Clarify v6 README (#2328)

- Updated README.md examples to reference @v6
- Updated all workflow files to use actions/checkout@v6

.github/workflows/check-dist.yml

@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4.1.6
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
 
       - name: Set Node.js 24.x
         uses: actions/setup-node@v4

.github/workflows/codeql-analysis.yml

@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
     - name: Checkout repository
-      uses: actions/checkout@v4.1.6
+      uses: actions/checkout@v6
 
     - name: Initialize CodeQL
       uses: github/codeql-action/init@v3

.github/workflows/licensed.yml

@@ -9,6 +9,6 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     name: Check licenses
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4.1.6
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - run: npm ci
       - run: npm run licensed-check

.github/workflows/publish-immutable-actions.yml

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
       - name: Checking out
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - name: Publish
         id: publish
         uses: actions/publish-immutable-action@0.0.3

.github/workflows/test.yml

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
           node-version: 24.x
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4.1.6
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - run: npm ci
       - run: npm run build
       - run: npm run format-check
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       # Clone this repo
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4.1.6
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
 
       # Basic checkout
       - name: Checkout basic
@@ -165,6 +165,22 @@ jobs:
       - name: Verify submodules recursive
         run: __test__/verify-submodules-recursive.sh
 
+      # Worktree credentials
+      - name: Checkout for worktree test
+        uses: ./
+        with:
+          path: worktree-test
+      - name: Verify worktree credentials
+        shell: bash
+        run: __test__/verify-worktree.sh worktree-test worktree-branch
+
+      # Worktree credentials in container step
+      - name: Verify worktree credentials in container step
+        if: runner.os == 'Linux'
+        uses: docker://bitnami/git:latest
+        with:
+          args: bash __test__/verify-worktree.sh worktree-test container-worktree-branch
+
       # Basic checkout using REST API
       - name: Remove basic
         if: runner.os != 'windows'
@@ -202,7 +218,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       # Clone this repo
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4.1.6
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
 
       # Basic checkout using git
       - name: Checkout basic
@@ -234,7 +250,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       # Clone this repo
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4.1.6
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
 
       # Basic checkout using git
       - name: Checkout basic
@@ -264,7 +280,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       # Clone this repo
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4.1.6
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
         with:
           path: localClone
 
@@ -291,8 +307,8 @@ jobs:
           git fetch --no-tags --depth=1 origin +refs/heads/main:refs/remotes/origin/main
 
       # needed to make checkout post cleanup succeed
-      - name: Fix Checkout v4
+      - name: Fix Checkout v6
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4.1.6
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
         with:
           path: localClone
 
@@ -301,7 +317,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       # Clone this repo
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4.1.6
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
         with:
           path: actions-checkout
 

.github/workflows/update-main-version.yml

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ jobs:
     # Note this update workflow can also be used as a rollback tool.
     # For that reason, it's best to pin `actions/checkout` to a known, stable version
     # (typically, about two releases back).
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v4.1.6
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       with:
         fetch-depth: 0
     - name: Git config

.github/workflows/update-test-ubuntu-git.yml

@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ jobs:
  
     steps:
       - name: Checkout repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
 
       # Use `docker/login-action` to log in to GHCR.io. 
       # Once published, the packages are scoped to the account defined here.

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,19 +1,19 @@
 # Changelog
 
-## V6.0.0
+## v6.0.0
 * Persist creds to a separate file by @ericsciple in https://github.com/actions/checkout/pull/2286
 * Update README to include Node.js 24 support details and requirements by @salmanmkc in https://github.com/actions/checkout/pull/2248
 
-## V5.0.1
+## v5.0.1
 * Port v6 cleanup to v5 by @ericsciple in https://github.com/actions/checkout/pull/2301
 
-## V5.0.0
+## v5.0.0
 * Update actions checkout to use node 24 by @salmanmkc in https://github.com/actions/checkout/pull/2226
 
-## V4.3.1
+## v4.3.1
 * Port v6 cleanup to v4 by @ericsciple in https://github.com/actions/checkout/pull/2305
 
