def _build_vars_dict(vars_file='<STR_LIT>', variables=None):
repex_vars = {}<EOL>if vars_file:<EOL><INDENT>with open(vars_file) as varsfile:<EOL><INDENT>repex_vars = yaml.safe_load(varsfile.read())<EOL><DEDENT><DEDENT>for var in variables:<EOL><INDENT>key, value = var.split('<STR_LIT:=>')<EOL>repex_vars.update({str(key): str(value)})<EOL><DEDENT>return repex_vars<EOL>
Merge variables into a single dictionary

    Applies to CLI provided variables only