fix: safely classify GitHub API errors (#822)

* refactor: harden GitHub error classification

Signed-off-by: Rui Chen <rui@chenrui.dev>

* test: define nested GitHub status handling

Signed-off-by: Rui Chen <rui@chenrui.dev>

---------

Signed-off-by: Rui Chen <rui@chenrui.dev>

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ claim a reproducible release-creation fix.
 
 `3.0.0` is a major release that moves the action runtime from Node 20 to Node 24.
 Use `v3` on GitHub-hosted runners and self-hosted fleets that already support the
-Node 24 Actions runtime. If you still need the last Node 20-compatible line, stay on
-`v2.6.2`.
+Node 24 Actions runtime. `v2.6.2` was the final Node 20-compatible release and is
+no longer maintained or supported.
 
 ## What's Changed
 
@@ -47,10 +47,13 @@ Node 24 Actions runtime. If you still need the last Node 20-compatible line, sta
 
 * Move the action runtime and bundle target to Node 24
 * Update `@types/node` to the Node 24 line and allow future Dependabot updates
-* Keep the floating major tag on `v3`; `v2` remains pinned to the latest `2.x` release
+* Keep the floating major tag on `v3`; freeze `v2` at the final `v2.6.2` release
 
 ## 2.6.2
 
+`2.6.2` is the final `v2` release and is no longer maintained or supported. Upgrade
+to `v3` for the supported Node 24 runtime and current fixes.
+
 ## What's Changed
 
 ### Other Changes 🔄

README.md

@@ -39,8 +39,11 @@ Typically usage of this action involves adding a step to a build that
 is gated pushes to git tags. You may find `step.if` field helpful in accomplishing this
 as it maximizes the reuse value of your workflow for non-tag pushes.
 
-`v3` requires a GitHub Actions runtime that supports Node 24. If you still need the
-last Node 20-compatible line, stay on `v2.6.2`.
+`v2.6.2` is the final `v2` release and is no longer maintained or supported. It
+uses the [Node 20 runtime deprecated by GitHub Actions](https://github.blog/changelog/2025-09-19-deprecation-of-node-20-on-github-actions-runners/).
+Upgrade to `v3`, which runs on Node 24. If a problem still reproduces on the
+latest `v3`, open a new issue with the exact action ref, workflow run URL,
+runner, and relevant logs.
 
 Below is a simple example of `step.if` tag gating
 

RELEASE.md

@@ -23,21 +23,34 @@ Use this checklist when cutting a new `action-gh-release` release.
    - `npm run build`
    - `npm test`
 5. Commit the release prep.
-   - Use a plain release commit message like `release 3.0.0`.
-6. Create the annotated tag for the release commit.
-   - Example: `git tag -a v3.0.0 -m "v3.0.0"`
-7. Push the commit and tag.
-   - Example: `git push origin master && git push origin v3.0.0`
-8. Move the floating major tag to the new release tag.
+   - Use `git commit -s` so the release commit carries a DCO sign-off.
+   - Use a plain release commit message like `release X.Y.Z`.
+6. Push a release branch and open a pull request against `master`.
+   - Wait for required checks and reviews.
+   - Do not bypass branch protection or tag an unmerged release branch.
+7. After merge, fetch `origin/master` and resolve the exact merged release commit.
+   - Confirm that commit contains the expected package version and top changelog entry.
+   - When the PR is squash-merged, do not assume the release branch commit is the release commit.
+8. Create and push the full annotated version tag on the merged release commit.
+   - Example: `git tag -a vX.Y.Z -m "vX.Y.Z" <release-commit>`
+   - Push only the full version tag first, then wait for its tag-triggered CI to pass.
+9. Move the floating major tag to the same merged release commit.
    - For the current major line, run `npm run updatetag` to move `v3`.
-   - Keep `v2` pinned to the latest `2.x` release for consumers that still need the Node 20 runtime.
-   - Verify the floating tag points at the same commit as the new full tag.
-9. Create the GitHub release from the new tag.
+   - Do not move `v2`; it is frozen at the final, unsupported `v2.6.2` release.
+   - Verify `v3` and the full version tag are annotated and peel to the same commit.
+   - Verify `v2` did not move, then wait for the separate `v3` tag-triggered CI run to pass.
+10. Create the GitHub release from the full version tag.
    - Prefer the release body from [CHANGELOG.md](CHANGELOG.md), then let GitHub append generated notes only if they add value.
-   - Verify the release shows the expected tag, title, notes, and attached artifacts.
+   - Verify the release shows the expected tag, title, notes, draft/prerelease state, and attached artifacts.
+11. Run post-release consumer verification in `ruitest2/action-gh-release-test`.
+   - Run the generic smoke against both the full version tag and `v3`.
+   - Run regression workflows relevant to the fixes in the release.
+   - Confirm that every disposable release, tag, discussion, container, volume, and temporary credential was cleaned up.
 