-## V4.3.0
+## v4.3.0
 * docs: update README.md by @motss in https://github.com/actions/checkout/pull/1971
 * Add internal repos for checking out multiple repositories by @mouismail in https://github.com/actions/checkout/pull/1977
 * Documentation update - add recommended permissions to Readme by @benwells in https://github.com/actions/checkout/pull/2043

README.md

@@ -4,8 +4,9 @@
 
 ## What's new
 
-- Updated `persist-credentials` to store the credentials under `$RUNNER_TEMP` instead of directly in the local git config.
+- Improved credential security: `persist-credentials` now stores credentials in a separate file under `$RUNNER_TEMP` instead of directly in `.git/config`
-  - This requires a minimum Actions Runner version of [v2.329.0](https://github.com/actions/runner/releases/tag/v2.329.0) to access the persisted credentials for [Docker container action](https://docs.github.com/en/actions/tutorials/use-containerized-services/create-a-docker-container-action) scenarios.
+- No workflow changes required — `git fetch`, `git push`, etc. continue to work automatically
+- Running authenticated git commands from a [Docker container action](https://docs.github.com/actions/sharing-automations/creating-actions/creating-a-docker-container-action) requires Actions Runner [v2.329.0](https://github.com/actions/runner/releases/tag/v2.329.0) or later
 
 # Checkout v5
 
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ Please refer to the [release page](https://github.com/actions/checkout/releases/
 
 <!-- start usage -->
 ```yaml
-- uses: actions/checkout@v5
+- uses: actions/checkout@v6
   with:
     # Repository name with owner. For example, actions/checkout
     # Default: ${{ github.repository }}
@@ -62,11 +63,6 @@ Please refer to the [release page](https://github.com/actions/checkout/releases/
     # Otherwise, uses the default branch.
     ref: ''
 
-    # Indicates whether to checkout the default repository branch if the requested ref
-    # does not exist
-    # Default: false
-    default-branch-checkout: ''
-
     # Personal access token (PAT) used to fetch the repository. The PAT is configured
     # with the local git config, which enables your scripts to run authenticated git
     # commands. The post-job step removes the PAT.
@@ -195,7 +191,7 @@ Please refer to the [release page](https://github.com/actions/checkout/releases/
 ## Fetch only the root files
 
 ```yaml
-- uses: actions/checkout@v5
+- uses: actions/checkout@v6
   with:
     sparse-checkout: .
 ```
@@ -203,7 +199,7 @@ Please refer to the [release page](https://github.com/actions/checkout/releases/
 ## Fetch only the root files and `.github` and `src` folder
 
 ```yaml
-- uses: actions/checkout@v5
+- uses: actions/checkout@v6
   with:
     sparse-checkout: |
       .github
@@ -213,7 +209,7 @@ Please refer to the [release page](https://github.com/actions/checkout/releases/
 ## Fetch only a single file
 
 ```yaml
-- uses: actions/checkout@v5
+- uses: actions/checkout@v6
   with:
     sparse-checkout: |
       README.md
@@ -223,7 +219,7 @@ Please refer to the [release page](https://github.com/actions/checkout/releases/
 ## Fetch all history for all tags and branches
 
 ```yaml
-- uses: actions/checkout@v5
+- uses: actions/checkout@v6
   with:
     fetch-depth: 0
 ```
@@ -231,7 +227,7 @@ Please refer to the [release page](https://github.com/actions/checkout/releases/
 ## Checkout a different branch
 
 ```yaml
-- uses: actions/checkout@v5
+- uses: actions/checkout@v6
   with:
     ref: my-branch
 ```
@@ -239,7 +235,7 @@ Please refer to the [release page](https://github.com/actions/checkout/releases/
 ## Checkout HEAD^
 
 ```yaml
-- uses: actions/checkout@v5
+- uses: actions/checkout@v6
   with:
     fetch-depth: 2
 - run: git checkout HEAD^
@@ -249,12 +245,12 @@ Please refer to the [release page](https://github.com/actions/checkout/releases/
 
 ```yaml
 - name: Checkout
-  uses: actions/checkout@v5
+  uses: actions/checkout@v6
   with:
     path: main
 
 - name: Checkout tools repo
-  uses: actions/checkout@v5
+  uses: actions/checkout@v6
   with:
     repository: my-org/my-tools
     path: my-tools
@@ -265,10 +261,10 @@ Please refer to the [release page](https://github.com/actions/checkout/releases/
 
