# metalcloud-cli variable create

Create a new variable

## Synopsis

Create a new variable with specified configuration.

This command creates a new variable using configuration provided through a JSON file
or piped input. The configuration must include at minimum the variable name and value.

Required Flags:
  --config-source    Source of the variable configuration data

Configuration Source Options:
  pipe              Read configuration from stdin (use with echo or cat)
  /path/to/file     Read configuration from specified JSON file

Configuration Format:
  The configuration must be valid JSON with the following structure:
  {
    "name": "variable-name",           // Required: Variable name
    "value": {                         // Required: Key-value pairs
      "key1": "value1",
      "key2": "value2"
    },
    "usage": "general"                 // Optional: Usage type
  }

Required Permissions:
  VARIABLES_AND_SECRETS_WRITE

Examples:
  ## Create variable from JSON file
  metalcloud-cli variable create --config-source /path/to/config.json
  
  ## Create variable from stdin using pipe
  echo '{"name":"my-var","value":{"env":"prod","region":"us-east"}}' | metalcloud-cli variable create --config-source pipe
  
  ## Create variable from file using cat
  cat my-variable.json | metalcloud-cli variable create --config-source pipe
  
  ## Using alias
  metalcloud-cli var new --config-source /tmp/variable.json

```
metalcloud-cli variable create [flags]
```

### Options

```
      --config-source string   Source of the new variable configuration. Can be 'pipe' or path to a JSON file.
  -h, --help                   help for create
```

### Options inherited from parent commands

```
  -k, --api_key string         MetalCloud API key
  -c, --config string          Config file path
  -d, --debug                  Set to enable debug logging
  -e, --endpoint string        MetalCloud API endpoint
  -f, --format string          Output format. Supported values are 'text','csv','md','json','yaml'. (default "text")
  -i, --insecure_skip_verify   Set to allow insecure transport
  -l, --log_file string        Log file path
  -v, --verbosity string       Log level verbosity (default "INFO")
```

### SEE ALSO

* [metalcloud-cli variable](/content/configuration/cli/metalcloud-cli_variable.md)	 - Manage variables for infrastructure configuration

#### Auto generated by spf13/cobra on 11-Aug-2025