 ## Notes
 
 - Behavior changes should already have matching updates in [README.md](README.md), [action.yml](action.yml), tests, and `dist/index.js` before release prep begins.
 - Docs-only releases still need an intentional changelog entry and version bump decision.
 - If a release is mainly bug fixes, keep the title and summary patch-oriented; do not bury the actual fixes under dependency noise.
+- Do not move the floating major tag or publish the GitHub release until the full
+  version tag's CI passes.

__tests__/github.test.ts

@@ -149,6 +149,55 @@ describe('github', () => {
       expect(pageAfterMatch).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     });
 
+    it.each([
+      ['a top-level 404', { status: 404 }],
+      ['a nested response 404', { response: { status: 404 } }],
+      [
+        'an invalid top-level status with a nested response 404',
+        { status: '500', response: { status: 404 } },
+      ],
+    ])('uses release-list fallback for %s', async (_name, lookupError) => {
+      const draftRelease = { ...mockRelease, draft: true };
+      const allReleases = vi.fn(async function* () {
+        yield { data: [draftRelease] };
+      });
+      const releaser = {
+        ...mockReleaser,
+        getReleaseByTag: vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(lookupError),
+        allReleases,
+      };
+
+      await expect(findTagFromReleases(releaser, owner, repo, draftRelease.tag_name)).resolves.toBe(
+        draftRelease,
+      );
+      expect(allReleases).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    });
+
+    it.each([
+      ['a nested response 500', { response: { status: 500 } }],
+      ['a string top-level status', { status: '404' }],
+      ['a string nested response status', { response: { status: '404' } }],
+      ['a status-less object', { reason: 'lookup failed' }],
+      [
+        'a numeric top-level 500 with a nested response 404',
+        { status: 500, response: { status: 404 } },
+      ],
+    ])('does not use release-list fallback for %s', async (_name, lookupError) => {
+      const allReleases = vi.fn(async function* () {
+        yield { data: [mockRelease] };
+      });
+      const releaser = {
+        ...mockReleaser,
+        getReleaseByTag: vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(lookupError),
+        allReleases,
+      };
+
+      await expect(findTagFromReleases(releaser, owner, repo, mockRelease.tag_name)).rejects.toBe(
+        lookupError,
+      );
+      expect(allReleases).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
     it('does not exhaust pagination while checking a brand-new tag', async () => {
       let pagesRead = 0;
       const releaser = {
@@ -346,11 +395,20 @@ describe('github', () => {
       expect(request).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     });
 
-    it('falls back to release-scoped asset deletion after a standard 404', async () => {
-      const deleteReleaseAsset = vi.fn().mockRejectedValue({
-        status: 404,
-        message: 'standard route not found',
-      });
+    it.each([
+      {
+        name: 'top-level status',
+        deletionError: { status: 404, message: 'standard route not found' },
+      },
+      {
+        name: 'nested response status',
+        deletionError: {
+          response: { status: 404 },
+          message: 'standard route not found',
+        },
+      },
+    ])('falls back to release-scoped asset deletion after a 404 with $name', async (testCase) => {
+      const deleteReleaseAsset = vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(testCase.deletionError);
       const request = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ status: 204 });
       const releaser = new GitHubReleaser({
         rest: { repos: { deleteReleaseAsset } },
@@ -376,6 +434,30 @@ describe('github', () => {
       );
     });
 
