# update-tags-action **Easily create/update one or more Git tags in a GitHub repository.** [![Latest Release](https://img.shields.io/github/release/jimeh/update-tags-action.svg)](https://github.com/jimeh/update-tags-action/releases) [![GitHub Issues](https://img.shields.io/github/issues/jimeh/update-tags-action.svg?logo=github&logoColor=white)](https://github.com/jimeh/update-tags-action/issues) [![GitHub Pull Requests](https://img.shields.io/github/issues-pr/jimeh/update-tags-action.svg?logo=github&logoColor=white)](https://github.com/jimeh/update-tags-action/pulls) [![License](https://img.shields.io/github/license/jimeh/update-tags-action.svg)](https://github.com/jimeh/update-tags-action/blob/main/LICENSE)
Generally useful for moving major (`v1`) and minor (`v1.2`) tags to same commit as the latest `v1.x.x` tag. This action [uses itself](https://github.com/jimeh/update-tags-action/blob/main/.github/workflows/ci.yml) to move its own major and minor tags. ## Examples ### Basic ```yaml - uses: jimeh/update-tags-action@v2 with: tags: v2,v2.2 ``` ```yaml - uses: jimeh/update-tags-action@v2 with: tags: | v2 v2.2 ``` ### Deriving Tags from Version Automatically derive major and minor tags from a semver version string: ```yaml - uses: jimeh/update-tags-action@v2 with: derive_from: v2.2.1 # Creates tags: v2, v2.2 ``` With a custom template (major tag only): ```yaml - uses: jimeh/update-tags-action@v2 with: derive_from: v2.2.1 derive_from_template: '{{prefix}}{{major}}' # Creates tag: v2 ``` Combine derived tags with explicit tags: ```yaml - uses: jimeh/update-tags-action@v2 with: derive_from: v2.2.1 tags: latest # Creates tags: latest, v2, v2.2 ``` ### With Release Please This example uses [jimeh/release-please-manifest-action](https://github.com/jimeh/release-please-manifest-action), but you can just as easily use the official [google-github-actions/release-please-action](https://github.com/google-github-actions/release-please-action) instead. First you'll want the workflow setup to run on push: ```yaml on: [push] ``` Then you'll want a release-please job which only runs on pushes to your `main` branch, and exposes relevant outputs from release please: ```yaml jobs: # [...] release-please: runs-on: ubuntu-latest if: ${{ github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' }} outputs: release_created: ${{ steps.release-please.outputs.release_created }} tag_name: ${{ steps.release-please.outputs.tag_name }} permissions: contents: write issues: write pull-requests: write steps: - uses: jimeh/release-please-manifest-action@v3 id: release-please ``` And finally a job to create MAJOR and MINOR release tags, which only runs when release-please reports having created a release: ```yaml jobs: # [...] release-tags: runs-on: ubuntu-latest needs: release-please if: ${{ needs.release-please.outputs.release_created }} permissions: contents: write steps: - uses: jimeh/update-tags-action@v2 with: derive_from: ${{ needs.release-please.outputs.tag_name }} # Creates tags: v2, v2.2 (for tag_name v2.2.0) ``` ## Inputs | name | description | required | default | | ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------- | --------------------------------------------------- | | `tags` |

List/CSV of tags to create/update. Supports per-tag ref and annotation overrides using the format 'tag:ref:annotation'. Use 'tag::annotation' to specify an annotation with the default ref.

| `false` | `""` | | `derive_from` |

Semver version string to derive tags from (e.g., 'v1.2.3'). When provided, generates tags using derive_from_template input. Default template will produce major and minor tags. (e.g., 'v1', 'v1.2')

| `false` | `""` | | `derive_from_template` |

Handlebars template for deriving tags from the derive_from input. Uses the same format as the tags input, and supports the following handlebars placeholders: {{prefix}}, {{major}}, {{minor}}, {{patch}}, {{prerelease}}, {{build}}, {{version}}.

| `false` | `{{prefix}}{{major}},{{prefix}}{{major}}.{{minor}}` | | `ref` |

The SHA or ref to tag. Defaults to SHA of current commit.

| `false` | `${{ github.sha }}` | | `when_exists` |

What to do if the tag already exists. Must be one of 'update', 'skip', or 'fail'.

