How to set GitHub Actions ENV with python shell

Question

Okay, here is a common example how to set ENVs if we have a bash shell:

...

jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Set environment variable
        shell: bash
        run: echo "ENV_NAME=ENV_VALUE" >> "${GITHUB_ENV}"

      - name: Get environment variable
        shell: bash
        run: echo "A value of ENV_NAME is ${{ env.ENV_NAME }}"

But what if our shell is a python?:

...

jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Set environment variable with python
        shell: python
        # How to set ENV with python?
        run: ???

How to set ENV with python?

What happens in that shell script line is that a piece of text is appended to the filename stored in the GITHUB_ENV variable. Using the standard Python file.WriteLines function should work just fine. — jessehouwing
– jessehouwing, Commented Jan 10, 2023 at 10:27
@jessehouwing stupid me... it was obvious. Working like a charm — rzlvmp
– rzlvmp, Commented Jan 10, 2023 at 11:13

rzlvmp · Accepted Answer · 2023-01-10 11:26:18Z

2

Thanks to @jessehouwing comment: GITHUB_ENV is just a file name. And we able to insert variable by editing this file:

...

jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Set environment variable with python
        shell: python
        run: |
          from os import environ as env

          file_path = env.get('GITHUB_ENV', None)
          if file_path is None:
            raise OSError('Environment file not found')

          with open(file_path, 'a') as gh_envs:
            gh_envs.write('ENV_NAME=ENV_VALUE\n')

＊ GITHUB_ENV is not a part of env context, so open('${{ env.GITHUB_ENV }}', 'a') can not be used

edited Jan 10, 2023 at 11:26

answered Jan 10, 2023 at 11:17

rzlvmp

9,8646 gold badges36 silver badges77 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

3 Comments

user18140022 Over a year ago

That does not fully work as is read by python as "***" if you want a secret. The problem is that github obfuscates the secret. I am still trying to figure out a solution.

rzlvmp Over a year ago

@user18140022 All secrets already accessible via secrets.SECRET_NAME context. Also it may be set inside env: key like ENV_NAME: ${{secrets.SECRET_NAME}. I can't imagine why you need to assign secret environment variable via python

user18140022 Over a year ago

I need different envs for dev, qa, prod. In each environment there are credentials for different databases. That's why I need to assign secret environment variables. I could obvs set them all as repo secret but not ideal

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to set GitHub Actions ENV with python shell

1 Answer 1

3 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

3 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related