Use same runner image in job matrix containers

[MikeMcC399]

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This is a enhancement request for GitHub Actions.

In the following snippet from a GitHub Actions workflow the GitHub-hosted runner image invoked by containers should always be the same version in the same job.

During a recent rollout it has been observed that one container was invoked with the ubuntu-22.04 image 20230402.1 and in the same job another container was invoked with the newer image 20230409.1.

Testing with Cypress Cloud and Google Chrome failed because there were differences in the major version of Chrome in the two images.

When containers are started in the same job they should use a consistent image version throughout. An on-going rollout should not affect this. Either all containers should be started with the old image or with the new image, not a mixture of the two.

    test:
        runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
        strategy:
        matrix:
            containers: [1, 2]

This topic was originally raised in actions/runner-images#7436.

It is related to:

• Ensure consistent Chrome versions during CI-parallelization cypress-io/cypress#25040
• This machine is sending different environment parameters than the first machine that started this parallel run. cypress-io/github-action#602
• Parallel recording with non-Electron browser needs Docker for reliability cypress-io/github-action#865

[MikeMcC399]

Is there any Product Management feedback on this item?

[MikeMcC399]

Although it is possible to use Docker images to tie down the browser versions, this is only available under Ubuntu / Linux according to
Workflow syntax for GitHub Actions> jobs.<job_id>.container

---

Still waiting here for a response from GitHub product management based on the text in https://github.com/actions/runner/blob/main/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/config.yml

"If you have feedback or suggestions about GitHub Actions, please open a discussion (or add to an existing one) in the GitHub Actions Feedback. GitHub Actions Product Managers and Engineers monitor the feedback forum."

Perhaps there has been some internal GitHub management reorganization which is not reflected in that advice?

[MikeMcC399]

• Now submitted also to Different runner images used by containers in same job actions/runner#2812

[MikeMcC399]

• Different runner images used by containers in same job actions/runner#2812 (comment) contains an assessment of the current difficulties that would be met in trying to implement this request.