 ```yaml
 - name: Checkout
-  uses: actions/checkout@v5
+  uses: actions/checkout@v6
 
 - name: Checkout tools repo
-  uses: actions/checkout@v5
+  uses: actions/checkout@v6
   with:
     repository: my-org/my-tools
     path: my-tools
@@ -279,12 +275,12 @@ Please refer to the [release page](https://github.com/actions/checkout/releases/
 
 ```yaml
 - name: Checkout
-  uses: actions/checkout@v5
+  uses: actions/checkout@v6
   with:
     path: main
 
 - name: Checkout private tools
-  uses: actions/checkout@v5
+  uses: actions/checkout@v6
   with:
     repository: my-org/my-private-tools
     token: ${{ secrets.GH_PAT }} # `GH_PAT` is a secret that contains your PAT
@@ -297,7 +293,7 @@ Please refer to the [release page](https://github.com/actions/checkout/releases/
 ## Checkout pull request HEAD commit instead of merge commit
 
 ```yaml
-- uses: actions/checkout@v5
+- uses: actions/checkout@v6
   with:
     ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}
 ```
@@ -313,7 +309,7 @@ jobs:
   build:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
 ```
 
 ## Push a commit using the built-in token
@@ -324,7 +320,7 @@ jobs:
   build:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - run: |
           date > generated.txt
           # Note: the following account information will not work on GHES
@@ -346,7 +342,7 @@ jobs:
   build:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
         with:
           ref: ${{ github.head_ref }}
       - run: |

__test__/git-auth-helper.test.ts

@@ -1164,7 +1164,6 @@ async function setup(testName: string): Promise<void> {
     nestedSubmodules: false,
     persistCredentials: true,
     ref: 'refs/heads/main',
-    defaultBranchCheckout: false,
     repositoryName: 'my-repo',
     repositoryOwner: 'my-org',
     repositoryPath: '',

__test__/input-helper.test.ts

@@ -80,7 +80,6 @@ describe('input-helper tests', () => {
     expect(settings.commit).toBeTruthy()
     expect(settings.commit).toBe('1234567890123456789012345678901234567890')
     expect(settings.filter).toBe(undefined)
-    expect(settings.defaultBranchCheckout).toBe(false)
     expect(settings.sparseCheckout).toBe(undefined)
     expect(settings.sparseCheckoutConeMode).toBe(true)
     expect(settings.fetchDepth).toBe(1)

__test__/verify-worktree.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -e
+
+# Verify worktree credentials
+# This test verifies that git credentials work in worktrees created after checkout
+# Usage: verify-worktree.sh <checkout-path> <worktree-name>
+
+CHECKOUT_PATH="$1"
+WORKTREE_NAME="$2"
+
+if [ -z "$CHECKOUT_PATH" ] || [ -z "$WORKTREE_NAME" ]; then
+  echo "Usage: verify-worktree.sh <checkout-path> <worktree-name>"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+cd "$CHECKOUT_PATH"
+
+# Add safe directory for container environments
+git config --global --add safe.directory "*" 2>/dev/null || true
+
+# Show the includeIf configuration
+echo "Git config includeIf entries:"
+git config --list --show-origin | grep -i include || true
+
+# Create the worktree
+echo "Creating worktree..."
+git worktree add "../$WORKTREE_NAME" HEAD --detach
+
+# Change to worktree directory
+cd "../$WORKTREE_NAME"
+
+# Verify we're in a worktree
+echo "Verifying worktree gitdir:"
+cat .git
+
+# Verify credentials are available in worktree by checking extraheader is configured
+echo "Checking credentials in worktree..."
+if git config --list --show-origin | grep -q "extraheader"; then
+  echo "Credentials are configured in worktree"
+else
+  echo "ERROR: Credentials are NOT configured in worktree"
+  echo "Full git config:"
+  git config --list --show-origin
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+# Verify fetch works in the worktree
+echo "Fetching in worktree..."
+git fetch origin
+
+echo "Worktree credentials test passed!"

