changed-files

Retrieve all changed files and directories relative to the target branch or the last remote commit returning the absolute path from the project root.

Features

Fast execution (0-2 seconds on average).
Easy to debug.
Scales to large repositories.
Git submodules support.
No extra API calls.
Escaped JSON Output which can be used for running matrix jobs based on changed files.
List only changed directories.
Monorepos (Fetches only the last remote commit).
Supports all platforms (Linux, MacOS, Windows).
GitHub-hosted runners support
GitHub Enterprise Server support.
self-hosted runners support.
List all files and directories that have changed:
- Between the current pull request branch and the last commit on the target branch.
- Between the last commit and the current pushed change.
- Between the last remote branch commit and the current HEAD.
Restrict change detection to a subset of files and directories:
- Boolean output indicating that certain files have been changed.
- Using Glob pattern matching.

Usage

NOTE: ⚠️

IMPORTANT: For push events you need to include fetch-depth: 0 OR fetch-depth: 2 depending on your use case.

For monorepos where pulling all the branch history might not be desired, you can omit fetch-depth for pull_request events.

For files located in a sub-directory ensure that the pattern specified contains **/ (globstar) to match any preceding directories or explicitly pass the full path relative to the project root. See: #314.

All multiline inputs should not use double or single qoutes since the value is already a string seperated by a newline character. See Examples for more information.

name: CI

on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main
  pull_request:
    branches:
      - main

jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest  # windows-latest | macos-latest
    name: Test changed-files
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
        with:
          fetch-depth: 0  # OR "2" -> To retrieve the preceding commit.

      # Example 1
      - name: Get changed files
        id: changed-files
        uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v33

      - name: List all changed files
        run: |
          for file in ${{ steps.changed-files.outputs.all_changed_files }}; do
            echo "$file was changed"
          done

      # Example 2
      - name: Get changed files in the docs folder
        id: changed-files-specific
        uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v33
        with:
          files: |
            docs/**

      - name: Run step if any file(s) in the docs folder change
        if: steps.changed-files-specific.outputs.any_changed == 'true'
        run: |
          echo "One or more files in the docs folder has changed."
          echo "List all the files that have changed: ${{ steps.changed-files-specific.outputs.all_changed_files }}"

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Outputs

Acronym	Meaning
A	Added
C	Copied
M	Modified
D	Deleted
R	Renamed
T	Type changed
U	Unmerged
X	Unknown

