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[GH-ISSUE #2184] GITHUB_OUTPUT scope for custom actions seems not same as GH actions #1031

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opened 2026-03-01 21:48:21 +03:00 by kerem · 2 comments

kerem commented

2026-03-01 21:48:21 +03:00

Owner

Originally created by @shqear93 on GitHub (Jan 31, 2024).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/nektos/act/issues/2184

Bug report info

act version:            0.2.57
GOOS:                   darwin
GOARCH:                 arm64
NumCPU:                 10
Docker host:            unix:///Users/khaled-abushqear/.docker/run/docker.sock
Sockets found:
        /var/run/docker.sock
        $HOME/.docker/run/docker.sock
Config files:           
        /Users/khaled-abushqear/.actrc:
                -P ubuntu-latest=ghcr.io/catthehacker/ubuntu:runner-latest
                -P ubuntu-22.04=ghcr.io/catthehacker/ubuntu:runner-22.04
                -P ubuntu-20.04=ghcr.io/catthehacker/ubuntu:runner-20.04
                -P ubuntu-18.04=ghcr.io/catthehacker/ubuntu:runner-18.04
Build info:
        Go version:            go1.20.12
        Module path:           github.com/nektos/act
        Main version:          (devel)
        Main path:             github.com/nektos/act
        Main checksum:         
        Build settings:
                -buildmode:           exe
                -compiler:            gc
                -trimpath:            true
                CGO_ENABLED:          0
                GOARCH:               arm64
                GOOS:                 darwin
                vcs:                  git
                vcs.revision:         e8856f0fb00fcdd16eef2325b845f55f5d346f51
                vcs.time:             2023-08-21T16:17:06Z
                vcs.modified:         true
Docker Engine:
        Engine version:        24.0.6
        Engine runtime:        runc
        Cgroup version:        2
        Cgroup driver:         cgroupfs
        Storage driver:        overlay2
        Registry URI:          https://index.docker.io/v1/
        OS:                    Docker Desktop
        OS type:               linux
        OS version:            
        OS arch:               aarch64
        OS kernel:             6.4.16-linuxkit
        OS CPU:                10
        OS memory:             7844 MB
        Security options:
                name=seccomp,profile=unconfined
                name=cgroupns

Command used with act

gh act -b --container-architecture linux/amd64 -W .github/workflows/connection_test.yml --eventpath .github/connection_test_payload_example.json --var-file .github/sample.variables.env

Describe issue

The workflows is a custom action located at (./.github/actions/connection-tester), I use it in my main action as follows:

      - name: Executing the action
        id: execute-test
        uses: ./.github/actions/connection-tester
        with:
          env: ${{ inputs.kafka_env }}
          subnet_id: ${{ inputs.subnet_id }}

I have defined output execution_output as example

outputs:
  execution_output:
    description: The execution output
    value: ${{ steps.get-execution-output.outputs.execution_output }}

In the step "Copy outputs to variables" I define the id=get-execution-output which fills this variable with the needed data

in GitHub workflows, if the id was not defined -> the main workflow won't be able to read it:

${{ steps.execute-test.outputs.execution_output }}
# output is empty

in act-cli, even if id was not defined, it fills the content in the variable execution_output

I guess the reason is related to the scopes, it looks like GH workflow defines a separate scope for GITHUB_OUTPUT for each step, but in act-cli, it defines GITHUB_OUTPUT on the custom action level

Link to GitHub repository

No response

Workflow content

name: Connectivity Test
description: Connectivity Test

inputs:
  env:
    description: Target Kafka Cluster
    required: true
  subnet_id:
    description: The subnet ID (to initialize the instance)
    required: true

outputs:
  execution_output:
    description: The execution output
    value: ${{ steps.get-execution-output.outputs.execution_output }}
  md_output:
    description: The execution output in markdown
    value: ${{ steps.get-execution-output.outputs.md_output }}
  rc:
    description: The execution return code
    value: ${{ steps.get-execution-output.outputs.rc }}

runs:
  using: composite
  steps:

    - name: Play Ansible Playbook
      uses: arillso/action.playbook@master
      continue-on-error: true
      with:
        playbook: "${{ github.action_path }}/ansible/main_play.yml"
        galaxy_file: "${{ github.action_path }}/ansible/requirements.yml"
        extra_vars: "subnet_id=${{ inputs.subnet_id }} env=${{ inputs.env }}"
      env:
        ANSIBLE_HOST_KEY_CHECKING: 'false'
        ANSIBLE_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS: 'false'

    - name: Copy outputs to variables
      id: get-execution-output
      working-directory: ${{ github.action_path }}
      shell: bash
      run: ./copy-outputs.sh

