[GH-ISSUE #1090] Issue: GITHUB_ACTIONS is always true #626

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opened 2026-03-01 21:45:04 +03:00 by kerem · 4 comments

kerem commented

2026-03-01 21:45:04 +03:00

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Originally created by @KnisterPeter on GitHub (Mar 30, 2022).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/nektos/act/issues/1090

Not sure if we should changes this behavior, but I think it might be good to follow githubs recommendation for this variable.

Expected behaviour

According to the docs the environment variable GITHUB_ACTIONS is set to true if the workflow is run by GITHUB_ACTIONS and it should be used to distinguish between local and non-local execution.

Actual behaviour

In the act codebase this variables is statically set to true.

github.com/nektos/act@11c3fb39dd/pkg/runner/run_context.go (L604)

Originally created by @KnisterPeter on GitHub (Mar 30, 2022). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/nektos/act/issues/1090 Not sure if we should changes this behavior, but I think it might be good to follow githubs recommendation for this variable. ## Expected behaviour According to the [docs](https://docs.github.com/en/actions/learn-github-actions/environment-variables#default-environment-variables) the environment variable `GITHUB_ACTIONS` is set to true if the workflow is run by `GITHUB_ACTIONS` and it should be used to distinguish between local and non-local execution. ## Actual behaviour In the `act` codebase this variables is statically set to `true`. https://github.com/nektos/act/blob/11c3fb39dd5d3907baf8f13ef6953d0a21321cc2/pkg/runner/run_context.go#L604

kerem

2026-03-01 21:45:04 +03:00

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kerem commented

2026-03-01 21:45:05 +03:00

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@catthehacker commented on GitHub (Mar 30, 2022):

github.com/actions/runner@408d6c579c/src/Runner.Worker/Container/DockerCommandManager.cs (L143)
github.com/actions/runner@408d6c579c/src/Runner.Worker/Container/DockerCommandManager.cs (L209)
github.com/actions/runner@408d6c579c/src/Runner.Sdk/ProcessInvoker.cs (L272)

@catthehacker commented on GitHub (Mar 30, 2022): https://github.com/actions/runner/blob/408d6c579c36f0eb318acfdafdcbafc872696501/src/Runner.Worker/Container/DockerCommandManager.cs#L143 https://github.com/actions/runner/blob/408d6c579c36f0eb318acfdafdcbafc872696501/src/Runner.Worker/Container/DockerCommandManager.cs#L209 https://github.com/actions/runner/blob/408d6c579c36f0eb318acfdafdcbafc872696501/src/Runner.Sdk/ProcessInvoker.cs#L272

kerem commented

2026-03-01 21:45:05 +03:00

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@KnisterPeter commented on GitHub (Mar 30, 2022):

Yes, that's what I've meant. It is true if it is executed in a runner.
From the docs linked above:

Always set to true when GitHub Actions is running the workflow. You can use this variable to differentiate when tests are being run locally or by GitHub Actions.

@KnisterPeter commented on GitHub (Mar 30, 2022): Yes, that's what I've meant. It is true if it is executed in a runner. From the docs linked above: > Always set to true when GitHub Actions is running the workflow. You can use this variable to differentiate when tests are being run locally or by GitHub Actions.

kerem commented

2026-03-01 21:45:05 +03:00

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@kevcube commented on GitHub (Apr 8, 2022):

@KnisterPeter IMO setting this to true makes sense.

act is for simulating GitHub Actions workflow runs. If someone is checking $GITHUB_ACTIONS in an if-statement, act will want them to take the path for if it were true, in order to properly simulate GitHub actions.

@kevcube commented on GitHub (Apr 8, 2022): @KnisterPeter IMO setting this to `true` makes sense. `act` is for simulating GitHub Actions workflow runs. If someone is checking `$GITHUB_ACTIONS` in an if-statement, `act` will want them to take the path for if it were `true`, in order to properly simulate GitHub actions.

kerem commented

2026-03-01 21:45:05 +03:00

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@KnisterPeter commented on GitHub (Apr 8, 2022):

So then. I'll close this.

@KnisterPeter commented on GitHub (Apr 8, 2022): So then. I'll close this.

kerem referenced this issue

2026-03-01 21:52:06 +03:00

[PR #866] [CLOSED] Add action post, post-if support #1653

kerem referenced this issue

2026-03-01 21:52:24 +03:00