action.yml

@@ -9,9 +9,6 @@ inputs:
       The branch, tag or SHA to checkout. When checking out the repository that
       triggered a workflow, this defaults to the reference or SHA for that
       event.  Otherwise, uses the default branch.
-  default-branch-checkout:
-    description: 'Indicates whether to checkout the default repository branch if the requested ref does not exist'
-    default: false
   token:
     description: >
       Personal access token (PAT) used to fetch the repository. The PAT is configured

dist/index.js

@@ -412,6 +412,9 @@ class GitAuthHelper {
                 // Configure host includeIf
                 const hostIncludeKey = `includeIf.gitdir:${gitDir}.path`;
                 yield this.git.config(hostIncludeKey, credentialsConfigPath);
+                // Configure host includeIf for worktrees
+                const hostWorktreeIncludeKey = `includeIf.gitdir:${gitDir}/worktrees/*.path`;
+                yield this.git.config(hostWorktreeIncludeKey, credentialsConfigPath);
                 // Container git directory
                 const workingDirectory = this.git.getWorkingDirectory();
                 const githubWorkspace = process.env['GITHUB_WORKSPACE'];
@@ -424,6 +427,9 @@ class GitAuthHelper {
                 // Configure container includeIf
                 const containerIncludeKey = `includeIf.gitdir:${containerGitDir}.path`;
                 yield this.git.config(containerIncludeKey, containerCredentialsPath);
+                // Configure container includeIf for worktrees
+                const containerWorktreeIncludeKey = `includeIf.gitdir:${containerGitDir}/worktrees/*.path`;
+                yield this.git.config(containerWorktreeIncludeKey, containerCredentialsPath);
             }
         });
     }
@@ -1514,7 +1520,7 @@ function getSource(settings) {
             else if (settings.sparseCheckout) {
                 fetchOptions.filter = 'blob:none';
             }
-            if (settings.fetchDepth <= 0 || settings.defaultBranchCheckout) {
+            if (settings.fetchDepth <= 0) {
                 // Fetch all branches and tags
                 let refSpec = refHelper.getRefSpecForAllHistory(settings.ref, settings.commit);
                 yield git.fetch(refSpec, fetchOptions);
@@ -1534,22 +1540,7 @@ function getSource(settings) {
             core.endGroup();
             // Checkout info
             core.startGroup('Determining the checkout info');
-            let checkoutInfo;
+            const checkoutInfo = yield refHelper.getCheckoutInfo(git, settings.ref, settings.commit);
-            try {
-                checkoutInfo = yield refHelper.getCheckoutInfo(git, settings.ref, settings.commit);
-            }
-            catch (error) {
-                if (settings.defaultBranchCheckout) {
-                    core.info('Could not determine the checkout info. Trying the default repository branch');
-                    const repositoryDefaultBranch = settings.sshKey
-                        ? yield git.getDefaultBranch(repositoryUrl)
-                        : yield githubApiHelper.getDefaultBranch(settings.authToken, settings.repositoryOwner, settings.repositoryName);
-                    checkoutInfo = yield refHelper.getCheckoutInfo(git, repositoryDefaultBranch, settings.commit);
-                }
-                else {
-                    throw error;
-                }
-            }
             core.endGroup();
             // LFS fetch
             // Explicit lfs-fetch to avoid slow checkout (fetches one lfs object at a time).
@@ -2014,11 +2005,6 @@ function getInputs() {
         }
         core.debug(`ref = '${result.ref}'`);
         core.debug(`commit = '${result.commit}'`);
-        // Default branch checkout
-        result.defaultBranchCheckout =
-            (core.getInput('default-branch-checkout') || 'false').toUpperCase() ===
-                'TRUE';
-        core.debug(`default-branch-checkout = '${result.defaultBranchCheckout}'`);
         // Clean
         result.clean = (core.getInput('clean') || 'true').toUpperCase() === 'TRUE';
         core.debug(`clean = ${result.clean}`);

src/git-auth-helper.ts

@@ -374,6 +374,10 @@ class GitAuthHelper {
       const hostIncludeKey = `includeIf.gitdir:${gitDir}.path`
       await this.git.config(hostIncludeKey, credentialsConfigPath)
 
