v3.46.2

When using `task FOO=bar` with a Taskfile containing
`FOO: '{{.FOO | default "foo"}}'`, the CLI value was being
overwritten by the Taskfile default.

Split the variable merging into two steps:
1. Merge CLI variables (FOO=bar) first so they override Taskfile vars
2. ReverseMerge special variables (CLI_ARGS, CLI_FORCE, etc.) so
   they're available for templating in Taskfile vars

Fixes regression introduced in #2403.

Co-authored-by: Timothy Rule <timothy.rule@gmail.com>

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 # Changelog
 
-## v3.46.0 - 2025-12-18
+## v3.46.2 - 2025-12-18
+
+- Fixed a regression on previous release that affected variables passed via
+  command line (#2588, #2589 by @vmaerten).
+
+## v3.46.1 - 2025-12-18
 
 ### ✨ Features
 

cmd/task/task.go

@@ -172,18 +172,23 @@ func run() error {
 		calls = append(calls, &task.Call{Task: "default"})
 	}
 
+	// Merge CLI variables first (e.g. FOO=bar) so they take priority over Taskfile defaults
+	e.Taskfile.Vars.Merge(globals, nil)
+
+	// Then ReverseMerge special variables so they're available for templating
 	cliArgsPostDashQuoted, err := args.ToQuotedString(cliArgsPostDash)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	globals.Set("CLI_ARGS", ast.Var{Value: cliArgsPostDashQuoted})
+	specialVars := ast.NewVars()
-	globals.Set("CLI_ARGS_LIST", ast.Var{Value: cliArgsPostDash})
+	specialVars.Set("CLI_ARGS", ast.Var{Value: cliArgsPostDashQuoted})
-	globals.Set("CLI_FORCE", ast.Var{Value: flags.Force || flags.ForceAll})
+	specialVars.Set("CLI_ARGS_LIST", ast.Var{Value: cliArgsPostDash})
-	globals.Set("CLI_SILENT", ast.Var{Value: flags.Silent})
+	specialVars.Set("CLI_FORCE", ast.Var{Value: flags.Force || flags.ForceAll})
-	globals.Set("CLI_VERBOSE", ast.Var{Value: flags.Verbose})
+	specialVars.Set("CLI_SILENT", ast.Var{Value: flags.Silent})
-	globals.Set("CLI_OFFLINE", ast.Var{Value: flags.Offline})
+	specialVars.Set("CLI_VERBOSE", ast.Var{Value: flags.Verbose})
-	globals.Set("CLI_ASSUME_YES", ast.Var{Value: flags.AssumeYes})
+	specialVars.Set("CLI_OFFLINE", ast.Var{Value: flags.Offline})
-	e.Taskfile.Vars.ReverseMerge(globals, nil)
+	specialVars.Set("CLI_ASSUME_YES", ast.Var{Value: flags.AssumeYes})
+	e.Taskfile.Vars.ReverseMerge(specialVars, nil)
 	if !flags.Watch {
 		e.InterceptInterruptSignals()
 	}

executor_test.go

@@ -263,6 +263,23 @@ func TestVars(t *testing.T) {
 			task.WithSilent(true),
 		),
 	)
+	NewExecutorTest(t,
+		WithName("cli-var-priority-default"),
+		WithExecutorOptions(
+			task.WithDir("testdata/vars"),
+			task.WithSilent(true),
+		),
+		WithTask("cli-var-priority"),
+	)
+	NewExecutorTest(t,
+		WithName("cli-var-priority-override"),
+		WithExecutorOptions(
+			task.WithDir("testdata/vars"),
+			task.WithSilent(true),
+		),
+		WithTask("cli-var-priority"),
+		WithVar("CLI_VAR", "from_cli"),
+	)
 }
 
 func TestRequires(t *testing.T) {

internal/version/version.txt

@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.46.1
+3.46.2

testdata/vars/Taskfile.yml

@@ -49,3 +49,10 @@ tasks:
       - echo "{{.MESSAGE}}"
 
   from-dot-env: echo '{{.DOT_ENV_VAR}}'
+
+  # Test that CLI variables take priority over Taskfile defaults
+  cli-var-priority:
+    vars:
+      CLI_VAR: '{{.CLI_VAR | default "default_value"}}'
+    cmds:
+      - echo '{{.CLI_VAR}}'

testdata/vars/testdata/TestVars-cli-var-priority-default.golden

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+default_value

testdata/vars/testdata/TestVars-cli-var-priority-override.golden

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+from_cli

website/src/docs/changelog.md

@@ -7,7 +7,12 @@ outline: deep
 
 ::: v-pre
 
-## v3.46.0 - 2025-12-18
+## v3.46.2 - 2025-12-18
+
+- Fixed a regression on previous release that affected variables passed via
+  command line (#2588, #2589 by @vmaerten).
+
+## v3.46.1 - 2025-12-18
 
 ### ✨ Features