Improve graceful exit when empty builds

Author: alexmaughan

.github/workflows/deploy.yml

@@ -78,10 +78,12 @@ jobs:
         fi
 
     - name: Check for builds
+      id: check-builds
       run: |
         # Skip if no book-server config
         if [[ "${SKIP_BOOK_SERVER}" == "true" ]]; then
           echo "📚 Skipping builds check - no book-server configuration"
+          echo "should_build=false" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
           exit 0
         fi
         
@@ -91,11 +93,13 @@ jobs:
         if [[ "${BUILD_COUNT}" -eq 0 ]]; then
           echo "🧱 No builds configured in ${CONFIG_FILE}"
           echo "Skipping build deployment."
+          echo "should_build=false" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
           exit 0
         fi
         
         echo "✅ Build configuration validated:"
         echo "  Build count: ${BUILD_COUNT}"
+        echo "should_build=true" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
     - name: Check if branch is allowed for deployment
       id: check-branch
@@ -107,6 +111,13 @@ jobs:
           exit 0
         fi
         
+        # Skip if no builds configured
+        if [[ "${{ steps.check-builds.outputs.should_build }}" == "false" ]]; then
+          echo "🧱 Skipping branch check - no builds configured"
+          echo "should_deploy=false" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          exit 0
+        fi
+        
         CURRENT_BRANCH="${{ github.ref_name }}"
         IFS=',' read -ra ALLOWED <<< "${DEPLOY_BRANCHES}"
         BRANCH_ALLOWED=false