boolean env var in Github actions

Question

I have a boolean env var TAG_EVENT and I update it in one of the steps to false (I also print it and I see it false) but for some reason, the last step is not executed although TAG_EVENT is false. I appreciate help with that,

on:
 workflow_dispatch:

 env:
 TAG_EVENT: ${{ true }}

 jobs:
   push_images:
   name: Push images
   runs-on: ubuntu-latest
   if: ${{ github.event_name != 'pull_request' }}
   steps:
   - id: version
     name: Infer version
     run: |
        version="${GITHUB_REF#refs/tags/v}"
        echo $version
        if  [[ $version == refs/* ]] ;
         then
           echo 'TAG_EVENT=false' >> $GITHUB_ENV
           branch="${GITHUB_REF#refs/heads/}"
           version=$branch

       fi
       echo ::set-output name=version::$version
   - name: Publish latest image tag for release
     if: github.event_name != 'pull_request' && TAG_EVENT == false
     run: |
       echo "printme!!!"

user_7074015 · Answer

As you make use of a text-based shell like bash, you will have to deal with strings. Therefore you wont be able to do a check for false, but need to do it for 'false'. But I would suggest marshaling the boolean by using GitHub's built-in toJSON and fromJSON functions:

...
steps:
  - name: I produce a boolean output
    id: output_producer
    shell: bash
    run: |
      if [[ $RANDOM > 100 ]]; then i=true; else i=false; fi
      echo "::set-output name=boolean_output::${{ toJSON($i) }}"
      echo "::set-output name=integer_output::${{ toJSON($i) }}"
  - name: I run conditionally on that boolean
    if: fromJSON(steps.output_producer.outputs.boolean_output) 
    shell: bash
    run: |
      echo "Ran successfully!"
  - name: I run always
    if: always()
    shell: bash
    run: |
      echo ${{ fromJSON(steps.output_producer.outputs.integer_output) }}

user_6068454 · Answer

There is some inconsistency between the input context and the way booleans are treated in GitHub Actions. I have a short write-up on this. Hope you find this helpful

GitHub Actions: Passing Boolean input variables to reusable workflow_call

user_16236820 · Answer

Try to use in second if-statement ${{ env.TAG_EVENT == false }}

boolean env var in Github actions

3 Answers