+    it.each([
+      ['a string', 'not found'],
+      ['null', null],
+      ['an arbitrary object', { response: { data: 'not found' } }],
+    ])('does not misclassify %s as a fallback 404', async (_name, deletionError) => {
+      const request = vi.fn();
+      const releaser = new GitHubReleaser({
+        rest: {
+          repos: { deleteReleaseAsset: vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(deletionError) },
+        },
+        request,
+      } as any);
+
+      await expect(
+        releaser.deleteReleaseAsset({
+          owner: 'owner',
+          repo: 'repo',
+          release_id: 42,
+          asset_id: 99,
+        }),
+      ).rejects.toBe(deletionError);
+      expect(request).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
     it('does not mask non-404 asset deletion failures', async () => {
       const deletionError = { status: 403, message: 'forbidden' };
       const request = vi.fn();
@@ -790,6 +872,83 @@ describe('github', () => {
       expect(finalizeReleaseSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
       expect(deleteReleaseSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     });
+
+    it('retries malformed tag-rule errors without deleting the draft', async () => {
+      const finalizeReleaseSpy = vi.fn().mockRejectedValue({
+        status: 422,
+        response: {
+          data: {
+            errors: [null, 'invalid', { field: 'pre_receive', message: 42 }],
+          },
+        },
+      });
+      const deleteReleaseSpy = vi.fn();
+      const releaser = createReleaser({
+        finalizeRelease: finalizeReleaseSpy,
+        deleteRelease: deleteReleaseSpy,
+      });
+
+      await expect(
+        finalizeRelease(
+          {
+            ...config,
+            input_draft: false,
+          },
+          releaser,
+          draftRelease,
+          true,
+          1,
+        ),
+      ).rejects.toThrow('Too many retries.');
+
+      expect(finalizeReleaseSpy).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+      expect(deleteReleaseSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('finds a valid tag-rule violation after malformed validation entries', async () => {
+      const finalizeReleaseSpy = vi.fn().mockRejectedValue({
+        response: {
+          status: 422,
+          data: {
+            errors: [
+              null,
+              'invalid',
+              {
+                field: 'pre_receive',
+                message: 'Cannot create ref due to creations being restricted.',
+              },
+            ],
+          },
+        },
+      });
+      const deleteReleaseSpy = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+      const releaser = createReleaser({
+        finalizeRelease: finalizeReleaseSpy,
+        deleteRelease: deleteReleaseSpy,
+      });
+
+      await expect(
+        finalizeRelease(
+          {
+            ...config,
+            input_draft: false,
+          },
+          releaser,
+          draftRelease,
+          true,
+          1,
+        ),
+      ).rejects.toThrow(
+        'Tag creation for v1.0.0 is blocked by repository rules. Deleted draft release 1 to avoid leaving an orphaned draft release.',
+      );
+
+      expect(finalizeReleaseSpy).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+      expect(deleteReleaseSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+        owner: 'owner',
+        repo: 'repo',
+        release_id: draftRelease.id,
+      });
+    });
   });
 
   describe('error handling', () => {
@@ -897,6 +1056,52 @@ describe('github', () => {
       expect(createRelease).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     });
 
+    it.each([
+      {
+        name: 'a nested response 404 as repository access failure',
+        listingError: {
+          response: { status: 404 },
+          message: 'Not Found - list-releases',
+        },
+        expectAccessError: true,
+      },
+      {
+        name: 'a nested response 500 as the original error',
+        listingError: {
+          response: { status: 500 },
+          message: 'Server Error - list-releases',
+        },
+        expectAccessError: false,
+      },
+      {
+        name: 'a status-less object as the original error',
+        listingError: { reason: 'release listing failed' },
+        expectAccessError: false,
+      },
+    ])('classifies a release-list fallback error with $name', async (testCase) => {
+      const createRelease = vi.fn();
+      const releaser = createReleaser({
+        getReleaseByTag: vi.fn().mockRejectedValue({ status: 404 }),
+        allReleases: async function* () {
+          throw testCase.listingError;
+        },
+        createRelease,
+      });
+
+      const thrown = await release(config, releaser, 1).catch((error) => error);
+
+      if (testCase.expectAccessError) {
+        expect(thrown).toMatchObject({
+          name: 'ReleaseAccessError',
+          status: 404,
+          cause: testCase.listingError,
+        });
+      } else {
+        expect(thrown).toBe(testCase.listingError);
+      }
+      expect(createRelease).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
     it('reports a useful create error without assuming response data exists', async () => {
       const releaseError = {
         status: 403,
@@ -917,6 +1122,100 @@ describe('github', () => {
       expect(log).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith('undefined');
     });
 