Output	type	example	description
any_changed	`string`	`true` OR `false`	Returns `true` when any of the filenames provided using the `files` input has changed. If no `files` have been specified, an empty string `''` is returned. i.e. using a combination of all added, copied, modified and renamed files (ACMR)
only_changed	`string`	`true` OR `false`	Returns `true` when only files provided using the `files` input has changed. If no `files` have been specified, an empty string `''` is returned. i.e. using a combination of all added, copied, modified and renamed files (ACMR)
other_changed_files	`string`	`'new.txt path/to/file.png ...'`	Returns all other changed files not listed in the files input i.e. using a combination of all added, copied, modified and renamed files (ACMR)
any_modified	`string`	`true` OR `false`	Returns `true` when any of the filenames provided using the `files` input has been modified. If no `files` have been specified, an empty string `''` is returned. i.e. using a combination of all added, copied, modified, renamed, and deleted files (ACMRD)
only_modified	`string`	`true` OR `false`	Returns `true` when only files provided using the `files` input has been modified. If no `files` have been specified, an empty string `''` is returned.(ACMRD)
other_modified_files	`string`	`'new.txt path/to/file.png ...'`	Returns all other modified files not listed in the files input i.e. a combination of all added, copied, modified, and deleted files (ACMRD)
any_deleted	`string`	`true` OR `false`	Returns `true` when any of the filenames provided using the `files` input has been deleted. If no `files` have been specified, an empty string `''` is returned. (D)
only_deleted	`string`	`true` OR `false`	Returns `true` when only files provided using the `files` input has been deleted. If no `files` have been specified, an empty string `''` is returned. (D)
other_deleted_files	`string`	`'new.txt path/to/file.png ...'`	Returns all other deleted files not listed in the files input i.e. a combination of all deleted files (D)
all_changed_files	`string`	`'new.txt path/to/file.png ...'`	Returns all changed files i.e. a combination of all added, copied, modified and renamed files (ACMR)
all_modified_files	`string`	`'new.txt path/to/file.png ...'`	Returns all changed files i.e. a combination of all added, copied, modified, renamed and deleted files (ACMRD)
all_changed_and_modified_files	`string`	`'new.txt path/to/file.png ...'`	Returns all changed and modified files i.e. a combination of (ACMRDTUX)
all_old_new_renamed_files	`string`	`'old name.txt,new name.txt old name 2.txt,new name 2.txt...'`	Returns only files that are Renamed and list their old and new names. NOTE: This requires setting `include_all_old_new_renamed_files` to `true` (R)
added_files	`string`	`'new.txt path/to/file.png ...'`	Returns only files that are Added (A)
copied_files	`string`	`'new.txt path/to/file.png ...'`	Returns only files that are Copied (C)
deleted_files	`string`	`'new.txt path/to/file.png ...'`	Returns only files that are Deleted (D)
modified_files	`string`	`'new.txt path/to/file.png ...'`	Returns only files that are Modified (M)
renamed_files	`string`	`'new.txt path/to/file.png ...'`	Returns only files that are Renamed (R)
type_changed_files	`string`	`'new.txt path/to/file.png ...'`	Returns only files that have their file type changed (T)
unmerged_files	`string`	`'new.txt path/to/file.png ...'`	Returns only files that are Unmerged (U)
unknown_files	`string`	`'new.txt path/to/file.png ...'`	Returns only files that are Unknown (X)

Inputs

Input	type	required	default	description
separator	`string`	`false`	`' '`	Split character for output strings
include_all_old_new_renamed_files	`boolean`	`false`	`false`	Include `all_old_new_renamed_files` output. Note this can generate a large output See: #501.
old_new_separator	`string`	`false`	`','`	Split character for old and new filename pairs
old_new_files_separator	`string`	`false`	`' '`	Split character for multiple old and new filename pairs
files	`string` OR `string[]`	`false`		Check for changes using only these list of file(s) (Defaults to the entire repo) NOTE: Multiline file/directory patterns should not include qoutes.
files_separator	`string`	`false`	`'\n'`	Separator used to split the `files` input
files_from_source_file	`string`	`false`		Source file(s) used to populate the `files` input
files_ignore	`string`	`false`		Ignore changes to these file(s) NOTE: Multiline file/directory patterns should not include qoutes.
files_ignore_separator	`string`	`false`	`'\n'`	Separator used to split the `files-ignore` input
files_ignore_from_source_file	`string`	`false`		Source file(s) used to populate the `files_ignore` input
sha	`string`	`true`	`${{ github.sha }}`	Specify a different commit SHA used for comparing changes
base_sha	`string`	`false`		Specify a different base commit SHA used for comparing changes
path	`string`	`false`	`'.'`	Relative path under `GITHUB_WORKSPACE` to the repository
quotepath	`boolean`	`false`	`true`	Output filenames completely verbatim by setting this to `false`
diff_relative	`boolean`	`false`		Exclude changes outside the current directory and show pathnames relative to it. NOTE: This requires you to specify the top level directory via the `path` input.
dir_names	`boolean`	`false`	`false`	Output unique changed directories instead of filenames. NOTE: This returns `.` for changed files located in the root of the project.
json	`boolean`	`false`	`false`	Output changed files in JSON format which can be used for matrix jobs.
since	`string`	`false`		Get changed files for commits whose timestamp is older than the given time.
until	`string`	`false`		Get changed files for commits whose timestamp is earlier than the given time.
max_fetch_depth	`string`	`false`	`120`	Max limit for fetching branch history. NOTE: This can be adjusted to resolve errors with insufficient history.

