[0.81] Build pipeline improvements

.ado/build-template.yml

@@ -231,6 +231,7 @@ extends:
           - template: .ado/templates/set-version-vars.yml@self
             parameters:
               buildEnvironment: Continuous
+              isReleaseBuild: $(isReleaseBuild)
 
           # 8. Include npmPack.js for Release pipeline (CI only)
           - script: copy ".ado\scripts\npmPack.js" "$(Build.StagingDirectory)\versionEnvVars\npmPack.js"

.ado/jobs/desktop-single.yml

@@ -27,15 +27,29 @@ steps:
     displayName: Install IIS
 
   - pwsh: |
-      Invoke-WebRequest `
+      function Invoke-WebRequestWithRetry($Uri, $OutFile, $MaxRetries = 3) {
+        for ($i = 1; $i -le $MaxRetries; $i++) {
+          try {
+            Write-Host "Downloading $OutFile (attempt $i of $MaxRetries)"
+            Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $Uri -OutFile $OutFile
+            return
+          } catch {
+            Write-Host "Attempt $i failed: $_"
+            if ($i -eq $MaxRetries) { throw }
+            Start-Sleep -Seconds (5 * $i)
+          }
+        }
+      }
+
+      Invoke-WebRequestWithRetry `
         -Uri 'https://download.visualstudio.microsoft.com/download/pr/20598243-c38f-4538-b2aa-af33bc232f80/ea9b2ca232f59a6fdc84b7a31da88464/dotnet-hosting-8.0.3-win.exe' `
         -OutFile dotnet-hosting-8.0.3-win.exe
 
       Write-Host 'Installing .NET hosting bundle'
       Start-Process -Wait -FilePath .\dotnet-hosting-8.0.3-win.exe -ArgumentList '/INSTALL', '/QUIET', '/NORESTART'
       Write-Host 'Installed .NET hosting bundle'
 
-      Invoke-WebRequest `
+      Invoke-WebRequestWithRetry `
         -Uri 'https://download.visualstudio.microsoft.com/download/pr/f2ec926e-0d98-4a8b-8c70-722ccc2ca0e5/b59941b0c60f16421679baafdb7e9338/dotnet-sdk-7.0.407-win-x64.exe' `
         -OutFile dotnet-sdk-7.0.407-win-x64.exe
 

.ado/jobs/linting.yml

@@ -16,7 +16,29 @@ jobs:
     variables: [template: ../variables/windows.yml]
     pool: ${{ parameters.AgentPool.Medium }}
     steps:
-      - template: ../templates/checkout-shallow.yml
+      - ${{ if eq(parameters.buildEnvironment, 'Continuous') }}:
+        - template: ../templates/checkout-shallow.yml
+          parameters:
+            persistCredentials: true
+
+        # Extract the GitHub OAuth token that ADO uses to clone the repo.
+        # Any authenticated token raises the GitHub API rate limit from 60 to
+        # 5,000 req/hr, which prevents validate-overrides from being throttled.
+        - pwsh: |
+            $headerLine = git config --get-regexp "http.*\.extraheader" 2>$null | Select-Object -First 1
+            if (-not $headerLine) {
+              Write-Host "##vso[task.logissue type=warning]No HTTP extraheader found — validate-overrides will run without GitHub auth"
+              exit 0
+            }
+            $encoded = ($headerLine.Split(' ')[-1]).Trim()
+            $decoded = [System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8.GetString([System.Convert]::FromBase64String($encoded))
+            $token = $decoded.Split(':')[-1]
+            Write-Host "Extracted GitHub OAuth token (length=$($token.Length))"
+            Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=GitHubOAuthToken;issecret=true]$token"
+          displayName: Extract GitHub OAuth token
+
+      - ${{ else }}:
+        - template: ../templates/checkout-shallow.yml
 
       - template: ../templates/prepare-js-env.yml
 
@@ -28,6 +50,9 @@ jobs:
 