+    it.each([
+      {
+        name: 'a nested response 403',
+        releaseError: {
+          response: { status: 403 },
+          message: 'Resource not accessible by integration',
+        },
+      },
+      {
+        name: 'a nested response 422 without already_exists',
+        releaseError: {
+          response: { status: 422, data: { errors: [{ code: 'invalid' }] } },
+          message: 'Validation Failed',
+        },
+      },
+    ])('does not retry release creation for $name', async (testCase) => {
+      const createRelease = vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(testCase.releaseError);
+      const releaser = createReleaser({
+        getReleaseByTag: vi.fn().mockRejectedValue({ status: 404 }),
+        createRelease,
+        allReleases: async function* () {
+          yield { data: [] };
+        },
+      });
+
+      await expect(release(config, releaser, 1)).rejects.toBe(testCase.releaseError);
+      expect(createRelease).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    });
+
+    it('classifies a nested response 404 from release creation without retrying', async () => {
+      const releaseError = {
+        response: { status: 404 },
+        message: 'Not Found - create-a-release',
+      };
+      const createRelease = vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(releaseError);
+      const releaser = createReleaser({
+        getReleaseByTag: vi.fn().mockRejectedValue({ status: 404 }),
+        createRelease,
+        allReleases: async function* () {
+          yield { data: [] };
+        },
+      });
+
+      const thrown = await release(config, releaser, 1).catch((error) => error);
+
+      expect(thrown).toMatchObject({
+        name: 'ReleaseCreationError',
+        status: 404,
+        cause: releaseError,
+      });
+      expect(thrown.message).toContain('GitHub returned 404 while creating the release');
+      expect(createRelease).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    });
+
+    it.each([
+      ['non-object response data', { status: 422, response: { data: 'invalid' } }],
+      ['missing validation errors', { status: 422, response: { data: {} } }],
+      ['malformed validation errors', { status: 422, response: { data: { errors: [null] } } }],
+    ])('does not retry a permanent 422 with %s', async (_name, releaseError) => {
+      const createRelease = vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(releaseError);
+      const releaser = createReleaser({
+        getReleaseByTag: vi.fn().mockRejectedValue({ status: 404 }),
+        createRelease,
+        allReleases: async function* () {
+          yield { data: [] };
+        },
+      });
+
+      await expect(release(config, releaser, 1)).rejects.toBe(releaseError);
+      expect(createRelease).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    });
+
+    it.each([
+      ['a string', 'transport failed'],
+      ['null', null],
+      ['an arbitrary object', { reason: 'transport failed' }],
+      ['a nested response 500', { response: { status: 500 } }],
+    ])(
+      'retries unclassified release creation failures without secondary TypeErrors when the error is %s',
+      async (_name, releaseError) => {
+        const createRelease = vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(releaseError);
+        const releaser = createReleaser({
+          getReleaseByTag: vi.fn().mockRejectedValue({ status: 404 }),
+          createRelease,
+          allReleases: async function* () {
+            yield { data: [] };
+          },
+        });
+
+        await expect(release(config, releaser, 1)).rejects.toThrow('Too many retries.');
+        expect(createRelease).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+      },
+    );
+
     it('passes previous_tag_name through when creating a release with generated notes', async () => {
       const createReleaseSpy = vi.fn(async () => ({
         data: {
@@ -1063,6 +1362,154 @@ describe('github', () => {
       );
     });
 