Relevant log output

➜  kafka-tests git:(feature/update=summary-html) ✗ gh act -b --container-architecture linux/amd64 -W .github/workflows/connection_test.yml --eventpath .github/connection_test_payload_example.json --var-file .github/sample.variables.env
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] 🚀  Start image=ghcr.io/catthehacker/ubuntu:runner-latest
INFO[0000] Parallel tasks (0) below minimum, setting to 1 
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   🐳  docker pull image=ghcr.io/catthehacker/ubuntu:runner-latest platform=linux/amd64 username= forcePull=true
INFO[0001] Parallel tasks (0) below minimum, setting to 1 
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   🐳  docker create image=ghcr.io/catthehacker/ubuntu:runner-latest platform=linux/amd64 entrypoint=["tail" "-f" "/dev/null"] cmd=[] network="host"
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   🐳  docker run image=ghcr.io/catthehacker/ubuntu:runner-latest platform=linux/amd64 entrypoint=["tail" "-f" "/dev/null"] cmd=[] network="host"
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   🐳  docker exec cmd=[chown -R 1001:1001 /Users/khaled-abushqear/workspace/kafka-tests] user=0 workdir=
| chown: changing ownership of '/Users/khaled-abushqear/workspace/kafka-tests/private_key.pem': Permission denied
| chown: changing ownership of '/Users/khaled-abushqear/workspace/kafka-tests/.git/objects/25/fd944077244789ea6a3e347ed60b8a57db6d56': Permission denied
.
. (not sure why there are too much permission related logs here)
.
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⭐ Run Main Output Inputs
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   🐳  docker exec cmd=[bash --noprofile --norc -e -o pipefail /var/run/act/workflow/0] user= workdir=
| {
|   client_env: dev-rh,
|   kafka_env: Staging,
|   subnet_id: subnet-c64a20b0
| }
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   ✅  Success - Main Output Inputs
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⭐ Run Main Executing the action
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⭐ Run Main Copy outputs to variables
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   🐳  docker exec cmd=[bash --noprofile --norc -e -o pipefail /var/run/act/workflow/execute-test-composite-0.sh] user= workdir=/Users/khaled-abushqear/workspace/kafka-tests/.github/actions/connection-tester
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   ✅  Success - Main Copy outputs to variables
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   ⚙  ::set-output:: md_output=# Results

+    # -----------------------------------------
+    
+    Connection was Failed ❌ 
+    NoBrokersAvailable
+    
+    # -----------------------------------------
+    

[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   ⚙  ::set-output:: error=this
is
an
error
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   ⚙  ::set-output:: rc=0
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   ⚙  ::set-output:: execution_output=
# -----------------------------------------

Connection was Failed ❌ 
NoBrokersAvailable

# -----------------------------------------

[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   ⚙  ::set-output:: md_output=
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   ⚙  ::set-output:: rc=
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   ⚙  ::set-output:: execution_output=
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   ✅  Success - Main Executing the action
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   ⚙  ::set-output:: execution_output=
# -----------------------------------------

