az bicep build --pattern throws error

[frits-becker]

Describe the bug

In bicep version 0.34.1 '--pattern' was added and in the latest release (v0.35.1), the output dir param was added.

So I just tried it on a agent and my local laptop with 'az bicep build --pattern './**/*.bicep', I get the error 'the following arguments are required: --file/-f'. I also get the error when I add '--outdir ./folder'

I updated the az cli to v2.72.0 and bicep to v0.35.1.

This works correctly if I use it on powershell and install bicep through winget. and call the same as above, without the 'az'.

So it looks like Azure CLI does checks for the bicep library, that is not needed and throws an error now that there is a new functionallity.

Related command

az bicep build --pattern './**/*.bicep

Errors

the following arguments are required: --file/-f

Issue script & Debug output

Expected behavior

I expect that -f is not mandatory anymore.

Environment Summary

azure-cli 2.72.0 *

core 2.72.0 *
telemetry 1.1.0

Dependencies:
msal 1.32.3
azure-mgmt-resource 23.1.1

Python location 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Azure\CLI2\python.exe'
Config directory 'C:\Users\frits.azure'
Extensions directory 'C:\Users\frits.azure\cliextensions'

Python (Windows) 3.12.8 (tags/v3.12.8:2dc476b, Dec 3 2024, 19:30:04) [MSC v.1942 64 bit (AMD64)]

Additional context

No response

[azure-client-tools-bot-prd]

Hi @fiddymaster,

2.72.0 is not the latest Azure CLI(2.73.0).

If you haven't already attempted to do so, please upgrade to the latest Azure CLI version by following https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cli/azure/update-azure-cli.

[yonzhan]

Thank you for opening this issue, we will look into it.

[microsoft-github-policy-service]

Thanks for the feedback! We are routing this to the appropriate team for follow-up. cc @Azure/deployments-owners.

[frits-becker]

Updated az cli, still the same.
azure-cli 2.73.0

core 2.73.0
telemetry 1.1.0

Dependencies:
msal 1.32.3
azure-mgmt-resource 23.3.0

Python location 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Azure\CLI2\python.exe'
Config directory 'C:\Users\frits.azure'
Extensions directory 'C:\Users\frits.azure\cliextensions'

Python (Windows) 3.12.8 (tags/v3.12.8:2dc476b, Dec 3 2024, 19:30:04) [MSC v.1942 64 bit (AMD64)]

[ikkentim]

Would be great if --pattern would be available through the az cli, so that i can use az bicep lint --pattern instead of having to lint files one by one.

[torreymicrosoft]

Thanks for your patience — this was recently picked up as an outstanding open issue for the ARM Deployments team to review.

You've diagnosed it correctly. The standalone Bicep CLI added --pattern (build/lint/format/restore/build-params), but the Azure CLI wrappers (az bicep build, az bicep lint, …) still hard-require --file/-f and don't surface --pattern, so:

az bicep build --pattern './**/*.bicep'
# ERROR: the following arguments are required: --file/-f

I confirmed this on current Azure CLI (2.85.0) with Bicep 0.43.8 — bicep --help lists --pattern for build/lint/format/restore, but az bicep build --help only exposes --file/--outdir/--outfile/--stdout/--no-restore. So it's a feature gap in the CLI wrapper, not a Bicep problem.

This is a reasonable enhancement — add --pattern (and the matching --outdir behavior) to the az bicep commands — and @ikkentim's az bicep lint --pattern ask fits the same change. We'll re-tag this as a feature request. In the meantime, calling the Bicep CLI directly (bicep build --pattern …) is the workaround. Thanks @frits-becker and @ikkentim.