Examples

Get all changed files in the current branch

...
    - name: Get changed files
      id: changed-files
      uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v33
...

Get all changed files and using a comma separator

...
    - name: Get all changed files and use a comma separator in the output
      id: changed-files
      uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v33
      with:
        separator: ","
...

See inputs for more information.

Get all changed files and list all added files

...
    - name: Get changed files
      id: changed-files
      uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v33
      
    - name: List all added files
      run: |
        for file in ${{ steps.changed-files.outputs.added_files }}; do
          echo "$file was added"
        done
...

See outputs for a list of all available outputs.

Get all changed files and optionally run a step if a file was modified

...
    - name: Get changed files
      id: changed-files
      uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v33
      
    - name: Run a step if my-file.txt was modified
      if: contains(steps.changed-files.outputs.modified_files, 'my-file.txt')
      run: |
        echo "my-file.txt file has been modified."
...

See outputs for a list of all available outputs.

Get all changed files using a list of files

...
    - name: Get changed files
      id: changed-files
      uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v33
      with:
        files: |
          my-file.txt
          *.sh
          *.png
          !*.md
          test_directory
          **/*.sql
...

See inputs for more information.

Get all changed files using a list of files and take action base on the changes

...
    - name: Get changed files
      id: changed-files
      uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v33
      with:
        files: |
          my-file.txt
          *.sh
          *.png
          !*.md
          test_directory
          **/*.sql

    - name: Run step if any of the listed files above change
      if: steps.changed-files-specific.outputs.any_changed == 'true'
      run: |
        echo "One or more files listed above has changed."

    - name: Run step if only the files listed above change
      if: steps.changed-files-specific.outputs.only_changed == 'true'
      run: |
        echo "Only files listed above have changed."

    - name: Run step if any of the listed files above is deleted
      if: steps.changed-files.outputs.any_deleted == 'true'
      run: |
        for file in ${{ steps.changed-files.outputs.deleted_files }}; do
          echo "$file was deleted"
        done

    - name: Run step if all listed files above have been deleted
      if: steps.changed-files.outputs.only_deleted == 'true'
      run: |
        for file in ${{ steps.changed-files.outputs.deleted_files }}; do
          echo "$file was deleted"
        done
...

See outputs for a list of all available outputs.

Get all changed files using a source file or list of file(s) to populate to files input

...
    - name: Get changed files using a source file or list of file(s) to populate to files input.
      id: changed-files-specific-source-file
      uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v33
      with:
        files_from_source_file: |
          test/changed-files-list.txt
...

See inputs for more information.

Get changed files using a source file or list of file(s) to populate to files input and optionally specify more files

...
    - name: Get changed files using a source file or list of file(s) to populate to files input and optionally specify more files.
      id: changed-files-specific-source-file-and-specify-files
      uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v33
      with:
        files_from_source_file: |
          test/changed-files-list.txt
        files: |
          test.txt
...

See inputs for more information.

Get all changed files using a different SHA

...
    - name: Get changed files using a different SHA
      id: changed-files
      uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v33
      with:
        sha: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}
...

See inputs for more information.

Get all changed files using a different base SHA

...
    - name: Get changed files using a different base SHA
      id: changed-files
      uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v33
      with:
        base_sha: ${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }}
...

See inputs for more information.

Get all changed files for a repository located in a different path

...
    - name: Checkout into dir1
      uses: actions/checkout@v3
      with:
        fetch-depth: 0
        path: dir1

    - name: Run changed-files with defaults in dir1
      id: changed-files-for-dir1
      uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v33
      with:
        path: dir1

    - name: List all added files in dir1
      run: |
        for file in ${{ steps.changed-files-for-dir1.outputs.added_files }}; do
          echo "$file was added"
        done
...

See inputs for more information.

Get all changed files with non äšćįí characters i.e (Filename in other languages)

...
    - name: Run changed-files with quotepath disabled
      id: changed-files-quotepath
      uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v33
      with:
        quotepath: "false"

    - name: Run changed-files with quotepath disabled for a specified list of file(s)
      id: changed-files-quotepath-specific
      uses: ./
      with:
        files: test/test-è.txt
        quotepath: "false"
...