| `false` | `update` | | `annotation` |

Optional default annotation message for tags. If provided, creates annotated tags. If empty, creates lightweight tags. Can be overridden per-tag using the 'tag:ref:annotation' syntax in the tags input.

| `false` | `""` | | `dry_run` |

If true, logs planned operations without executing them.

| `false` | `false` | | `github_token` |

The GitHub token to use for authentication.

| `false` | `${{ github.token }}` | ### Tag Input Syntax The `tags` input accepts a comma or newline-delimited list of tags. Each tag specification supports optional per-tag ref and annotation overrides using the format: ``` tag[:ref[:annotation]] ``` | Format | Description | | -------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | | `tag` | Tag using default `ref` and `annotation` inputs | | `tag:ref` | Tag using specified ref, default annotation | | `tag:ref:annotation` | Tag using specified ref and annotation | | `tag::annotation` | Tag using default ref with specified annotation | **Per-tag refs** allow different tags to point to different commits: ```yaml - uses: jimeh/update-tags-action@v2 with: tags: | v1:main v1.2:main v1.3:develop ``` **Per-tag annotations** allow different annotation messages for each tag: ```yaml - uses: jimeh/update-tags-action@v2 with: tags: | v1:main:Latest v1.x release v1.2:main:Latest v1.2.x release ``` Use `tag::annotation` to specify an annotation while using the default ref: ```yaml - uses: jimeh/update-tags-action@v2 with: tags: | v1::This is the v1 tag annotation v1.2::This is the v1.2 tag annotation ``` Per-tag values override the global `ref` and `annotation` inputs: ```yaml - uses: jimeh/update-tags-action@v2 with: tags: | v1:main:Custom annotation for v1 v1.2 ref: develop annotation: Default annotation for tags without per-tag override # v1 -> main with "Custom annotation for v1" # v1.2 -> develop with "Default annotation..." ``` Annotations can contain colons (everything after the second colon is the annotation): ```yaml - uses: jimeh/update-tags-action@v2 with: tags: | v1:main:Release: version 1.0.0 # Annotation will be "Release: version 1.0.0" ``` ### Derive Template Syntax The `derive_from_template` input uses [Handlebars](https://handlebarsjs.com/) for template rendering. Splitting the template into separate tags by comma or newline is done after the template is rendered. Available placeholders: | Placeholder | Description | | ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | | `{{prefix}}` | `v` or `V` if input had a prefix, empty otherwise | | `{{major}}` | Major version number | | `{{minor}}` | Minor version number | | `{{patch}}` | Patch version number | | `{{prerelease}}` | Prerelease identifier (e.g., `beta.1`), empty if none | | `{{build}}` | Build metadata (e.g., `build.123`), empty if none | | `{{version}}` | Full version string without prefix | #### Conditional Sections Use Handlebars `{{#if}}` blocks to include content only when a variable has a value. This is useful for optional components like prerelease or build metadata: ```yaml - uses: jimeh/update-tags-action@v2 with: derive_from: v1.2.3-beta.1 derive_from_template: | {{prefix}}{{major}}{{#if prerelease}}-{{prerelease}}{{/if}} # Creates tag: v1-beta.1 ``` For a stable release without prerelease: ```yaml - uses: jimeh/update-tags-action@v2 with: derive_from: v1.2.3 derive_from_template: | {{prefix}}{{major}}{{#if prerelease}}-{{prerelease}}{{/if}} # Creates tag: v1 (prerelease section omitted) ``` You can also use `{{#unless}}` for inverse logic: ```yaml - uses: jimeh/update-tags-action@v2 with: derive_from: v1.2.3 derive_from_template: | {{prefix}}{{major}}{{#unless prerelease}}-stable{{/unless}} # Creates tag: v1-stable (only for non-prerelease versions) ``` ## Outputs | name | description | | --------- | ---------------------------------------------- | | `tags` |

List of tags that were created/updated.

| | `created` |

List of tags that were created.

| | `updated` |

List of tags that were updated.

| | `skipped` |

List of tags that were skipped.

| ## Runs This action is a `node24` action. ## License [MIT](https://github.com/jimeh/update-tags-action/blob/main/LICENSE)