add .npmrc file if one doesn't exist

Author: bschnurr

build/templates/publish-extension.yml

@@ -165,9 +165,6 @@ jobs:
           type: releaseJob # This makes a job a release job
           isProduction: true # Indicates a production release
         steps:
-          - checkout: self
-            fetchDepth: 1
-            fetchTags: false
 
           - template: setup.yml
             parameters:

build/templates/setup.yml

@@ -9,6 +9,20 @@ parameters:
 
 steps:
   - ${{ if eq(parameters.installNode, true) }}:
+      - pwsh: |
+          if (-not (Test-Path '.npmrc')) {
+            Write-Host 'No .npmrc found, creating one with public npm registry'
+            @"
+          # Force public npm registry to avoid CI auth (E401) when no token is provided
+          registry=https://registry.npmjs.org/
+          # Do not require auth for public installs
+          always-auth=false
+          "@ | Out-File -FilePath '.npmrc' -Encoding utf8
+          } else {
+            Write-Host '.npmrc already exists'
+          }
+        displayName: Ensure .npmrc exists
+
       - task: npmAuthenticate@0
         inputs:
           workingFile: .npmrc