docs: document --action-tag and --actions-repo compile flags for testing against alternate actions repos by Copilot · Pull Request #22607 · github/gh-aw

Copilot · 2026-03-24T05:34:45Z

No documentation existed explaining how to use --action-tag and --actions-repo to compile workflows against a fork or branch of github/gh-aw-actions — a common need when developing cross-repo changes.

Changes

CONTRIBUTING.md — Added "Compiling against a different actions repository" under Testing with flag descriptions and examples
DEVGUIDE.md — Added "Compile against a different actions repository" alongside the existing compile task entries
docs/…/compilation-process.md — Added three rows to the Compilation Commands table covering --actions-repo, --action-tag, and their combination; added a [!NOTE] callout clarifying usage

Example

# Compile against a fork on a feature branch
./gh-aw compile --action-mode action \
--actions-repo myorg/my-aw-actions \
--action-tag my-feature-branch \
.github/workflows/my-workflow.md
# Pin to a specific SHA
./gh-aw compile --action-mode action \
--action-tag abc123def456 \
.github/workflows/my-workflow.md

--action-mode action is required when using --actions-repo; it switches from inlining scripts locally to referencing actions from the external repository.

Warning

Firewall rules blocked me from connecting to one or more addresses (expand for details)

I tried to connect to the following addresses, but was blocked by firewall rules:

telemetry.astro.build
- Triggering command: /opt/hostedtoolcache/node/24.14.0/x64/bin/node node /home/REDACTED/work/gh-aw/gh-aw/docs/node_modules/.bin/astro build (dns block)

If you need me to access, download, or install something from one of these locations, you can either:

Configure Actions setup steps to set up my environment, which run before the firewall is enabled
Add the appropriate URLs or hosts to the custom allowlist in this repository's Copilot coding agent settings (admins only)

⌨️ Start Copilot coding agent tasks without leaving your editor — available in VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs and Eclipse.

…-repo compile flags Co-authored-by: pelikhan <4175913+pelikhan@users.noreply.github.com> Agent-Logs-Url: https://github.com/github/gh-aw/sessions/7d49cf5a-0137-49ba-ba51-65365c9ee2a1

Copilot

Pull request overview

Documents how to compile workflows against alternative gh-aw-actions repositories/refs to support cross-repo development and testing.

Changes:

Added contributor/developer guide sections describing --actions-repo and --action-tag usage with examples.
Extended the docs reference compilation command table and added a note clarifying repository override behavior.
Updated the agent factory status table to include the /nit command for the PR Nitpick Reviewer workflow.

Reviewed changes

Copilot reviewed 4 out of 4 changed files in this pull request and generated 4 comments.

File	Description
docs/src/content/docs/reference/compilation-process.md	Adds compilation command table rows and a note documenting `--actions-repo` / `--action-tag`.
docs/src/content/docs/agent-factory-status.mdx	Updates the PR Nitpick Reviewer entry to show the `/nit` command.
DEVGUIDE.md	Adds a dev guide section with flags and examples for compiling against a different actions repo.
CONTRIBUTING.md	Adds contributor-facing guidance and examples for compiling against a different actions repo.

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Copilot · 2026-03-24T05:52:36Z

+
+# Compile against the default repo pinned to a specific SHA
+./gh-aw compile --action-mode action \
+ --action-tag abc123def456 \


The example uses --action-tag abc123def456, but GitHub Actions refs require a full 40-character commit SHA (short SHAs are not supported reliably). Consider using a full-length SHA in the example (or a tag like vX.Y.Z) to avoid copy/paste failures.
Suggested change
--action-tag abc123def456\
--action-tag 0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef01234567\

Copilot · 2026-03-24T05:52:36Z

+
+# Compile with a specific tag or SHA
+./gh-aw compile --action-mode action \
+ --action-tag abc123def456 \


The example uses a short commit SHA (abc123def456) for --action-tag. GitHub Actions refs generally require a full 40-character commit SHA. Updating the example to a full SHA (or a tag like vX.Y.Z) will make the docs copy/paste-safe.
Suggested change
--action-tag abc123def456\
--action-tag 0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef01234567\