+      // Configure host includeIf for worktrees
+      const hostWorktreeIncludeKey = `includeIf.gitdir:${gitDir}/worktrees/*.path`
+      await this.git.config(hostWorktreeIncludeKey, credentialsConfigPath)
+
       // Container git directory
       const workingDirectory = this.git.getWorkingDirectory()
       const githubWorkspace = process.env['GITHUB_WORKSPACE']
@@ -395,6 +399,13 @@ class GitAuthHelper {
       // Configure container includeIf
       const containerIncludeKey = `includeIf.gitdir:${containerGitDir}.path`
       await this.git.config(containerIncludeKey, containerCredentialsPath)
+
+      // Configure container includeIf for worktrees
+      const containerWorktreeIncludeKey = `includeIf.gitdir:${containerGitDir}/worktrees/*.path`
+      await this.git.config(
+        containerWorktreeIncludeKey,
+        containerCredentialsPath
+      )
     }
   }
 

src/git-source-provider.ts

@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ export async function getSource(settings: IGitSourceSettings): Promise<void> {
       fetchOptions.filter = 'blob:none'
     }
 
-    if (settings.fetchDepth <= 0 || settings.defaultBranchCheckout) {
+    if (settings.fetchDepth <= 0) {
       // Fetch all branches and tags
       let refSpec = refHelper.getRefSpecForAllHistory(
         settings.ref,
@@ -193,34 +193,11 @@ export async function getSource(settings: IGitSourceSettings): Promise<void> {
 
     // Checkout info
     core.startGroup('Determining the checkout info')
-    let checkoutInfo: refHelper.ICheckoutInfo
+    const checkoutInfo = await refHelper.getCheckoutInfo(
-    try {
+      git,
-      checkoutInfo = await refHelper.getCheckoutInfo(
+      settings.ref,
-        git,
+      settings.commit
-        settings.ref,
+    )
-        settings.commit
-      )
-    } catch (error) {
-      if (settings.defaultBranchCheckout) {
-        core.info(
-          'Could not determine the checkout info. Trying the default repository branch'
-        )
-        const repositoryDefaultBranch = settings.sshKey
-          ? await git.getDefaultBranch(repositoryUrl)
-          : await githubApiHelper.getDefaultBranch(
-              settings.authToken,
-              settings.repositoryOwner,
-              settings.repositoryName
-            )
-        checkoutInfo = await refHelper.getCheckoutInfo(
-          git,
-          repositoryDefaultBranch,
-          settings.commit
-        )
-      } else {
-        throw error
-      }
-    }
     core.endGroup()
 
     // LFS fetch

src/git-source-settings.ts

@@ -19,11 +19,6 @@ export interface IGitSourceSettings {
    */
   ref: string
 
-  /**
-   * Indicates whether to checkout the default repository branch if the requested ref does not exist
-   */
-  defaultBranchCheckout: boolean
-
   /**
    * The commit to checkout
    */

src/input-helper.ts

@@ -78,12 +78,6 @@ export async function getInputs(): Promise<IGitSourceSettings> {
   core.debug(`ref = '${result.ref}'`)
   core.debug(`commit = '${result.commit}'`)
 
-  // Default branch checkout
-  result.defaultBranchCheckout =
-    (core.getInput('default-branch-checkout') || 'false').toUpperCase() ===
-    'TRUE'
-  core.debug(`default-branch-checkout = '${result.defaultBranchCheckout}'`)
-
   // Clean
   result.clean = (core.getInput('clean') || 'true').toUpperCase() === 'TRUE'
   core.debug(`clean = ${result.clean}`)

src/misc/generate-docs.ts

@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ function updateUsage(
 }
 
 updateUsage(
-  'actions/checkout@v5',
+  'actions/checkout@v6',
   path.join(__dirname, '..', '..', 'action.yml'),
   path.join(__dirname, '..', '..', 'README.md')
 )