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
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4.1.6
+      - name: Fix Checkout v6
+        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

@@ -1,10 +1,19 @@
 # Changelog
 
-## V5.0.0
+## 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
+* Port v6 cleanup to v5 by @ericsciple in https://github.com/actions/checkout/pull/2301
+
+## v5.0.0
 * Update actions checkout to use node 24 by @salmanmkc in https://github.com/actions/checkout/pull/2226
 
+## 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

@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 [![Build and Test](https://github.com/actions/checkout/actions/workflows/test.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/actions/checkout/actions/workflows/test.yml)
 
-# Checkout v6-beta
+# Checkout v6
 
 ## What's new
 
-- Updated `persist-credentials` to store the credentials under `$RUNNER_TEMP` instead of directly in the local git config.
-  - This requires a minimum Actions Runner version of [v2.329.0](https://github.com/actions/runner/releases/tag/v2.329.0) to access the persisted credentials for [Docker container action](https://docs.github.com/en/actions/tutorials/use-containerized-services/create-a-docker-container-action) scenarios.
+- Improved credential security: `persist-credentials` now stores credentials in a separate file under `$RUNNER_TEMP` instead of directly in `.git/config`
+- 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 }}
@@ -136,11 +137,6 @@ Please refer to the [release page](https://github.com/actions/checkout/releases/
     # Default: true
     show-progress: ''
 
-    # Path to a local bare git [reference repository to minimize network
-    # usage](https://git-scm.com/docs/git-clone#Documentation/git-clone.txt---reference-if-ableltrepositorygt).
-    # If the directory doesn't exists this option will ignore it and log a message.
-    reference: ''
-
     # Whether to download Git-LFS files
     # Default: false
     lfs: ''
@@ -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

@@ -1048,7 +1048,6 @@ async function setup(testName: string): Promise<void> {
     lfsInstall: jest.fn(),
     log1: jest.fn(),
     remoteAdd: jest.fn(),
-    referenceAdd: jest.fn(),
     removeEnvironmentVariable: jest.fn((name: string) => delete git.env[name]),
     revParse: jest.fn(),
     setEnvironmentVariable: jest.fn((name: string, value: string) => {
@@ -1174,8 +1173,7 @@ async function setup(testName: string): Promise<void> {
     sshUser: '',
     workflowOrganizationId: 123456,
     setSafeDirectory: true,
-    githubServerUrl: githubServerUrl,
-    reference: '/some/path'
+    githubServerUrl: githubServerUrl
   }
 }
 

__test__/git-directory-helper.test.ts

@@ -479,7 +479,6 @@ async function setup(testName: string): Promise<void> {
     lfsInstall: jest.fn(),
     log1: jest.fn(),
     remoteAdd: jest.fn(),
-    referenceAdd: jest.fn(),
     removeEnvironmentVariable: jest.fn(),
     revParse: jest.fn(),
     setEnvironmentVariable: jest.fn(),

__test__/input-helper.test.ts

@@ -91,7 +91,6 @@ describe('input-helper tests', () => {
     expect(settings.repositoryOwner).toBe('some-owner')
     expect(settings.repositoryPath).toBe(gitHubWorkspace)
     expect(settings.setSafeDirectory).toBe(true)
-    expect(settings.reference).toBe(undefined)
   })
 
   it('qualifies ref', async () => {

__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

@@ -80,12 +80,6 @@ inputs:
   show-progress:
     description: 'Whether to show progress status output when fetching.'
     default: true
-  reference:
-    required: false
-    description: >
-      Path to a local bare git [reference repository to minimize network usage](https://git-scm.com/docs/git-clone#Documentation/git-clone.txt---reference-if-ableltrepositorygt).
-      
-      If the directory doesn't exists this option will ignore it and log a message.
   lfs:
     description: 'Whether to download Git-LFS files'
     default: false