Connection was Failed ❌ 
NoBrokersAvailable

# -----------------------------------------

[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   ⚙  ::set-output:: md_output=# Results
```diff
+    # -----------------------------------------
+    
+    Connection was Failed ❌ 
+    NoBrokersAvailable
+    
+    # -----------------------------------------
+    
`-`-`
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   ⚙  ::set-output:: error=this
is
an
error
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   ⚙  ::set-output:: rc=0
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⭐ Run Main debug
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   🐳  docker exec cmd=[bash --noprofile --norc -e -o pipefail /var/run/act/workflow/2] user= workdir=
| rc=0
| error:
| this
| is
| an
| error
| md_output:
| # Results
| ```diff
| +    # -----------------------------------------
| +    
| +    Connection was Failed ❌ 
| +    NoBrokersAvailable
| +    
| +    # -----------------------------------------
| +    
| ```
| execution_output:
| 
| # -----------------------------------------
| 
| Connection was Failed ❌ 
| NoBrokersAvailable
| 
| # -----------------------------------------
| 
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   ✅  Success - Main debug
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⭐ Run Main Adding results to the summary
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   🐳  docker exec cmd=[bash --noprofile --norc -e -o pipefail /var/run/act/workflow/3] user= workdir=
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   ✅  Success - Main Adding results to the summary
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⭐ Run Post Executing the action
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test]   ✅  Success - Post Executing the action
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] Cleaning up container for job Performing Connectivity Test
[Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] 🏁  Job succeeded

Additional information

No response

Originally created by @shqear93 on GitHub (Jan 31, 2024). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/nektos/act/issues/2184 ### Bug report info ```plain text act version: 0.2.57 GOOS: darwin GOARCH: arm64 NumCPU: 10 Docker host: unix:///Users/khaled-abushqear/.docker/run/docker.sock Sockets found: /var/run/docker.sock $HOME/.docker/run/docker.sock Config files: /Users/khaled-abushqear/.actrc: -P ubuntu-latest=ghcr.io/catthehacker/ubuntu:runner-latest -P ubuntu-22.04=ghcr.io/catthehacker/ubuntu:runner-22.04 -P ubuntu-20.04=ghcr.io/catthehacker/ubuntu:runner-20.04 -P ubuntu-18.04=ghcr.io/catthehacker/ubuntu:runner-18.04 Build info: Go version: go1.20.12 Module path: github.com/nektos/act Main version: (devel) Main path: github.com/nektos/act Main checksum: Build settings: -buildmode: exe -compiler: gc -trimpath: true CGO_ENABLED: 0 GOARCH: arm64 GOOS: darwin vcs: git vcs.revision: e8856f0fb00fcdd16eef2325b845f55f5d346f51 vcs.time: 2023-08-21T16:17:06Z vcs.modified: true Docker Engine: Engine version: 24.0.6 Engine runtime: runc Cgroup version: 2 Cgroup driver: cgroupfs Storage driver: overlay2 Registry URI: https://index.docker.io/v1/ OS: Docker Desktop OS type: linux OS version: OS arch: aarch64 OS kernel: 6.4.16-linuxkit OS CPU: 10 OS memory: 7844 MB Security options: name=seccomp,profile=unconfined name=cgroupns ``` ### Command used with act ```sh gh act -b --container-architecture linux/amd64 -W .github/workflows/connection_test.yml --eventpath .github/connection_test_payload_example.json --var-file .github/sample.variables.env ``` ### Describe issue The workflows is a custom action located at (./.github/actions/connection-tester), I use it in my main action as follows: ```yaml - name: Executing the action id: execute-test uses: ./.github/actions/connection-tester with: env: ${{ inputs.kafka_env }} subnet_id: ${{ inputs.subnet_id }} ``` I have defined output `execution_output` as example ```yaml outputs: execution_output: description: The execution output value: ${{ steps.get-execution-output.outputs.execution_output }} ``` In the step "Copy outputs to variables" I define the `id=get-execution-output` which fills this variable with the needed data in GitHub workflows, if the id was not defined -> the main workflow won't be able to read it: ``` ${{ steps.execute-test.outputs.execution_output }} # output is empty ``` in act-cli, even if id was not defined, it fills the content in the variable `execution_output` I guess the reason is related to the scopes, it looks like GH workflow defines a separate scope for GITHUB_OUTPUT for each step, but in act-cli, it defines GITHUB_OUTPUT on the custom action level ### Link to GitHub repository _No response_ ### Workflow content ```yml name: Connectivity Test description: Connectivity Test inputs: env: description: Target Kafka Cluster required: true subnet_id: description: The subnet ID (to initialize the instance) required: true outputs: execution_output: description: The execution output value: ${{ steps.get-execution-output.outputs.execution_output }} md_output: description: The execution output in markdown value: ${{ steps.get-execution-output.outputs.md_output }} rc: description: The execution return code value: ${{ steps.get-execution-output.outputs.rc }} runs: using: composite steps: - name: Play Ansible Playbook uses: arillso/action.playbook@master continue-on-error: true with: playbook: "${{ github.action_path }}/ansible/main_play.yml" galaxy_file: "${{ github.action_path }}/ansible/requirements.yml" extra_vars: "subnet_id=${{ inputs.subnet_id }} env=${{ inputs.env }}" env: ANSIBLE_HOST_KEY_CHECKING: 'false' ANSIBLE_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS: 'false' - name: Copy outputs to variables id: get-execution-output working-directory: ${{ github.action_path }} shell: bash run: ./copy-outputs.sh ``` ### Relevant log output ```sh ➜ kafka-tests git:(feature/update=summary-html) ✗ gh act -b --container-architecture linux/amd64 -W .github/workflows/connection_test.yml --eventpath .github/connection_test_payload_example.json --var-file .github/sample.variables.env [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] 🚀 Start image=ghcr.io/catthehacker/ubuntu:runner-latest INFO[0000] Parallel tasks (0) below minimum, setting to 1 [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] 