Copilot · 2026-03-24T05:52:36Z

 | `gh aw compile --actionlint --zizmor --poutine` | Run security scanners |
 | `gh aw compile --purge` | Remove orphaned `.lock.yml` files |
 | `gh aw compile --output /path/to/output` | Custom output directory |
+| `gh aw compile --action-mode action --actions-repo owner/repo` | Compile using a custom actions repository (requires `--action-mode action`) |


--actions-repo is only applied when action mode is action; the CLI doesn't appear to hard-require it, it will just be ignored in other modes. Consider rephrasing the description to “only works when --action-mode action is set” (or similar) to avoid implying the command will error without it.
Suggested change
|`gh aw compile --action-mode action --actions-repo owner/repo`| Compile using a custom actions repository (requires `--action-mode action`) |
|`gh aw compile --action-mode action --actions-repo owner/repo`| Compile using a custom actions repository (only applied when `--action-mode action` is set) |

Copilot · 2026-03-24T05:52:37Z

 | `gh aw compile --output /path/to/output` | Custom output directory |
+| `gh aw compile --action-mode action --actions-repo owner/repo` | Compile using a custom actions repository (requires `--action-mode action`) |
+| `gh aw compile --action-mode action --actions-repo owner/repo --action-tag branch-or-sha` | Compile against a specific branch or SHA in a fork |
+| `gh aw compile --action-tag v1.2.3` | Pin action references to a specific tag or SHA (implies release mode) |


The table entry says --action-tag ... “implies release mode”, but the CLI behavior is “overrides to release unless --action-mode action is explicitly set” (in which case it stays in action mode). Consider tweaking the wording to reflect that exception so readers don’t assume --action-tag always forces release mode.
Suggested change
|`gh aw compile --action-tag v1.2.3`| Pin action references to a specific tag or SHA (implies release mode) |
|`gh aw compile --action-tag v1.2.3`| Pin action references to a specific tag or SHA (defaults to release mode unless `--action-mode action` is explicitly set) |

Initial plan
8dea18c

CopilotAI assigned Copilot and pelikhan Mar 24, 2026

Copilotstarted work on behalf of pelikhan March 24, 2026 05:34 View session

docs: update contributing instructions for --action-tag and --actions…
3e0aa13
…-repo compile flags Co-authored-by: pelikhan <4175913+pelikhan@users.noreply.github.com> Agent-Logs-Url: https://github.com/github/gh-aw/sessions/7d49cf5a-0137-49ba-ba51-65365c9ee2a1

CopilotAI changed the title ~~[WIP] Update contributing instructions for compile flags~~docs: document --action-tag and --actions-repo compile flags for testing against alternate actions reposMar 24, 2026

CopilotAI requested a review from pelikhan March 24, 2026 05:45

Copilotfinished work on behalf of pelikhan March 24, 2026 05:45

pelikhan marked this pull request as ready for review March 24, 2026 05:49

CopilotAI review requested due to automatic review settings March 24, 2026 05:49

pelikhan merged commit 1ecfd03 into mainMar 24, 2026
1 check passed

pelikhan deleted the copilot/update-contributing-instructions branch March 24, 2026 05:49

Copilotstarted reviewing on behalf of pelikhan March 24, 2026 05:50 View session

CopilotAI reviewed Mar 24, 2026
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github-actionsBot mentioned this pull request Mar 24, 2026
[docs] Update glossary - daily scan #22644
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docs: document --action-tag and --actions-repo compile flags for testing against alternate actions repos - #22607

docs: document --action-tag and --actions-repo compile flags for testing against alternate actions repos#22607
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	--action-tag abc123def456\
	--action-tag 0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef01234567\

	\|`gh aw compile --action-mode action --actions-repo owner/repo`\| Compile using a custom actions repository (requires `--action-mode action`) \|
	\|`gh aw compile --action-mode action --actions-repo owner/repo`\| Compile using a custom actions repository (only applied when `--action-mode action` is set) \|

	\|`gh aw compile --action-tag v1.2.3`\| Pin action references to a specific tag or SHA (implies release mode) \|
	\|`gh aw compile --action-tag v1.2.3`\| Pin action references to a specific tag or SHA (defaults to release mode unless `--action-mode action` is explicitly set) \|

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