Last updated 2026-05-07

Workflow Compatibility

A precise breakdown of what GitHub-Actions YAML the runner supports. "Full" means the implementation matches GitHub's documented behaviour in every test we have. "Stub" means the keyword is parsed but does not do anything functional yet.

Triggers

Trigger	Support	Notes
`workflow_dispatch`	Full	Inputs passed via `POST /api/runs`.
`push`	Parsed	Triggered as `workflow_dispatch`; trigger metadata reflects current git state.
`pull_request`	Parsed	Same as above.
`workflow_call`	Full	Local + remote reusable workflows.
`workflow_run`	Not supported
`schedule`	Not supported
`repository_dispatch`	Not supported

Job-level keys

Feature	Support	Notes
`needs:`	Full	Topological sort with cycle detection.
`if:`	Full	Auto-wraps unwrapped expressions.
`env:`	Full	Merged: workflow > job > step.
`defaults.run.shell`	Full	`bash`, `sh`, `pwsh`, `python`.
`defaults.run.working-directory`	Full	Relative to workspace.
`strategy.matrix`	Full	Cartesian + `include` + `exclude`.
`strategy.fail-fast`	Full	Default `true` (matches GitHub).
`strategy.max-parallel`	Full	Limits concurrent matrix instances.
`outputs:`	Full	Expression-evaluated from step outputs.
`services:`	Full	Backed by `docker compose`.
`timeout-minutes`	Full	Job default 360, step default 60.
`uses:` (reusable)	Full	Local `./` and remote `org/repo@ref`.
`with:` (reusable)	Full
`secrets: inherit`	Full	Passes all secrets through.
`concurrency`	Not supported
`permissions` / OIDC	Not supported
`environment` deployments	Partial	Environment names are parsed for the local deployment ledger; GitHub Environments protection rules are not enforced.

Step-level keys

Feature	Support	Notes
`run:`	Full	Shell command execution.
`uses:`	Full	Local, marketplace, `docker://`.
`with:`	Full	Inputs evaluated through expressions.
`env:`	Full	Merged with workflow + job env.
`if:`	Full	All expression functions.
`working-directory`	Full	Relative to workspace.
`shell`	Full	`bash` / `sh` / `pwsh` / `python`.
`continue-on-error`	Full	Step failure does not fail the job.
`id`	Full	Referenced via `steps.<id>.outputs`.
`timeout-minutes`	Full	Default 60.

Expressions

Contexts

Context	Available
`github.*`	Yes — `event_name`, `ref`, `sha`, `repository`, `workspace`, `actor`, `run_id`, `token`.
`env.*`	Yes — merged workflow + job + step env.
`inputs.*`	Yes — from `workflow_dispatch` or `workflow_call`.
`steps.<id>.outputs.*`	Yes
`steps.<id>.outcome`	Yes
`steps.<id>.conclusion`	Yes
`needs.<job>.outputs.*`	Yes
`needs.<job>.result`	Yes
`jobs.<job>.outputs.*`	Yes
`matrix.*`	Yes
`secrets.*`	Yes
`runner.os`	Yes — `macOS`, `Linux`, or `Windows`.
`runner.arch`	Yes
`runner.name`	Always `local-runner`.
`runner.temp`	System temp directory.

Operators

==  !=  <  >  <=  >=  &&  ||  !

Functions

Function	Support	Notes
`contains(search, item)`	Full	Case-insensitive.
`startsWith(string, prefix)`	Full	Case-insensitive.
`endsWith(string, suffix)`	Full	Case-insensitive.
`format(string, …)`	Full	`{0}`, `{1}` placeholders.
`toJSON(value)`	Full
`fromJSON(string)`	Full
`join(array, separator)`	Full
`success()`	Yes	Always true (default assumption).
`failure()`	Yes	Always false.
`cancelled()`	Yes	Always false.
`always()`	Yes	Always true.
`hashFiles(pattern)`	Stub	Returns `'local-hash-placeholder'`.

Workflow commands

The runner parses these from step output:

::set-output name=KEY::VALUE (legacy) and echo KEY=VALUE >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
::error file=…,line=…::msg / ::warning::msg / ::notice::msg
::group::title / ::endgroup::
::add-mask::value — masked in subsequent log lines.
echo VAR=val >> $GITHUB_ENV / echo /path >> $GITHUB_PATH

What's adjusted vs. cloud GitHub Actions

Issue	Resolution
`runs-on: ubuntu-latest`	Ignored. Steps run on your local OS.
Cloud artifact / cache calls	Use the shimmed `actions/upload-artifact` and `actions/cache`.
`GITHUB_TOKEN`	Set as an env var, or via `POST /api/secrets/GITHUB_TOKEN`.
Private marketplace actions	Set `GITHUB_TOKEN` or `GH_TOKEN` for clone auth.
`services:` blocks	Require a working `docker compose`.