GITHUB_WORKSPACE and github.workspace are different when running in container

[nkakouros]

When using a container to run the checkout, the variables ${{ GITHUB_WORKSPACE }} and ${{ github.workspace }} are different.

---

name: CI

on:  # yamllint disable-line rule:truthy
  push:
    branches:
      - master
  pull_request:
    branches:
      - master

  workflow_dispatch: ~

jobs:
  test:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    container:
      image: ubuntu:latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - run: |
          echo ${{ github.workspace }}
          echo $GITHUB_WORKSPACE

The documentation for github.workspace says:

The default working directory on the runner for steps, and the default location of your repository when using the checkout action.

The documentation for GITHUB_WORKSPACE says:

The default working directory on the runner for steps, and the default location of your repository when using the checkout action.

I believe they should be set to the same value.

[alexprogrammr]

I'm facing the same issue using containers.

$ echo ${{ github.workspace }}
/home/runner/work/<REPO_NAME>/<REPO_NAME>

$ echo $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
/__w/<REPO_NAME>/<REPO_NAME>

where <REPO_NAME> is the repository name where workflow is running.

[spikeburton]

Interesting observation -

- run: |
    echo ${{ github.workspace }}

    MY_WORK_DIR=${{ github.workspace }}
    echo "MY_WORK_DIR=$MY_WORK_DIR" >> $GITHUB_ENV
- run: |
    echo $MY_WORK_DIR

Output:

+ echo ${{ github.workspace }}
/opt/actions-runner/_work/<REPO_NAME>/<REPO_NAME>

+ echo $MY_WORK_DIR
/__w/<REPO_NAME>/<REPO_NAME>

[ZachOldham]

I don't think this is a checkout specific bug actions/runner#2058

[nkakouros]

Indeed, closing this and subscribing to the linked bug.

[abhijeetdhoke]

I am getting same issue can someone help me on this? its killing my time

[gitcos]

Indeed, closing this and subscribing to the linked bug.

What is "the linked bug"? You didn't link to another bug.

[mloskot]

I guess it was meant to be the bug linked by previous #785 (comment) that is this one actions/runner#2058

[Matthew0x]

I'm facing the same issue using containers.

$ echo ${{ github.workspace }}
/home/runner/work/<REPO_NAME>/<REPO_NAME>

$ echo $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
/__w/<REPO_NAME>/<REPO_NAME>

where <REPO_NAME> is the repository name where workflow is running.

Apparently it's slightly different now (at least in my case), yet the documentation and the issue remain the same.
For instance:

echo ${{ github.workspace }} gives /runner/_work/<REPO_NAME>/<REPO_NAME>
echo $GITHUB_WORKSPACE gives /__w/<REPO_NAME>/<REPO_NAME>
And ${{ github.workspace }} doesn't work in containers, but the other one does (if you mean to reference the repository artifacts).

PS: I left my comment here, because there is a solution and it does involve the checkout action, even if it's a runner issue. Just use the system variable and not the template syntax. That worked for me.