       - script: yarn validate-overrides
         displayName: yarn validate-overrides
+        ${{ if eq(parameters.buildEnvironment, 'Continuous') }}:
+          env:
+            PLATFORM_OVERRIDE_GITHUB_TOKEN: $(GitHubOAuthToken)
 
       - script: npx unbroken -q --local-only --allow-local-line-sections
         displayName: check local links in .md files

.ado/release-pipeline.yml

@@ -19,6 +19,12 @@ name: RNW Release $(Date:yyyyMMdd).$(Rev:r)
 trigger: none
 pr: none
 
+parameters:
+  - name: forceRelease
+    displayName: 'Force release (override CI flag — emergency use only)'
+    type: boolean
+    default: false
+
 resources:
   pipelines:
   - pipeline: 'CI'
@@ -57,6 +63,12 @@ extends:
       jobs:
       - job: Evaluate
         displayName: Check if release should proceed
+        templateContext:
+          inputs:
+          - input: pipelineArtifact
+            pipeline: 'CI'
+            artifactName: 'VersionEnvVars'
+            targetPath: '$(Pipeline.Workspace)/VersionEnvVars'
         steps:
         - checkout: none
 
@@ -99,10 +111,15 @@ extends:
             CI_REQUESTEDFOR: $(resources.pipeline.CI.requestedFor)
             CI_REQUESTEDFORID: $(resources.pipeline.CI.requestedForID)
 
+        # Apply version variables from the CI artifact (sets IsReleaseBuild, npmVersion, etc.)
+        - task: CmdLine@2
+          displayName: Apply CI version variables
+          inputs:
+            script: node $(Pipeline.Workspace)/VersionEnvVars/versionEnvVars.js
+
         - pwsh: |
-            $buildReason = $env:BUILD_REASON
-            # Use only the first line of the commit message
-            $sourceMessage = ($env:SOURCE_MESSAGE -split "`n")[0].Trim()
+            $forceRelease = '${{ parameters.forceRelease }}'
+            $isReleaseBuild = $env:IS_RELEASE_BUILD
             $ciRunName = $env:CI_RUN_NAME
             $sourceBranch = $env:SOURCE_BRANCH -replace '^refs/heads/', ''
 
@@ -111,25 +128,42 @@ extends:
             $originalBuildNumber = $env:BUILD_BUILDNUMBER
             $dateStamp = if ($originalBuildNumber -match '(\d{8}\.\d+)$') { $Matches[1] } else { "" }
 
+            # Fallback: if IsReleaseBuild is not in the CI artifact (old branches),
+            # fall back to commit message detection for backward compatibility.
+            if (-not $isReleaseBuild) {
+              $sourceMessage = ($env:SOURCE_MESSAGE -split "`n")[0].Trim()
+              $isReleaseBuild = if ($sourceMessage.StartsWith("RELEASE:")) { 'True' } else { 'False' }
+              Write-Host "##[warning]IsReleaseBuild not found in CI artifact, fell back to commit message detection: $isReleaseBuild"
+            }
+
+            Write-Host "isReleaseBuild (from CI): $isReleaseBuild"
+            Write-Host "forceRelease (param):     $forceRelease"
+
             $shouldRelease = $false
             $buildNumber = ""
 