+    it('reuses a published prerelease found by listing after direct tag lookup returns 404', async () => {
+      const existingRelease: Release = {
+        id: 77,
+        upload_url: 'existing-upload',
+        html_url: 'existing-html',
+        tag_name: 'v1.0.0',
+        name: 'nightly',
+        body: 'previous nightly body',
+        target_commitish: 'old-commit',
+        draft: false,
+        prerelease: true,
+        assets: [{ id: 5, name: 'nightly.zip' }],
+      };
+      const updatedRelease: Release = {
+        ...existingRelease,
+        name: 'updated nightly',
+        body: 'updated nightly body',
+        target_commitish: 'new-commit',
+      };
+      const createRelease = unexpected('createRelease');
+      const updateRelease = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ data: updatedRelease });
+      const releaser = createReleaser({
+        getReleaseByTag: vi.fn().mockRejectedValue({ status: 404 }),
+        allReleases: async function* () {
+          yield { data: [existingRelease] };
+        },
+        createRelease,
+        updateRelease,
+      });
+
+      const result = await release(
+        {
+          ...config,
+          input_name: 'updated nightly',
+          input_body: 'updated nightly body',
+          input_prerelease: true,
+          input_draft: false,
+          input_target_commitish: 'new-commit',
+        },
+        releaser,
+      );
+
+      expect(result).toEqual({ release: updatedRelease, created: false });
+      expect(updateRelease).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          release_id: existingRelease.id,
+          tag_name: existingRelease.tag_name,
+          target_commitish: 'new-commit',
+          draft: false,
+          prerelease: true,
+        }),
+      );
+      expect(createRelease).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('creates a replacement after an existing-release update returns a nested response 404', async () => {
+      const existingRelease: Release = {
+        id: 41,
+        upload_url: 'existing-upload',
+        html_url: 'existing-html',
+        tag_name: 'v1.0.0',
+        name: 'existing release',
+        body: 'existing body',
+        target_commitish: 'main',
+        draft: false,
+        prerelease: false,
+        assets: [],
+      };
+      const replacementRelease: Release = {
+        ...existingRelease,
+        id: 42,
+        upload_url: 'replacement-upload',
+        html_url: 'replacement-html',
+        name: 'v1.0.0',
+        body: undefined,
+        draft: true,
+      };
+      const updateError = { response: { status: 404 }, message: 'release disappeared' };
+      const getReleaseByTag = vi
+        .fn()
+        .mockResolvedValueOnce({ data: existingRelease })
+        .mockResolvedValue({ data: replacementRelease });
+      const updateRelease = vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(updateError);
+      const createRelease = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ data: replacementRelease });
+      const releaser = createReleaser({
+        getReleaseByTag,
+        updateRelease,
+        createRelease,
+        allReleases: async function* () {
+          yield { data: [replacementRelease] };
+        },
+      });
+
+      await expect(release(config, releaser, 1)).resolves.toEqual({
+        release: replacementRelease,
+        created: true,
+      });
+      expect(updateRelease).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+      expect(createRelease).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+      expect(createRelease).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+        owner: 'owner',
+        repo: 'repo',
+        tag_name: 'v1.0.0',
+        name: 'v1.0.0',
+        body: undefined,
+        draft: true,
+        prerelease: undefined,
+        target_commitish: undefined,
+        discussion_category_name: undefined,
+        generate_release_notes: false,
+        make_latest: undefined,
+        previous_tag_name: undefined,
+      });
+      expect(getReleaseByTag).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+    });
+
+    it.each([
+      ['a nested response 403', { response: { status: 403 }, message: 'forbidden' }],
+      ['a nested response 500', { response: { status: 500 }, message: 'server error' }],
+    ])(
+      'does not create a replacement after an existing-release update returns %s',
+      async (_name, updateError) => {
+        const existingRelease: Release = {
+          id: 41,
+          upload_url: 'existing-upload',
+          html_url: 'existing-html',
+          tag_name: 'v1.0.0',
+          name: 'existing release',
+          body: 'existing body',
+          target_commitish: 'main',
+          draft: false,
+          prerelease: false,
+          assets: [],
+        };
+        const createRelease = vi.fn();
+        const updateRelease = vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(updateError);
+        const releaser = createReleaser({
+          getReleaseByTag: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ data: existingRelease }),
+          updateRelease,
+          createRelease,
+        });
+
+        await expect(release(config, releaser, 1)).rejects.toBe(updateError);
+        expect(updateRelease).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+        expect(createRelease).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      },
+    );
+
     it.each([
       ['an omitted draft input', undefined],
       ['a null-expression draft input', undefined],
@@ -1208,19 +1655,37 @@ describe('github', () => {
       expect(uploadReleaseAsset).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     });
 
-    it('surfaces an actionable immutable-release error for prerelease uploads', async () => {
+    it.each([
+      {
+        name: 'standard release with a nested status',
+        prerelease: undefined,
+        uploadError: {
+          response: { status: 422 },
+          message: 'Cannot upload assets to an immutable release.',
+        },
+        expected:
+          'Cannot upload asset draft-false.txt to an immutable release. GitHub only allows asset uploads before a release is published, so upload assets to a draft release before you publish it.',
+      },
+      {
+        name: 'prerelease with response data',
+        prerelease: true,
+        uploadError: {
+          status: 422,
+          response: {
+            data: {
+              message: 'Cannot upload assets to an immutable release.',
+            },
+          },
+        },
+        expected:
+          'Cannot upload asset draft-false.txt to an immutable release. GitHub only allows asset uploads before a release is published, but draft prereleases publish with the release.published event instead of release.prereleased.',
+      },
+    ])('surfaces an actionable immutable-release error for a $name', async (testCase) => {
       const tempDir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), 'gh-release-immutable-'));
       const assetPath = join(tempDir, 'draft-false.txt');
       writeFileSync(assetPath, 'hello');
 
