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GitHub Actions: Which Workflow Command Outputs the Debug Message “Action Successfully Debugged”?

By: Author Alex Lim

Posted on

Categories Exam

Discover the correct GitHub Actions workflow command to output debug messages in your logs. Learn how to use the ::debug:: syntax effectively for troubleshooting workflows.

Question

Which workflow command would output the debug message “action successfully debugged”?

A. echo :debug::message=action successfully debugged’
B. echo ‘debug-action successfully debugged’
C. echo ‘::debug::action successfully debugged’
D. echo ‘:debug:action successfully debugged:’

Answer

C. echo ‘::debug::action successfully debugged’

Explanation

In GitHub Actions, the ::debug:: command is used to print debug messages to the workflow logs. This command is part of the workflow commands that allow interaction with the runner machine during a job’s execution. Debug messages are particularly useful for troubleshooting workflows.

Key Points About Debug Messages

Syntax: The correct syntax for a debug message is:

echo '::debug::<message>'

For this question, the correct command is:

echo '::debug::action successfully debugged'

Enabling Debug Logging: To see debug messages in your logs, you must enable step debugging by setting a secret or variable named ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG to true. Without this, debug messages will not appear in the logs.

Use Case: Debug messages help identify issues in workflows by providing additional context during execution. They are especially helpful when diagnosing complex workflows or testing new configurations.

The ::debug:: syntax is used to output debug messages in GitHub Actions workflows. This command will print the message ‘action successfully debugged’ in the debug logs when the workflow runs.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option A: echo :debug::message=action successfully debugged’
This syntax is invalid because it uses a single colon (:) instead of the required double colons (::) and includes an unnecessary message=.

Option B: echo ‘debug-action successfully debugged’
This does not follow the required ::debug::<message> syntax.

Option D: echo ‘:debug:action successfully debugged:’
This incorrectly places colons and does not adhere to the proper structure of a debug command.

How to Implement Debugging in GitHub Actions

To effectively use debug commands:

Add the following secret to your repository:

  • Name: ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG
  • Value: true

Use the correct debug syntax in your workflow YAML file or script:

steps:
- name: Debug Message Example
run: echo '::debug::This is a debug message'

Check your workflow logs after execution to view the debug output.

By using this approach, you can streamline debugging and improve your workflow’s reliability.

GitHub Actions certification exam assessment practice question and answer (Q&A) dump including multiple choice questions (MCQ) and objective type questions, with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the GitHub Actions exam and earn GitHub Actions certification.