-            if ($buildReason -eq "Manual") {
+            if ($forceRelease -eq 'True') {
+              # Emergency override — allow publishing regardless of CI flag
               $shouldRelease = $true
               if ($ciRunName) {
-                $buildNumber = "$ciRunName ($sourceBranch) - $dateStamp"
+                $buildNumber = "$ciRunName [FORCED] ($sourceBranch) - $dateStamp"
               } else {
-                $buildNumber = "Release ($sourceBranch) - $dateStamp"
+                $buildNumber = "Release [FORCED] ($sourceBranch) - $dateStamp"
               }
+              Write-Host "##[warning]Release forced by parameter override"
             }
-            elseif ($sourceMessage.StartsWith("RELEASE:")) {
+            elseif ($isReleaseBuild -eq 'True') {
               $shouldRelease = $true
-              $buildNumber = "$ciRunName ($sourceBranch) - $dateStamp"
+              if ($ciRunName) {
+                $buildNumber = "$ciRunName ($sourceBranch) - $dateStamp"
+              } else {
+                $buildNumber = "Release ($sourceBranch) - $dateStamp"
+              }
             }
             else {
               $shouldRelease = $false
               # Truncate commit message for readability
-              $shortMsg = $sourceMessage
+              $shortMsg = ($env:SOURCE_MESSAGE -split "`n")[0].Trim()
               if ($shortMsg.Length -gt 60) {
                 $shortMsg = $shortMsg.Substring(0, 57) + "..."
               }
@@ -147,20 +181,20 @@ extends:
             Write-Host "##vso[build.updatebuildnumber]$buildNumber"
             Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=shouldRelease;isOutput=true]$shouldRelease"
           name: gate
-          displayName: Determine release eligibility and set build number
+          displayName: Determine release eligibility from CI artifact
           env:
-            BUILD_REASON: $(Build.Reason)
             BUILD_BUILDNUMBER: $(Build.BuildNumber)
-            SOURCE_MESSAGE: $(Build.SourceVersionMessage)
+            IS_RELEASE_BUILD: $(IsReleaseBuild)
             CI_RUN_NAME: $(resources.pipeline.CI.runName)
             SOURCE_BRANCH: $(resources.pipeline.CI.sourceBranch)
+            SOURCE_MESSAGE: $(Build.SourceVersionMessage)
 
         - script: echo Proceeding with release
           displayName: RELEASING - proceeding to publish
           condition: eq(variables['gate.shouldRelease'], 'True')
 
         - script: echo Skipping release
-          displayName: SKIPPED - not a RELEASE commit
+          displayName: SKIPPED - not a release build
           condition: eq(variables['gate.shouldRelease'], 'False')
 
     - stage: Release

.ado/release.yml

@@ -14,6 +14,12 @@ name: RNW NuGet Release $(Date:yyyyMMdd).$(Rev:r)
 trigger: none
 pr: none
 
+parameters:
+  - name: forceRelease
+    displayName: 'Force release (override CI flag — emergency use only)'
+    type: boolean
+    default: false
+
 resources:
   pipelines:
   - pipeline: 'Publish'
@@ -52,6 +58,12 @@ extends:
       jobs:
       - job: Evaluate
         displayName: Check if release should proceed
+        templateContext:
+          inputs:
+          - input: pipelineArtifact
+            pipeline: 'Publish'
+            artifactName: 'VersionEnvVars'
+            targetPath: '$(Pipeline.Workspace)/VersionEnvVars'
         steps:
         - checkout: none
 
@@ -94,10 +106,15 @@ extends:
             PUBLISH_REQUESTEDFOR: $(resources.pipeline.Publish.requestedFor)
             PUBLISH_REQUESTEDFORID: $(resources.pipeline.Publish.requestedForID)
 
+        # Apply version variables from the CI artifact (sets IsReleaseBuild, npmVersion, etc.)
+        - task: CmdLine@2
+          displayName: Apply CI version variables
+          inputs:
+            script: node $(Pipeline.Workspace)/VersionEnvVars/versionEnvVars.js
+
         - pwsh: |
-            $buildReason = $env:BUILD_REASON
-            # Use only the first line of the commit message
-            $sourceMessage = ($env:SOURCE_MESSAGE -split "`n")[0].Trim()
+            $forceRelease = '${{ parameters.forceRelease }}'
+            $isReleaseBuild = $env:IS_RELEASE_BUILD
             $publishRunName = $env:PUBLISH_RUN_NAME
             $sourceBranch = $env:SOURCE_BRANCH -replace '^refs/heads/', ''
 
@@ -106,25 +123,42 @@ extends:
             $originalBuildNumber = $env:BUILD_BUILDNUMBER
             $dateStamp = if ($originalBuildNumber -match '(\d{8}\.\d+)$') { $Matches[1] } else { "" }
 
