Docker build failed: tag invalid reference format (Gitlab CI)

Question

I've created a repo in gitlab for a Dockerfile. In the .gitlab-ci.yml i defined two stages: build and push to the registry.

This is the .gitlab-ci.yml file:

image: docker

stages:
    - build
    - push

build:
    stage: build
    script:
      - docker build --no-cache -t ${DOCKER_REGISTRY}/debian9-cunit .

push:
    stage: push
    script:
      - docker push ${DOCKER_REGISTRY}/debian9-cunit

When I run the pipeline, the build stage fails saying:

invalid argument "/debian9-cunit" for "-t, --tag" flag: invalid reference format

The same exact code (with only a different name after "/debian9-") works with no problem in another repo of a collegue. What can be the problem?

Seems the ${DOCKER_REGISTRY} variable is not replaced, perhaps the pipeline is looking into system variables. could you try to add double quotes in the script section? — M. Falzone
– M. Falzone, Commented Nov 6, 2018 at 13:32
I tried both "${DOCKER_REGISTRY}/debian9-cunit" and "${DOCKER_REGISTRY}"/debian9-cunit but the result is the same — Federico Taschin
– Federico Taschin, Commented Nov 6, 2018 at 13:39
Try replacing ${DOCKER_REGISTRY} with an actual existing repository. I agree with @M.Falzone, seems like that variable isn't set, and Docker is yelling because you can't start your tag with a slash. — bluescores
– bluescores, Commented Nov 6, 2018 at 13:58
is it possible that DOCKER_REGISTRY isn't setted up? btw seems you want to use the gitlab.com registry, in that case, try with "docker build --no-cache -t ${CI_REGISTRY}/${CI_PROJECT_PATH}/debian-9-cunit ." — M. Falzone
– M. Falzone, Commented Nov 6, 2018 at 13:59
If I replace with ${CI_REGISTRY}/${CI_PROJECT_PATH}/debian-9-cunit I get: "invalid argument "/federico/dk-debian9-cunit/debian9-cunit" for "-t, --tag" flag: invalid reference format" — Federico Taschin
– Federico Taschin, Commented Nov 6, 2018 at 14:04

plainerman · Accepted Answer · 2022-04-02 16:00:25Z

7

If anyone is having this issue in combination with Heroku-based applications (e.g. in Gitlab AutoDevOps) you might need to activate the GitLab container registry on your GitLab installation and in your project.

edited Apr 2, 2022 at 16:00

answered Aug 30, 2019 at 15:59

plainerman

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Robert Kirby · Accepted Answer · 2019-06-26 08:56:03Z

1

Problem solved: I didn't have a GitLab runner on my personal company profile. The other project was of a group that has a shared runner.

edited Jun 26, 2019 at 8:56

Robert Kirby

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answered Nov 7, 2018 at 14:46

Federico Taschin

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