Reusable Github Workflows Errors Out Requiring 'steps'

[k1drobot]

Hello,

I'm kind of new to Github Actions and trying to set up a reusable workflow, and have one workflow call another. The workflows are located within the same project folder, .github/workflows/release.yml, and .github/workflows/deploy.yml. The release file will call on deploy.yml. When I do that, I get a syntax error on release.yml:

No steps defined in `steps` for the following jobs: call-workflow-1-in-local-repo

Here is what my release.yml file looks like:

name: Release
on:
  workflow_dispatch:
jobs:
  call-workflow-1-in-local-repo:
    uses: my-org/test-project/.github/workflows/deploy.yml@main

I followed instructions from the docs but not sure where I am wrong. I am running on a Github enterprise account using self-hosted machines. Anyone has seen this problem before?

[airtower-luna]

The quoted workflow looks okay, assuming the path and branch name are valid. Based on that my first thought is to check the called workflow.

[k1drobot]

deploy.yml looks like this

name: Deployer
on: 
  workflow_call:
    inputs: 
      version:
        description: 'Version'
        required: True
        type: string
      environment:
        description: 'Environment'
        required: True
        type: choice
        options:
          - qa
          - prod
  workflow_dispatch:
    inputs: 
      version:
        description: 'Version'
        required: True
        type: string
      environment:
        description: 'Environment'
        required: True
        type: choice
        options:
          - qa
          - prod
jobs:
  deploy-1:
    name: deploy
    runs-on: self-hosted
    container:
      image: <some-docker-container>
    steps:
      - name: Echo
        run: echo ${{ github.events.inputs.environment }}

It doesn't yell about anything in this file. I also tried kicking it off manually and works just fine.

[airtower-luna]

Okay, that disproves one theory. 🙂

The only other thing I notice seeing your deploy workflow is that it has required inputs, but the release one doesn't provide any (using with). Maybe that causes trouble?

[k1drobot]

Nope. I removed that part in deploy.yml just to see and still the same error. The error it's yelling about has to do with the built-in parser. I have a feeling it has to do with the Github version we are using but I am unsure how to check that.

[airtower-luna]

I have a feeling it has to do with the Github version we are using but I am unsure how to check that.

That's possible, but I don't know about it either. Try looking at the changelogs and ask the admins, maybe you can figure out if your version supports reusable workflows that way.

Another thing I've seen (mostly from threads here): The parser often gives error messages that point in the wrong direction. For example, "no steps" with an indentation error within the steps list. So check your YAML for any subtle format errors (mismatched indentation, tabs instead of spaces, that kind of thing).

[k1drobot]

Hmm YAML file is definitely valid.

[philip-gai]

What version of GHES are you on? Looks like this was added to GHES in version 3.4.0 (March 15, 2022).

Your workflow yaml files all look correct (other than the input parameters missing from the caller workflow in the with section), so that is most likely the problem!¹

Footnotes

1. This suggestion was made on my own, not as an employee of GitHub 🙂 ↩

[k1drobot]

I confirmed with my team that my version of GHE doesn't support this feature. Closing. Thanks all