exporting the variable

.gitlab-ci.yml

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ initial_build:
     # specify auths for kaniko executor
     - echo "{\"auths\":{\"$CI_REGISTRY\":{\"username\":\"$CI_REGISTRY_USER\",\"password\":\"$CI_REGISTRY_PASSWORD\"}}}" > /kaniko/.docker/config.json
     # Read the value of DOCKER_LATEST_IMAGE_EXISTS from the artifact
-    - DOCKER_LATEST_IMAGE_EXISTS=$(cat docker_latest_image.txt)
+    - export DOCKER_LATEST_IMAGE_EXISTS=$(cat docker_latest_image.txt)
     # if the image does not exist, build it
     - if $DOCKER_LATEST_IMAGE_EXISTS=false; then /kaniko/executor --context $CI_PROJECT_DIR --dockerfile $CI_PROJECT_DIR/Dockerfile --destination $CI_REGISTRY_IMAGE:$CI_COMMIT_BRANCH; else echo "Docker image already exists"; fi
   rules: # if the image is pushed into main branch, the build_main job will run