bash continue running even if exit code 1 github actions

Lussy04

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21-01-2025

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GitHub Actions provides a powerful platform for automating workflows, but managing script execution, especially when dealing with bash scripts and non-zero exit codes, requires careful attention. This article addresses how to configure your GitHub Actions workflow to allow a bash script to continue running even if a command within it returns an exit code of 1 (or any other non-zero code). This is crucial for scenarios where some steps are non-critical or should be attempted regardless of previous step failures.

Understanding Exit Codes

In bash scripting, each command returns an exit code. An exit code of 0 typically signifies success, while any non-zero code indicates an error or failure. By default, GitHub Actions will stop the workflow if a step returns a non-zero exit code. To override this behavior and ensure your script continues execution, we need to employ specific techniques.

Methods to Continue Execution Despite Exit Code 1

Several approaches allow you to bypass the default behavior of GitHub Actions and continue the workflow even when a command exits with an error code.

1. Using || true

The simplest method involves using the || operator (logical OR) along with the true command. This construct checks the exit code of the preceding command. If it's non-zero, true is executed, which always returns an exit code of 0. This effectively masks the error and allows the workflow to continue.

some_command || true
echo "Continuing execution..."

If some_command fails (returns a non-zero exit code), || true ensures the script proceeds to the echo statement.

2. Ignoring Exit Codes with || :

A more concise alternative is using || :. The colon (:) is a null command that does nothing but always returns an exit code of 0.

some_command || :
echo "Continuing execution..."

This achieves the same result as the previous method, masking the error and keeping the workflow running.

3. Conditional Logic with if Statements

For more granular control, use if statements to handle potential errors. This approach allows you to perform specific actions based on the exit code.

if some_command; then
  echo "Command succeeded!"
else
  echo "Command failed, but continuing..."
fi
echo "Continuing execution..."

This method provides more flexibility, enabling custom actions (logging, alternative steps, etc.) in case of failure.

4. Using set -e Carefully (NOT Recommended for this Scenario)

The set -e option in bash makes the script exit immediately upon encountering any command with a non-zero exit code. While useful for strict error handling, it's not suitable for scenarios where you want the script to continue running regardless of errors in individual commands. Avoid using set -e if you need to allow your workflow to proceed despite exit code 1.

Example in a GitHub Actions Workflow

Here's how you can integrate these methods into a GitHub Actions workflow YAML file:

name: My Workflow

on: push

jobs:
  my_job:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
        uses: actions/checkout@v3

      - name: Run bash script
        run: |
          some_command || true  # Or || :
          echo "Script continues execution even if some_command failed"
          another_command

This example demonstrates the || true method. Replace some_command and another_command with your actual commands.

Choosing the Right Method

The best approach depends on your specific requirements:

• || true or || :: Suitable for simple cases where you want to ignore errors silently and continue execution. Minimal code changes are required.

• if statement: Provides more control and allows for customized error handling and logging. Better for complex scenarios.

Remember to always log appropriate information to help with debugging and monitoring your workflow's progress. Understanding exit codes and incorporating appropriate error handling are fundamental to building robust and reliable GitHub Actions workflows.