: go test
  on-failure:
    errors: all
    action: ignore       # abort, ignore, retry, fail, success

# retry with attempts
- run:
    script: go test
  on-failure:
    errors: [unknown]
    action:
      retry:
        attempts: 5
        interval: 10s
        failure-action: fail

# stage-level
- steps:
  - run:
      script: go test
  on-failure:
    errors: all
    action: abort

Conditional Execution

# stage conditional
- if: ${{ branch == "main" }}
  steps:
  - run:
      script: deploy.sh

# step conditional
- if: ${{ branch == "main" }}
  run:
    script: deploy.sh

Complete CI Example

pipeline:
  repo:
    connector: account.github
    name: myorg/my-app
  clone:
    depth: 1
  on:
  - push:
      branches: [main]
  - pull_request:
      branches: [main]
  stages:
  - name: build-and-test
    runtime: cloud
    platform:
      os: linux
      arch: arm
    cache:
      path: node_modules
      key: npm.${{ branch }}
    steps:
    - run:
        script: npm ci
    - parallel:
        steps:
        - run:
            script: npm run lint
        - run-test:
            script: npm test
            report:
              type: junit
              path: junit.xml
    - action:
        uses: docker-build-push
        with:
          connector: dockerhub
          repo: myorg/my-app
          tags: [${{ pipeline.sequenceId }}, latest]

Complete CD Example

pipeline:
  inputs:
    skip_dry_run:
      type: boolean
      default: false
  stages:
  - name: deploy-staging
    service: petstore
    environment: staging
    steps:
    - action:
        uses: manifest-download
    - action:
        uses: manifest-bake
    - action:
        uses: kubernetes-rolling-deploy
        with:
          dry-run: ${{ inputs.skip_dry_run }}
  - approval:
      uses: harness
      with:
        timeout: 1d
        message: "Approve production deployment?"
        groups: [prod-approvers]
        min-approvers: 1
  - name: deploy-prod
    service: petstore
    environment: prod
    steps:
    - action:
        uses: manifest-download
    - action:
        uses: manifest-bake
    - action:
        uses: kubernetes-rolling-deploy
        with:
          dry-run: false

Creating via MCP

1. Verify the project exists — List projects with harness_list (resource_type: project, org_id) to confirm. If the project does not exist, create it first with harness_create (resource_type: project, body: { identifier, name }) or ask the user.
2. Create the pipeline — Use harness_create with the v1 pipeline YAML serialized as a `yamlPipeline` string in the body. Do not pass a nested JSON pipeline object; it causes serialization errors.

Call MCP tool: harness_create
Parameters:
  resource_type: "pipeline"
  org_id: "<organization>"
  project_id: "<project>"
  body: { yamlPipeline: "<full v1 pipeline YAML string, including 'pipeline:' root key>" }

Examples

Create a v1 CI pipeline

/create-pipeline-v1
Create a v1 CI pipeline for a Node.js app with caching, parallel lint and test, and Docker push

Create a v1 deployment pipeline

/create-pipeline-v1
Create a v1 Kubernetes deployment pipeline with staging approval and production stages

Create a v1 matrix build

/create-pipeline-v1
Create a v1 pipeline that tests across Go 1.19, 1.20, and 1.21 using matrix strategy

Performance Notes

• Always check references/native-actions.md before using a run: step. Native actions provide better error handling, rollback support, and UI integration.
• Always consult references/v1-spec-schema.md for the complete v1 spec before generating YAML.
• Use script: field in run steps, never command: or run: as the field name.
• Use action: uses: or template: uses: for deployments, never v0 native step types like K8sRollingDeploy.
• Do not mix v0 and v1 syntax. No <+...> expressions, no type: on stages, no spec: wrapper.
• Validate all expressions use ${{ }} syntax before presenting.

Troubleshooting

Common v1 Syntax Errors

• Using <+...> instead of ${{ ... }} expressions
• Adding type: field on stages (v1 stages have no type)
• Using command: or run: as the field name instead of script:
• Wrapping pipeline in version:, kind:, spec: (v1 uses bare pipeline:)
• Using v0 step types (K8sRollingDeploy) instead of actions (action: uses: kubernetes-rolling-deploy)
• Using failureStrategies: instead of on-failure:

MCP Errors

• Project not found — Verify the project exists with harness_list (resource_type: project, org_id). Create it first or confirm org_id/project_id are correct.
• Missing required fields for pipeline: pipeline — Pass the body as { yamlPipeline: "<full v1 pipeline YAML string>" } instead of a nested JSON pipeline object.
• DUPLICATE_IDENTIFIER — Pipeline exists; use harness_update
• INVALID_REQUEST — Check YAML structure matches v1 schema