See inputs for more information.

Get all changed files using the last successful commit of the base branch

Push event

...
      - name: Get branch name
        id: branch-name
        uses: tj-actions/branch-names@v6

      - uses: nrwl/last-successful-commit-action@v1
        id: last_successful_commit_push
        with:
          branch: ${{ steps.branch-name.outputs.current_branch }} # Get the last successful commit for the current branch. 
          workflow_id: 'test.yml'
          github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}

      - name: Run changed-files with the commit of the last successful test workflow run
        id: changed-files-base-sha-push
        uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v33
        with:
          base_sha: ${{ steps.last_successful_commit_push.outputs.commit_hash }}
...

Pull request events

...
      - name: Get branch name
        id: branch-name
        uses: tj-actions/branch-names@v5

      - uses: nrwl/last-successful-commit-action@v1
        id: last_successful_commit_pull_request
        with:
          branch: ${{ steps.branch-name.outputs.base_ref_branch }} # Get the last successful commit on master or main branch 
          workflow_id: 'test.yml'
          github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}

      - name: Run changed-files with the commit of the last successful test workflow run on main
        id: changed-files-base-sha-pull-request
        uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v33
        with:
          base_sha: ${{ steps.last_successful_commit_pull_request.outputs.commit_hash }}
...

NOTE: This setting overrides the commit sha used by setting since_last_remote_commit to true. It is recommended to use either solution that works for your use case.

See inputs for more information.

Get all changed files but only return the directory names

...
    - name: Run changed-files with dir_names
      id: changed-files-dir-names
      uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v33
      with:
        dir_names: "true"
...

See inputs for more information.

Get all changed files and return JSON formatted outputs

...
    - name: Run changed-files with json output
      id: changed-files-json
      uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v33
      with:
        json: "true"
...

See inputs for more information.

Get all changed files by commits pushed in the past

...
    - name: Get changed-files since 2022-08-19
      id: changed-files-since
      uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v33
      with:
        since: "2022-08-19"
    
    - name: Get changed-files until 2022-08-20
      id: changed-files-until
      uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v33
      with:
        until: "2022-08-20"
...

See inputs for more information.

Real world example

Free software: MIT license

Known Limitation

NOTE: ⚠️

Using characters like \n, %, . and \r as separators would be URL encoded

Spaces in file names can introduce bugs when using bash loops. See: #216 However, this action will handle spaces in file names, with a recommendation of using a separator to prevent hidden issues.

Credits

This package was created with Cookiecutter.

tj-actions/glob
tj-actions/demo
tj-actions/release-tagger

Report Bugs

Report bugs at https://github.com/tj-actions/changed-files/issues.

If you are reporting a bug, please include:

Your operating system name and version.
Any details about your workflow that might be helpful in troubleshooting.
Detailed steps to reproduce the bug.

Contributors ✨

Thanks goes to these wonderful people (emoji key):

_{Josh Soref} 📖	_{Nick Landers} 💻	_{Krasimir Nikolov} 💻 📖	_{Ivan Pizhenko} 💻 📖	_talva-tr 💻	_{Ikko Ashimine} 📖	_James 📖
_{James Cheng} 📖	_{Masaya Suzuki} 💻	_fagai 📖	_{Constantine Peresypkin} 💻	_{Mathieu Dupuy} 📖	_{Joe Moggridge} 📖	_{Charles Santos} 💻
_{Kostiantyn Korniienko} 📖	_{Logan Pulley} 💻

This project follows the all-contributors specification. Contributions of any kind welcome!

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README.md

README.md

changed-files

Features

Usage

Outputs

Inputs

Examples

Real world example

Known Limitation

Credits

Report Bugs

Contributors ✨

Files

README.md

Latest commit

History

README.md

File metadata and controls

changed-files

Features

Usage

Outputs

Inputs

Examples

Real world example

Known Limitation

Credits

Report Bugs

Contributors ✨