Azure DevOps - During the build pipeline run, what is the path where the Agent downloads the files locally? - azure-devops

Question

We are using a Microsoft Hosted Agent to run a build pipeline for an automated test scenario for our application. What we would like to achieve is, having our automation procedure, to download a file (from a headless chrome browser), then navigate to the path where it is downloaded and open it.
How could I find the path where the files are being downloaded inside the Agent?

Answer 1

Quick compilation of list of pre-defined variables related to paths for the build on linux and windows self hosted agents from official doc link.
The one you are looking is Agent.BuildDirectory or Pipeline.Workspace.
List of predefined variables:
Variable type
Variable
Description
Example
Agent
Agent.BuildDirectory
The local path on the agent where all folders for a given build pipeline are created
D:\..\agent\_work\1
Agent
Agent.HomeDirectory
The directory the agent is installed into
C:\agent
Agent
Agent.TempDirectory
A temporary folder that is cleaned after each pipeline job
D:\..\agent\_work\_temp
Agent
Agent.ToolsDirectory
The directory used by tasks such as Node Tool Installer and Use Python Version to switch between multiple versions of a tool
D:\..\agent\_work\_tool
Agent
Agent.WorkFolder
The working directory for agent
c:\agent_work
Build
Build.SourcesDirectory
The local path on the agent where your source code files are downloaded.
c:\agent_work\1\s
Build
Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory
The local path on the agent where any artifacts are copied to before being pushed to their destination. A typical way to use this folder is to publish your build artifacts with the Copy files and Publish build artifacts tasks
c:\agent_work\1\a
Build
Build.StagingDirectory
The local path on the agent where any artifacts are copied to before being pushed to their destination.
c:\agent_work\1\a
Build
Build.BinariesDirectory
The local path on the agent you can use as an output folder for compiled binaries
c:\agent_work\1\b
Build
Build.Repository.LocalPath
The local path on the agent where your source code files are downloaded.
c:\agent_work\1\s
Build
Common.TestResultsDirectory
The local path on the agent where the test results are created.
c:\agent_work\1\TestResults
Pipeline
Pipeline.Workspace
The Workspace directory for a particular pipeline
/home/vsts/work/1
System
System.DefaultWorkingDirectory
The local path on the agent where your source code files are downloaded.
c:\agent_work\1\s

Answer 2

When you install the agent, you specify the work directory. In pipeline tasks, you can find out exactly where within that directory files are staged with variables like $(Agent.BuildDirectory). This might not be the exact location you need, but I think it is in the right direction.
For a complete list of predefined variables, see here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/pipelines/build/variables?view=azure-devops&tabs=yaml

Answer 3

You can check this document:
So for Linux its default location /home/<username>/Downloads.
I do the test in Microsoft hosted agent-window2019 with test C# code(Hint from Daniel!) like:
static void Main(string[] args)
{
string FILEURI = "https://www.nuget.org/api/v2/package/Cauldron.Newton/2.0.0";
System.Diagnostics.Process prozess = new System.Diagnostics.Process();
prozess.StartInfo.FileName = #"C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe";
prozess.StartInfo.Arguments = "--download " + FILEURI;
prozess.Start();
Console.WriteLine("Test starts.");
}
And then I use command like dir c:\users\VssAdministrator\cauldron.newton.2.0.0.nupkg /s /b to find the location of downloaded file: cauldron.newton.2.0.0.nupkg.
Then i confirmed the default download location of Chrome is still C:/Users/{user}/Downloads, same as using self-agent or downloading locally. (VssAdministrator is user when run windows hosted agent)
So I think Linux hosted agent should have similar behavior. You can try to find your file from /home/<username>/Downloads folder. Hope it helps.