+            # Fallback: if IsReleaseBuild is not in the CI artifact (old branches),
+            # fall back to commit message detection for backward compatibility.
+            if (-not $isReleaseBuild) {
+              $sourceMessage = ($env:SOURCE_MESSAGE -split "`n")[0].Trim()
+              $isReleaseBuild = if ($sourceMessage.StartsWith("RELEASE:")) { 'True' } else { 'False' }
+              Write-Host "##[warning]IsReleaseBuild not found in CI artifact, fell back to commit message detection: $isReleaseBuild"
+            }
+
+            Write-Host "isReleaseBuild (from CI): $isReleaseBuild"
+            Write-Host "forceRelease (param):     $forceRelease"
+
             $shouldRelease = $false
             $buildNumber = ""
 
-            if ($buildReason -eq "Manual") {
+            if ($forceRelease -eq 'True') {
+              # Emergency override — allow publishing regardless of CI flag
               $shouldRelease = $true
               if ($publishRunName) {
-                $buildNumber = "$publishRunName ($sourceBranch) - $dateStamp"
+                $buildNumber = "$publishRunName [FORCED] ($sourceBranch) - $dateStamp"
               } else {
-                $buildNumber = "Release ($sourceBranch) - $dateStamp"
+                $buildNumber = "Release [FORCED] ($sourceBranch) - $dateStamp"
               }
+              Write-Host "##[warning]Release forced by parameter override"
             }
-            elseif ($sourceMessage.StartsWith("RELEASE:")) {
+            elseif ($isReleaseBuild -eq 'True') {
               $shouldRelease = $true
-              $buildNumber = "$publishRunName ($sourceBranch) - $dateStamp"
+              if ($publishRunName) {
+                $buildNumber = "$publishRunName ($sourceBranch) - $dateStamp"
+              } else {
+                $buildNumber = "Release ($sourceBranch) - $dateStamp"
+              }
             }
             else {
               $shouldRelease = $false
               # Truncate commit message for readability
-              $shortMsg = $sourceMessage
+              $shortMsg = ($env:SOURCE_MESSAGE -split "`n")[0].Trim()
               if ($shortMsg.Length -gt 60) {
                 $shortMsg = $shortMsg.Substring(0, 57) + "..."
               }
@@ -142,20 +176,20 @@ extends:
             Write-Host "##vso[build.updatebuildnumber]$buildNumber"
             Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=shouldRelease;isOutput=true]$shouldRelease"
           name: gate
-          displayName: Determine release eligibility and set build number
+          displayName: Determine release eligibility from CI artifact
           env:
-            BUILD_REASON: $(Build.Reason)
             BUILD_BUILDNUMBER: $(Build.BuildNumber)
-            SOURCE_MESSAGE: $(Build.SourceVersionMessage)
+            IS_RELEASE_BUILD: $(IsReleaseBuild)
             PUBLISH_RUN_NAME: $(resources.pipeline.Publish.runName)
             SOURCE_BRANCH: $(resources.pipeline.Publish.sourceBranch)
+            SOURCE_MESSAGE: $(Build.SourceVersionMessage)
 
         - script: echo Proceeding with release
           displayName: RELEASING - proceeding to publish
           condition: eq(variables['gate.shouldRelease'], 'True')
 
         - script: echo Skipping release
-          displayName: SKIPPED - not a RELEASE commit
+          displayName: SKIPPED - not a release build
           condition: eq(variables['gate.shouldRelease'], 'False')
 
     - stage: Release

.ado/scripts/setVersionEnvVars.js

@@ -21,6 +21,15 @@ if (buildId == undefined) {
   throw new Error("Missing argument for the buildid")
 }
 