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);
             }
         });
     }
@@ -930,13 +936,6 @@ class GitCommandManager {
             yield this.execGit(['remote', 'add', remoteName, remoteUrl]);
         });
     }
-    referenceAdd(alternateObjects) {
-        return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
-            const alternatePath = path.join(this.workingDirectory, '.git/objects/info/alternates');
-            core.info(`Adding a git alternate to reference repo at ${alternateObjects}`);
-            yield fs.promises.writeFile(alternatePath, `${alternateObjects}\n`);
-        });
-    }
     removeEnvironmentVariable(name) {
         delete this.gitEnv[name];
     }
@@ -1482,17 +1481,6 @@ function getSource(settings) {
                 yield git.init();
                 yield git.remoteAdd('origin', repositoryUrl);
                 core.endGroup();
-                if (settings.reference !== undefined) {
-                    const alternateObjects = path.join(settings.reference, '/objects');
-                    if (fsHelper.directoryExistsSync(alternateObjects, false)) {
-                        core.startGroup('Adding a reference repository');
-                        yield git.referenceAdd(alternateObjects);
-                        core.endGroup();
-                    }
-                    else {
-                        core.warning(`Reference repository was specified, but directory ${alternateObjects} does not exists`);
-                    }
-                }
             }
             // Disable automatic garbage collection
             core.startGroup('Disabling automatic garbage collection');
@@ -2085,8 +2073,6 @@ function getInputs() {
         // Determine the GitHub URL that the repository is being hosted from
         result.githubServerUrl = core.getInput('github-server-url');
         core.debug(`GitHub Host URL = ${result.githubServerUrl}`);
-        result.reference = core.getInput('reference');
-        core.debug(`Reference repository = ${result.reference}`);
         return result;
     });
 }

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-command-manager.ts

@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ export interface IGitCommandManager {
   lfsInstall(): Promise<void>
   log1(format?: string): Promise<string>
   remoteAdd(remoteName: string, remoteUrl: string): Promise<void>
-  referenceAdd(reference: string): Promise<void>
   removeEnvironmentVariable(name: string): void
   revParse(ref: string): Promise<string>
   setEnvironmentVariable(name: string, value: string): void
@@ -404,15 +403,6 @@ class GitCommandManager {
     await this.execGit(['remote', 'add', remoteName, remoteUrl])
   }
 
-  async referenceAdd(alternateObjects: string): Promise<void> {
-    const alternatePath = path.join(
-      this.workingDirectory,
-      '.git/objects/info/alternates'
-    )
-    core.info(`Adding a git alternate to reference repo at ${alternateObjects}`)
-    await fs.promises.writeFile(alternatePath, `${alternateObjects}\n`)
-  }
-
   removeEnvironmentVariable(name: string): void {
     delete this.gitEnv[name]
   }

src/git-source-provider.ts

@@ -113,18 +113,6 @@ export async function getSource(settings: IGitSourceSettings): Promise<void> {
       await git.init()
       await git.remoteAdd('origin', repositoryUrl)
       core.endGroup()
-
-      if (settings.reference !== undefined) {
-        const alternateObjects = path.join(settings.reference, '/objects')
-
-        if (fsHelper.directoryExistsSync(alternateObjects, false)) {
-          core.startGroup('Adding a reference repository')
-          await git.referenceAdd(alternateObjects)
-          core.endGroup()
-        } else {
-          core.warning(`Reference repository was specified, but directory ${alternateObjects} does not exists`);
-        }
-      }
     }
 
     // Disable automatic garbage collection

src/git-source-settings.ts

@@ -49,11 +49,6 @@ export interface IGitSourceSettings {
    */
   fetchDepth: number
 
-  /**
-   * The local reference repository
-   */
-  reference: string | undefined
-
   /**
    * Fetch tags, even if fetchDepth > 0 (default: false)
    */
@@ -64,11 +59,6 @@ export interface IGitSourceSettings {
    */
   showProgress: boolean
 
-  /**
-   * The local reference repository
-   */
-  reference: string | undefined
-
   /**
    * Indicates whether to fetch LFS objects
    */

src/input-helper.ts

@@ -161,8 +161,5 @@ export async function getInputs(): Promise<IGitSourceSettings> {
   result.githubServerUrl = core.getInput('github-server-url')
   core.debug(`GitHub Host URL = ${result.githubServerUrl}`)
 
-  result.reference = core.getInput('reference')
-  core.debug(`Reference repository = ${result.reference}`)
-
   return result
 }

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')
 )