
github-script
✓ Official★ 4,700by github · part of github/gh-aw
Best practices for writing JavaScript code for GitHub Actions using github-script
🔥🔥🔥✓ VerifiedFreeQuick setup
🧰 Not standalone. This skill ships with github/gh-aw and only works together with that tool — install the tool first, then add this skill.
This is the playbook your agent receives when the skill activates — you don't need to read it to use the skill, but it's here to audit before installing.
name: github-script description: Write robust JavaScript for GitHub Actions github-script steps.
GitHub Action Script Best Practices
Use these guidelines for JavaScript executed by actions/github-script@v8.
Important Notes
- This action provides
@actions/coreand@actions/githubpackages globally - Do not add import or require for
@actions/core - Reference documentation:
Best Practices
- Use
core.info,core.warning,core.errorfor logging, notconsole.logorconsole.error - Use
core.setOutputto set action outputs - Use
core.exportVariableto set environment variables for subsequent steps - Use
core.getInputto get action inputs, withrequired: truefor mandatory inputs - Use
core.setFailedto mark the action as failed with an error message
Step Summary
Use core.summary.* function to write output the step summary file.
- Use
core.summary.addRaw()to add raw Markdown content (GitHub Flavored Markdown supported) - Make sure to call
core.summary.write()to flush pending writes - Summary function calls can be chained, e.g.
core.summary.addRaw(...).addRaw(...).write()
Typechecking
Run make js to run the typescript compiler.
Run make lint-cjs to lint the files.
Run make fmt-cjs after editing to format the file.
Copy & paste — that's it
npx skills add https://github.com/github/gh-aw --skill github-scriptRun this in your project — your agent picks the skill up automatically.
Common Errors
- Avoid
anytype as much as possible, use specific types orunknowninstead - Catch handler: check if error is an instance of Error before accessing message property
catch (error) {
core.setFailed(error instanceof Error ? error : String(error));
}core.setFailedalso callscore.error, so do not call both