🐳 docker pull image=ghcr.io/catthehacker/ubuntu:runner-latest platform=linux/amd64 username= forcePull=true INFO[0001] Parallel tasks (0) below minimum, setting to 1 [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] 🐳 docker create image=ghcr.io/catthehacker/ubuntu:runner-latest platform=linux/amd64 entrypoint=["tail" "-f" "/dev/null"] cmd=[] network="host" [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] 🐳 docker run image=ghcr.io/catthehacker/ubuntu:runner-latest platform=linux/amd64 entrypoint=["tail" "-f" "/dev/null"] cmd=[] network="host" [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] 🐳 docker exec cmd=[chown -R 1001:1001 /Users/khaled-abushqear/workspace/kafka-tests] user=0 workdir= | chown: changing ownership of '/Users/khaled-abushqear/workspace/kafka-tests/private_key.pem': Permission denied | chown: changing ownership of '/Users/khaled-abushqear/workspace/kafka-tests/.git/objects/25/fd944077244789ea6a3e347ed60b8a57db6d56': Permission denied . . (not sure why there are too much permission related logs here) . [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⭐ Run Main Output Inputs [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] 🐳 docker exec cmd=[bash --noprofile --norc -e -o pipefail /var/run/act/workflow/0] user= workdir= | { | client_env: dev-rh, | kafka_env: Staging, | subnet_id: subnet-c64a20b0 | } [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ✅ Success - Main Output Inputs [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⭐ Run Main Executing the action [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⭐ Run Main Copy outputs to variables [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] 🐳 docker exec cmd=[bash --noprofile --norc -e -o pipefail /var/run/act/workflow/execute-test-composite-0.sh] user= workdir=/Users/khaled-abushqear/workspace/kafka-tests/.github/actions/connection-tester [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ✅ Success - Main Copy outputs to variables [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⚙ ::set-output:: md_output=# Results + # ----------------------------------------- + + Connection was Failed ❌ + NoBrokersAvailable + + # ----------------------------------------- + [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⚙ ::set-output:: error=this is an error [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⚙ ::set-output:: rc=0 [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⚙ ::set-output:: execution_output= # ----------------------------------------- Connection was Failed ❌ NoBrokersAvailable # ----------------------------------------- [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⚙ ::set-output:: md_output= [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⚙ ::set-output:: rc= [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⚙ ::set-output:: execution_output= [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ✅ Success - Main Executing the action [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⚙ ::set-output:: execution_output= # ----------------------------------------- Connection was Failed ❌ NoBrokersAvailable # ----------------------------------------- [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⚙ ::set-output:: md_output=# Results ```diff + # ----------------------------------------- + + Connection was Failed ❌ + NoBrokersAvailable + + # ----------------------------------------- + `-`-` [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⚙ ::set-output:: error=this is an error [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⚙ ::set-output:: rc=0 [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⭐ Run Main debug [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] 🐳 docker exec cmd=[bash --noprofile --norc -e -o pipefail /var/run/act/workflow/2] user= workdir= | rc=0 | error: | this | is | an | error | md_output: | # Results | ```diff | + # ----------------------------------------- | + | + Connection was Failed ❌ | + NoBrokersAvailable | + | + # ----------------------------------------- | + | ``` | execution_output: | | # ----------------------------------------- | | Connection was Failed ❌ | NoBrokersAvailable | | # ----------------------------------------- | [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ✅ Success - Main debug [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⭐ Run Main Adding results to the summary [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] 🐳 docker exec cmd=[bash --noprofile --norc -e -o pipefail /var/run/act/workflow/3] user= workdir= [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ✅ Success - Main Adding results to the summary [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ⭐ Run Post Executing the action [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] ✅ Success - Post Executing the action [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] Cleaning up container for job Performing Connectivity Test [Kafka Connection Test/Performing Connectivity Test] 🏁 Job succeeded ``` ### Additional information _No response_

kerem added the

kind/bug

stale-exempt

backlog

labels

2026-03-01 21:48:21 +03:00

kerem commented

2026-03-01 21:48:21 +03:00

Author

Owner

@jsoref commented on GitHub (Apr 4, 2024):

Fwiw, here's a simple workflow run: https://github.com/check-spelling-sandbox/nektos-issue-action-outputs-1/actions/runs/8560809761/job/23460628099

`Run echo "$outputs"`

GitHub

{
  "empty-action-output": ""
}

Act

{
  "empty-action-output": "",
  "output3": "from-composite-step2"
}

@jsoref commented on GitHub (Apr 4, 2024): Fwiw, here's a simple workflow run: https://github.com/check-spelling-sandbox/nektos-issue-action-outputs-1/actions/runs/8560809761/job/23460628099 ### `Run echo "$outputs"` #### GitHub ```json { "empty-action-output": "" } ``` #### Act ```json { "empty-action-output": "", "output3": "from-composite-step2" } ```

kerem commented

2026-03-01 21:48:22 +03:00

Author

Owner

@github-actions[bot] commented on GitHub (Oct 2, 2024):

Issue is stale and will be closed in 14 days unless there is new activity

@github-actions[bot] commented on GitHub (Oct 2, 2024): Issue is stale and will be closed in 14 days unless there is new activity

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Reference

starred/act#1031

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