Current Documentation and Limitations

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 101 views

Preventing Forks from Trying to Release: A Solution to Protect Your Project

Bug Description

When someone forks a project that utilizes the release-plz GitHub Action, it will, by default, attempt to run release-plz in the forked repository and create a release pull request (PR) or even attempt to release the crate. This behavior can be problematic, especially if the forked project is not intended for release or if the original project's maintainers do not want the fork to create releases.

Expected Behavior

The expected behavior is that the release-plz GitHub Action should only create release PRs or releases in the source repository, not in the forked repository. This ensures that the original project's maintainers have control over when and how releases are created.

Additional Context

It would be beneficial to have a default setting in the release-plz GitHub Action that prevents forks from trying to release. This could be achieved by adding required settings to the GitHub Action for the GitHub user/repo. This way, the action can check if it matches the original repository, preventing forks from attempting to create releases.

Current Documentation and Limitations

Unfortunately, there is no documentation on the current site or README that suggests adding conditional logic to the action's workflow. This lack of documentation makes it challenging for users to understand how to prevent forks from trying to release.

Solution: Implementing Conditional Logic in the GitHub Action

To address this issue, we propose implementing conditional logic in the release-plz GitHub Action. This can be achieved by adding a check to verify if the repository is the original source repository or a fork. If it's a fork, the action can be configured to prevent release creation.

Proposed Solution: Adding Required Settings to the GitHub Action

To implement this solution, we suggest adding the following required settings to the GitHub Action:

source-repo-owner: The owner of the original source repository.
source-repo-name: The name of the original source repository.
fork-check: A boolean flag that indicates whether to check if the repository is a fork.

Here's an example of how the updated GitHub Action workflow could look:

name: Release Plz

on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main

jobs:
  release:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
        uses: actions/checkout@v2
      - name: Check if repository is a fork
        run: |
          if [ "${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}" != "${source-repo-owner}/${source-repo-name}" ]; then
            echo "This is a fork, skipping release creation"
            exit 0
          fi
      - name: Run release-plz
        run: |
          release-plz --token ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}

Benefits of the Proposed Solution

The proposed solution offers several benefits, including:

Improved security: By preventing forks from trying to release, we reduce the risk of unauthorized releases and maintain the integrity of the original project.
Simplified workflow: The updated GitHub Action workflow is more straightforward, making it easier for users to understand and configure.
Enhanced user experience: By providing a clear and concise solution, we improve the overall user experience and reduce the likelihood of errors or confusion.

Conclusion

Preventing forks from trying to release is a crucial aspect of maintaining a project's integrity and security. By implementing conditional logic in the release-plz GitHub Action and adding required settings, we can ensure that only the original source repository can create releases. This solution benefits both the project maintainers and users by providing a more secure and streamlined workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions: Preventing Forks from Trying to Release

Q: What is the current behavior of the `release-plz` GitHub Action when a user forks a project?

A: When a user forks a project that utilizes the release-plz GitHub Action, it will, by default, attempt to run release-plz in the forked repository and create a release pull request (PR) or even attempt to release the crate.

Q: Why is this behavior a problem?

A: This behavior can be problematic, especially if the forked project is not intended for release or if the original project's maintainers do not want the fork to create releases. It can lead to unauthorized releases, confusion, and potential security risks.

Q: What is the expected behavior of the `release-plz` GitHub Action?

A: The expected behavior is that the release-plz GitHub Action should only create release PRs or releases in the source repository, not in the forked repository. This ensures that the original project's maintainers have control over when and how releases are created.

Q: How can I prevent forks from trying to release using the `release-plz` GitHub Action?

A: To prevent forks from trying to release, you can implement conditional logic in the release-plz GitHub Action by adding a check to verify if the repository is the original source repository or a fork. If it's a fork, the action can be configured to prevent release creation.

Q: What settings do I need to add to the GitHub Action to implement this solution?

A: You need to add the following required settings to the GitHub Action:

source-repo-owner: The owner of the original source repository.
source-repo-name: The name of the original source repository.
fork-check: A boolean flag that indicates whether to check if the repository is a fork.

Q: How do I configure the GitHub Action to check if the repository is a fork?

A: You can configure the GitHub Action to check if the repository is a fork by adding a step to the workflow that checks the GITHUB_REPOSITORY environment variable against the source-repo-owner and source-repo-name settings. If it's a fork, the action can be configured to prevent release creation.

Q: What are the benefits of implementing this solution?

A: The benefits of implementing this solution include:

Improved security: By preventing forks from trying to release, we reduce the risk of unauthorized releases and maintain the integrity of the original project.
Simplified workflow: The updated GitHub Action workflow is more straightforward, making it easier for users to understand and configure.
Enhanced user experience: By providing a clear and concise solution, we improve the overall user experience and reduce the likelihood of errors or confusion.

Q: Can I customize the GitHub Action to fit my specific needs?

A: Yes, you can customize the GitHub Action to fit your specific needs. The solution outlined in this article provides a basic framework for implementing conditional logic in the release-plz GitHub Action. You can modify the workflow and settings to suit your project's requirements.

Q: Where can I find more information about the `release-plz` GitHub Action?

A: You can find more information about the release-plz GitHub Action on the official GitHub repository and documentation. Additionally, you can refer to the GitHub Action's README file for more details on its usage and configuration.