Setup of azure-pipelines.yml "No web project was found in the repository" with ASP.NET Core - asp.net-core

Question

I need help to setup my azure-pipelines.yml build file because I cannot find any good tutorial, sample or other kind of help anywhere.
I follow this tutorial by Microsoft https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/pipelines/languages/dotnet-core?view=azure-devops but despite all information they give I still get errors.
azure-pipelines.yml
# ASP.NET Core
# Build and test ASP.NET Core projects targeting .NET Core.
# Add steps that run tests, create a NuGet package, deploy, and more:
# https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/devops/pipelines/languages/dotnet-core
trigger:
- master
pool:
vmImage: 'Ubuntu-16.04'
variables:
buildConfiguration: 'Release'
steps:
# - script: dotnet build --configuration $(buildConfiguration)
# displayName: 'dotnet build $(buildConfiguration)'
- task: DotNetCoreInstaller#0
inputs:
version: '2.2.202' # replace this value with the version that you need for your project
- script: dotnet restore
- task: DotNetCoreCLI#2
displayName: Build
inputs:
command: build
projects: '**/*.csproj'
arguments: '--configuration Release' # Update this to match your need
# do this after you've built your app, near the end of your pipeline in most cases
# for example, you do this before you deploy to an Azure web app on Windows
- task: DotNetCoreCLI#2
inputs:
command: publish
publishWebProjects: True
arguments: '--configuration $(BuildConfiguration) --output $(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory)'
zipAfterPublish: True
- task: PublishBuildArtifacts#1
inputs:
ArtifactName: 'drop'
Log
##[section]Starting: DotNetCoreCLI
==============================================================================
Task : .NET Core
Description : Build, test, package, or publish a dotnet application, or run a custom dotnet command. For package commands, supports NuGet.org and authenticated feeds like Package Management and MyGet.
Version : 2.150.1
Author : Microsoft Corporation
Help : [More Information](https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=832194)
==============================================================================
##[error]No web project was found in the repository. Web projects are identified by presence of either a web.config file or wwwroot folder in the directory.
##[error]Project file(s) matching the specified pattern were not found.
##[section]Finishing: DotNetCoreCLI
Why these error and what am I doing wrong?
Additional information
- I can build and publish from Visual Studio to my Azure web app. My API is working. I just cannot do it as part of CI / CD.
- I don't understand this error because I don't understand why the DotNetCore are requesting a web.config.

Answer 1

It only worked for me when I gave it the path to my Web API (set **/*WebApi.csproj to your own location).
But just as importantly, I had to assure the build agent it was NOT a web project by setting publishWebProjects to false.
- task: DotNetCoreCLI#2
displayName: '📗📗📗 Publish 📗📗📗'
inputs:
command: publish
projects: '**/*WebApi.csproj'
publishWebProjects: False
arguments: '--configuration $(BuildConfiguration) --output $(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory)'
zipAfterPublish: True
Q: Are emojis necessary in the publish definition?
A: Yes, emojis are necessary. (Actually, no. But it would be less silly than having to set publishWebProjects to false.)