+// Optional: isReleaseBuild flag from CI setup detection step.
+// When present, it is included in the VersionEnvVars artifact so the Release
+// pipeline can read the authoritative release/developer classification without
+// re-deriving it from commit messages.
+const isReleaseBuild = process.argv[4] === 'True' ? 'True' : 'False';
+if (process.argv[4] == null) {
+  console.log("##[warning]isReleaseBuild argument not provided, defaulting to False");
+}
+
 let adoBuildVersion=pkgJson.version;
 if (isPr) {
   adoBuildVersion += `.pr${buildId}`;
@@ -38,6 +47,7 @@ const versionEnvVars = {
   reactDevDependency: pkgJson.devDependencies['react'],
   reactNativeDevDependency: pkgJson.devDependencies['react-native'],
   npmDistTag: pkgJson?.beachball?.defaultNpmTag?.trim(),
+  IsReleaseBuild: isReleaseBuild,
 }
 
 if (!versionEnvVars.npmDistTag) {
@@ -46,7 +56,12 @@ if (!versionEnvVars.npmDistTag) {
 
 // Set the build number so the build in the publish pipeline and the release pipeline are named with the convenient version
 // See: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/pipelines/scripts/logging-commands?view=azure-devops&tabs=bash#updatebuildnumber-override-the-automatically-generated-build-number
-console.log(`##vso[build.updatebuildnumber]RNW_${adoBuildVersion}`)
+// CI builds include [Release] or [Dev] tag for at-a-glance identification in pipeline history.
+let buildNumber = `RNW_${adoBuildVersion}`;
+if (!isPr) {
+  buildNumber += isReleaseBuild === 'True' ? ' [Release]' : ' [Dev]';
+}
+console.log(`##vso[build.updatebuildnumber]${buildNumber}`)
 
 // Set env variable to allow VS to build dll with correct version information
 console.log(`##vso[task.setvariable variable=RNW_PKG_VERSION_STR]${versionEnvVars.RNW_PKG_VERSION_STR}`);
@@ -60,6 +75,7 @@ console.log(`##vso[task.setvariable variable=publishCommitId]${versionEnvVars.pu
 console.log(`##vso[task.setvariable variable=reactDevDependency]${versionEnvVars.reactDevDependency}`);
 console.log(`##vso[task.setvariable variable=reactNativeDevDependency]${versionEnvVars.reactNativeDevDependency}`);
 console.log(`##vso[task.setvariable variable=NpmDistTag]${versionEnvVars.npmDistTag}`);
+console.log(`##vso[task.setvariable variable=IsReleaseBuild]${versionEnvVars.IsReleaseBuild}`);
 
 const runnerTemp = process.env.RUNNER_TEMP;
 if (!runnerTemp) {
@@ -80,4 +96,5 @@ console.log("##vso[task.setvariable variable=publishCommitId]${versionEnvVars.pu
 console.log("##vso[task.setvariable variable=reactDevDependency]${versionEnvVars.reactDevDependency}");
 console.log("##vso[task.setvariable variable=reactNativeDevDependency]${versionEnvVars.reactNativeDevDependency}");
 console.log("##vso[task.setvariable variable=NpmDistTag]${versionEnvVars.npmDistTag}");
+console.log("##vso[task.setvariable variable=IsReleaseBuild]${versionEnvVars.IsReleaseBuild}");
 `);

.ado/templates/checkout-shallow.yml

@@ -1,8 +1,14 @@
 # Checkout the state of the repo at the time of the commit being tested,
 # without full history.
+parameters:
+  - name: persistCredentials
+    type: boolean
+    default: false
+
 steps:
   - checkout: self
     fetchDepth: 1
     clean: false
     submodules: false
     lfs: false
+    persistCredentials: ${{ parameters.persistCredentials }}

.ado/templates/set-version-vars.yml

@@ -6,9 +6,12 @@ parameters:
     values:
       - PullRequest
       - Continuous
+  - name: isReleaseBuild
+    type: string
+    default: 'False'
 
 steps:
-  - script: node ./.ado/scripts/setVersionEnvVars.js ${{ parameters.buildEnvironment }} $(Build.BuildId)
+  - script: node ./.ado/scripts/setVersionEnvVars.js ${{ parameters.buildEnvironment }} $(Build.BuildId) ${{ parameters.isReleaseBuild }}
     displayName: Set version variables
     name: setVersionEnvVars
     env: