Answers: <p>In GitHub Actions, <code>ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG</code> or <code>ACTIONS_RUNNER_DEBUG</code> is a special reserved environment variable that can be set to enable debug logging for steps in a workflow. It's not typically used as a secret, but you can manage it either as a secret or a variable depending on the context and the level of control you want over its value.</p>
  <h3><code>ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG</code> as a Secret:</h3>
  <p>While <code>ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG</code> is not inherently sensitive, there might be cases where you want to control access to debug information based on the repository's environment (e.g., only certain teams or users should enable debug logs).</p>
  <pre class="lang-yaml prettyprint-override"><code>name: Debug Workflow Example
  
  on: [push]
  
  jobs:
    debug-job:
      runs-on: ubuntu-latest
      steps:
        - name: Checkout repository
          uses: actions/checkout@v3
  
        - name: Enable Debug Mode
          run: |
            echo &quot;ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG=${{ secrets.ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG }}&quot; &gt;&gt; $GITHUB_ENV
          env:
            ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG }}
  
        - name: Run a step with debug information
          run: |
            echo &quot;This is a debug step&quot;
            # Here debug logs will appear based on the value of ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG
  </code></pre>
  <h3><code>ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG</code> as a Variable:</h3>
  <p>If you don't have sensitive control over enabling debug mode and want to control it as part of the workflow (maybe to toggle it dynamically), then using it as a variable makes more sense.</p>
  <pre class="lang-yaml prettyprint-override"><code>name: Debug Workflow Example
  
  on: [push]
  
  jobs:
    debug-job:
      runs-on: ubuntu-latest
      steps:
        - name: Checkout repository
          uses: actions/checkout@v3
  
        - name: Enable Debug Mode
          run: |
            echo &quot;ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG=true&quot; &gt;&gt; $GITHUB_ENV
          env:
            ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG }} # If secret used
  
        - name: Run a step with debug information
          run: |
            echo &quot;This is a debug step&quot;
            # Here debug logs will appear based on the value of ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG
  </code></pre>
  <p>In practice, <code>ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG</code> or <code>ACTIONS_RUNNER_DEBUG</code> is often set via environment variables, and it typically doesn't need to be treated as a secret unless you are working with particular security or access control needs.</p>
  
Answers: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers: 2024-12-23T13:37:43.377Z
Answers: This answer doesn't make sense to me. Anyone who runs a workflow will know if debugging is enabled. It'll show in the log. It's not a _secret_ that it runs. And if they value itself isn't sensitive how could whether or not it's running be sensitive, all the more when it running is determined only by the value.
Answers: Evan Carroll
Answers: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers: 2024-12-26T07:53:45.257Z
Answers: @EvanCarroll, I have updated the answer. Please check
Answers: Ajay
Answers: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers: 2024-12-26T09:28:39.677Z
Answers: Did you write this answer with AI?
Answers: Evan Carroll
Answers: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers: 2024-12-26T10:06:27.280Z
Answers: Nope. I referred on it along with other articles.
Answers: Ajay
Answers: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers: 2024-12-23T04:38:15.237Z
Answers: 2024-12-26T12:49:11.177Z
Answers: 2024-12-26T12:49:11.177Z
Answers: Ajay
Body: <p>Github supports storing <code>ACTIONS_RUNNER_DEBUG</code> or <code>ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG</code> as a secret or a variable? Why would you ever want to store this as a secret if the value can only be &quot;true&quot;?</p>
  
Tags: <github-actions>
Title: Why ever store ACTIONS_RUNNER_DEBUG or ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG as a secret?
UserDisplayName: Evan Carroll
ThreadText: # Why ever store ACTIONS_RUNNER_DEBUG or ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG as a secret?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2024-12-20)
  
  Github supports storing `ACTIONS_RUNNER_DEBUG` or `ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG` as a secret or a variable? Why would you ever want to store this as a secret if the value can only be "true"?
  
  **Tags:** github-actions
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2024-12-23. Score: 0
  
  In GitHub Actions, `ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG` or `ACTIONS_RUNNER_DEBUG` is a special reserved environment variable that can be set to enable debug logging for steps in a workflow. It's not typically used as a secret, but you can manage it either as a secret or a variable depending on the context and the level of control you want over its value.
  
  ### `ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG` as a Secret:
  
  While `ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG` is not inherently sensitive, there might be cases where you want to control access to debug information based on the repository's environment (e.g., only certain teams or users should enable debug logs).
  
  ```yaml
  name: Debug Workflow Example
  
  on: [push]
  
  jobs:
    debug-job:
      runs-on: ubuntu-latest
      steps:
        - name: Checkout repository
          uses: actions/checkout@v3
  
        - name: Enable Debug Mode
          run: |
            echo "ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG=${{ secrets.ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
          env:
            ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG }}
  
        - name: Run a step with debug information
          run: |
            echo "This is a debug step"
            # Here debug logs will appear based on the value of ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG
  
  ```
  
  ### `ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG` as a Variable:
  
  If you don't have sensitive control over enabling debug mode and want to control it as part of the workflow (maybe to toggle it dynamically), then using it as a variable makes more sense.
  
  ```yaml
  name: Debug Workflow Example
  
  on: [push]
  
  jobs:
    debug-job:
      runs-on: ubuntu-latest
      steps:
        - name: Checkout repository
          uses: actions/checkout@v3
  
        - name: Enable Debug Mode
          run: |
            echo "ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG=true" >> $GITHUB_ENV
          env:
            ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG }} # If secret used
  
        - name: Run a step with debug information
          run: |
            echo "This is a debug step"
            # Here debug logs will appear based on the value of ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG
  
  ```
  
  In practice, `ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG` or `ACTIONS_RUNNER_DEBUG` is often set via environment variables, and it typically doesn't need to be treated as a secret unless you are working with particular security or access control needs.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: This answer doesn't make sense to me. Anyone who runs a workflow will know if debugging is enabled. It'll show in the log. It's not a _secret_ that it runs. And if they value itself isn't sensitive how could whether or not it's running be sensitive, all the more when it running is determined only by the value.  
  > **username_1**: @username_0, I have updated the answer. Please check  
  > **username_0**: Did you write this answer with AI?  
  > **username_1**: Nope. I referred on it along with other articles.  
  
  ---
  
  