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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -16,5 +16,5 @@ children:
- /set-exit-codes
- /publish-in-github-marketplace
- /release-and-maintain-actions
- /using-immutable-releases-and-tags-to-manage-your-actions-releases
---

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Expand Up @@ -42,10 +42,6 @@ To ensure that your action is compatible with other platforms, do not use any ha

## Using release management for actions

This section explains how you can use release management to distribute updates to your actions in a predictable way.

### Good practices for release management

If you're developing an action for other people to use, we recommend using release management to control how you distribute updates. Users can expect an action's patch version to include necessary critical fixes and security patches, while still remaining compatible with their existing workflows. You should consider releasing a new major version whenever your changes affect compatibility.

Under this release management approach, users should not be referencing an action's default branch, as it's likely to contain the latest code and consequently might be unstable. Instead, you can recommend that your users specify a major version when using your action, and only direct them to a more specific version if they encounter issues.
Expand All @@ -54,20 +50,20 @@ To use a specific action version, users can configure their {% data variables.pr

### Using tags for release management

We recommend using tags for actions release management. Using this approach, your users can easily distinguish between major and minor versions:
{% ifversion immutable-releases-preview %}
> [!NOTE] If you have enabled immutable releases to help prevent supply chain attacks and accidental changes to your releases, instead see [AUTOTITLE](/actions/how-tos/create-and-publish-actions/using-immutable-releases-and-tags-to-manage-your-actions-releases).
{% endif %}

1. Create and validate a release on a release branch (such as `release/v1`) before creating the release tag (for example, `v1.0.2`).
1. Create a release using semantic versioning. For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/repositories/releasing-projects-on-github/managing-releases-in-a-repository).
1. Move the major version tag (such as `v1`, `v2`) to point to the Git ref of the current release. For more information, see [Git basics - tagging](https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2/Git-Basics-Tagging).
We recommend using tags for actions release management. Using this approach, your users can easily distinguish between major and minor versions:

{% ifversion immutable-releases-preview %}
> [!NOTE]
> If you enable immutable releases, you can still move Git tags that are not linked to releases on {% data variables.product.github %}.
{% endif %}
1. Develop and validate a release on a release branch (for example, `release/v1`).
1. Create a release with a release tag using semantic versioning (for example, `v1.0.1`). For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/repositories/releasing-projects-on-github/managing-releases-in-a-repository).
1. Move the major version tag (for example, `v1`) to point to the Git ref of the current release. For more information, see [Git basics - tagging](https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2/Git-Basics-Tagging).
1. Introduce a new major version tag (for example, `v2`) for changes that will break existing workflows, such as changing an action's inputs.

1. Introduce a new major version tag (`v2`) for changes that will break existing workflows. For example, changing an action's inputs would be a breaking change.
#### Syntax for referencing tags

This example demonstrates how a user can reference a major release tag:
This example demonstrates how a user can reference a major version tag:

```yaml
steps:
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Expand Up @@ -55,6 +55,11 @@ To support the developer process in the next section, add two {% data variables.
1. Add a workflow that triggers when a commit is pushed to a feature branch or to `main` or when a pull request is created. Configure the workflow to run your unit and integration tests. For an example, see [this workflow](https://github.com/actions/javascript-action/blob/main/.github/workflows/ci.yml).
1. Add a workflow that triggers when a release is published or edited. Configure the workflow to ensure semantic tags are in place. You can use an action like [JasonEtco/build-and-tag-action](https://github.com/JasonEtco/build-and-tag-action) to compile and bundle the JavaScript and metadata file and force push semantic major, minor, and patch tags. For more information about semantic tags, see [About semantic versioning](https://docs.npmjs.com/about-semantic-versioning).

{% ifversion immutable-releases-preview %}
> [!NOTE]
> If you enable immutable releases for your repository, you cannot use this action to force push tags tied to releases on {% data variables.product.github %}. To learn how to manage your releases with immutable releases, see [AUTOTITLE](/actions/how-tos/create-and-publish-actions/using-immutable-releases-and-tags-to-manage-your-actions-releases).
{% endif %}

### Example developer process

Here is an example process that you can follow to automatically run tests, create a release{% ifversion fpt or ghec %} and publish to {% data variables.product.prodname_marketplace %}{% endif %}, and publish your action.
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@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
---
title: Using immutable releases and tags to manage your action's releases
shortTitle: Use immutable releases
intro: 'Learn how you can use a combination of immutable releases on {% data variables.product.github %} and Git tags to manage your action''s releases.'
versions:
feature: immutable-releases-preview
topics:
- Actions
- Code Security
- Vulnerabilities
- Dependencies
---

{% data reusables.releases.immutable-releases-preview-note %}

If you enable immutable releases on your action's repository, you can manage your action's releases as follows:

1. To start the release cycle, develop and validate a potential release for your action on a release branch.
1. Determine how you want to share your changes:
* If you are ready to share an unchangeable version of your action, create a release on {% data variables.product.github %} with a release-specific tag (for example, `v1.0.0`). See [AUTOTITLE](/repositories/releasing-projects-on-github/managing-releases-in-a-repository#creating-a-release).
* If you want to be able to update the Git tag of a release later, do not create a release on {% data variables.product.github %}. Instead, create a tag as follows:
* If your release contains breaking changes for existing workflows, create a major version tag (for example, `v1`).
* If your release contains new backwards-compatible functionality, create a minor version tag (for example, `v1.1`).
* If your release contains backwards-compatible bug fixes, create a patch version tag (for example, `v1.1.1`).
1. For Git tags that are not tied to a release on {% data variables.product.github %}, ensure users have access to the latest compatible version of your action by updating them as follows:
* For a major version, update the tag to point to the Git ref of the latest related minor version or patch version.
* For a minor version, update the tag to point to the Git ref of the latest related patch version.

To move an existing Git tag to the most recent commit, force push the tag with the following commands:

```bash copy
git tag -f TAG-NAME
git push -f --tags
```
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Expand Up @@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ shortTitle: Rate limits
> [!NOTE]
> Consider building a {% data variables.product.prodname_github_app %} instead of an {% data variables.product.prodname_oauth_app %}. The rate limit for {% data variables.product.prodname_github_apps %} using an installation access token scales with the number of repositories and number of organization users. Conversely, {% data variables.product.prodname_oauth_apps %} have lower rate limits and do not scale. For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/apps/oauth-apps/building-oauth-apps/differences-between-github-apps-and-oauth-apps) and [AUTOTITLE](/apps/creating-github-apps/setting-up-a-github-app/about-creating-github-apps).

> [!WARNING]
> {% data variables.product.prodname_oauth_apps %} are subject to a rate limit of **2,000 access token requests per hour**. If your application exceeds this limit, further requests to generate new access tokens will be temporarily blocked, and you may receive error responses. **This can lead to temporary outages**. Please plan your implementation accordingly to avoid potential service interruptions.

## About rate limits for {% data variables.product.prodname_oauth_apps %}

{% data variables.product.prodname_oauth_apps %} act on behalf of a user, by making requests with a user access token after the user authorizes the app. For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/apps/oauth-apps/building-oauth-apps/authorizing-oauth-apps).
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Expand Up @@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ For information about improving repository security, see [AUTOTITLE](/code-secur

### Changing from public to private

* Stars and watchers for this repository will be permanently erased, which will affect repository rankings.
* Stars and watchers for this repository will be erased, which will affect repository rankings.
* Custom {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} alert rules will be disabled unless {% data variables.product.prodname_GH_code_security %} is enabled for this repository. Dependency graph and {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot_alerts %} will remain enabled with permission to perform read-only analysis on this repository.
> * {% data variables.product.prodname_code_scanning_caps %} will become unavailable unless {% data variables.product.prodname_code_security %} is enabled for this repository.
* Current forks will remain public and will be detached from this repository.
Expand All @@ -92,17 +92,17 @@ For information about improving repository security, see [AUTOTITLE](/code-secur
* All push rulesets will be disabled.
* Your changes will be published as activity.
* Actions history and logs will be visible to everyone.
* Stars and watchers for this repository will be permanently erased.
* Stars and watchers for this repository will be erased.

### Changing from private to internal

* All members of the enterprise will be given read access.
* Outside collaborators can no longer be added to forks unless they're added to the root.
* Stars and watchers for this repository will be permanently erased.
* Stars and watchers for this repository will be erased.

### Changing from internal to private

* Stars and watchers for this repository will be permanently erased, which will affect repository rankings.
* Stars and watchers for this repository will be erased, which will affect repository rankings.
* Custom {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} alert rules will be disabled unless {% data variables.product.prodname_GH_code_security %} is enabled for this repository. Dependency graph and {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot_alerts %} will remain enabled with permission to perform read-only analysis on this repository.
> * {% data variables.product.prodname_code_scanning_caps %} will become unavailable unless {% data variables.product.prodname_code_security %} is enabled for this repository.
* Current forks will remain public and will be detached from this repository.
Expand All @@ -114,13 +114,13 @@ For information about improving repository security, see [AUTOTITLE](/code-secur
* All push rulesets will be disabled.
* Your changes will be published as activity.
* Actions history and logs will be visible to everyone.
* Stars and watchers for this repository will be permanently erased.
* Stars and watchers for this repository will be erased.

### Changing from public to internal

* All members of the enterprise will be given read access.
* Outside collaborators can no longer be added to forks unless they're added to the root.
* Stars and watchers for this repository will be permanently erased.
* Stars and watchers for this repository will be erased.

## Changing a repository's visibility

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