-      const uploadReleaseAsset = vi.fn().mockRejectedValue({
-        status: 422,
-        response: {
-          data: {
-            message: 'Cannot upload assets to an immutable release.',
-          },
-        },
-      });
+      const uploadReleaseAsset = vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(testCase.uploadError);
 
       const mockReleaser: Releaser = {
         getReleaseByTag: () => Promise.reject('Not implemented'),
@@ -1237,23 +1702,23 @@ describe('github', () => {
         uploadReleaseAsset,
       };
 
-      await expect(
-        upload(
-          {
-            ...config,
-            input_prerelease: true,
-          },
-          mockReleaser,
-          'https://uploads.github.com/repos/owner/repo/releases/1/assets',
-          assetPath,
-          [],
-          1,
-        ),
-      ).rejects.toThrow(
-        'Cannot upload asset draft-false.txt to an immutable release. GitHub only allows asset uploads before a release is published, but draft prereleases publish with the release.published event instead of release.prereleased.',
-      );
-
-      rmSync(tempDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+      try {
+        await expect(
+          upload(
+            {
+              ...config,
+              input_prerelease: testCase.prerelease,
+            },
+            mockReleaser,
+            'https://uploads.github.com/repos/owner/repo/releases/1/assets',
+            assetPath,
+            [],
+            1,
+          ),
+        ).rejects.toThrow(testCase.expected);
+      } finally {
+        rmSync(tempDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+      }
     });
 
     it('retries upload after deleting a conflicting renamed asset matched by label', async () => {
@@ -1330,7 +1795,24 @@ describe('github', () => {
       }
     });
 
-    it('handles 422 already_exists error gracefully', async () => {
+    it.each([
+      {
+        name: 'top-level status',
+        releaseError: {
+          status: 422,
+          response: { data: { errors: [{ code: 'already_exists' }] } },
+        },
+      },
+      {
+        name: 'nested response status',
+        releaseError: {
+          response: {
+            status: 422,
+            data: { errors: [{ code: 'already_exists' }] },
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    ])('retries a 422 already_exists race with $name', async (testCase) => {
       vi.useFakeTimers();
       const existingRelease = {
         id: 1,
@@ -1356,10 +1838,7 @@ describe('github', () => {
         },
         createRelease: () => {
           createAttempts++;
-          return Promise.reject({
-            status: 422,
-            response: { data: { errors: [{ code: 'already_exists' }] } },
-          });
+          return Promise.reject(testCase.releaseError);
         },
         updateRelease: () =>
           Promise.resolve({
@@ -1392,6 +1871,7 @@ describe('github', () => {
       assert.ok(result);
       assert.equal(result.release.id, 1);
       assert.equal(result.created, false);
+      expect(createAttempts).toBe(1);
     });
 
     it('normalizes refs/tags-prefixed input_tag_name values before reusing an existing release', async () => {

__tests__/run.test.ts

@@ -286,6 +286,54 @@ describe('run', () => {
     );
   });
 
+  it('uses the selected moving-tag release ID for upload, finalization, and outputs', async () => {
+    config = {
+      ...config,
+      input_tag_name: 'nightly',
+      input_draft: false,
+      input_prerelease: true,
+      input_files: ['nightly.zip'],
+    };
+    const selectedRelease: Release = {
+      ...initialRelease,
+      id: 77,
+      upload_url: 'https://uploads.example.test/releases/77/assets{?name,label}',
+      html_url: 'https://example.test/releases/77',
+      tag_name: 'nightly',
+      name: 'nightly',
+      prerelease: true,
+    };
+    const publishedRelease: Release = {
+      ...selectedRelease,
+      draft: false,
+    };
+    mocks.release.mockResolvedValue({ release: selectedRelease, created: false });
+    mocks.paths.mockReturnValue(['nightly.zip']);
+    mocks.upload.mockResolvedValue({ id: 9 });
+    mocks.finalizeRelease.mockResolvedValue(publishedRelease);
+    mocks.listReleaseAssets.mockResolvedValue([{ id: 9, name: 'nightly.zip' }]);
+
+    await run();
+
+    expect(mocks.upload).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      config,
+      mocks.releaser,
+      'https://uploads.example.test/releases/77/assets',
+      'nightly.zip',
+      selectedRelease.assets,
+      77,
+    );
+    expect(mocks.finalizeRelease).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      config,
+      mocks.releaser,
+      selectedRelease,
+      false,
+    );
+    expect(mocks.listReleaseAssets).toHaveBeenCalledWith(config, mocks.releaser, publishedRelease);
+    expect(mocks.setOutput).toHaveBeenCalledWith('id', '77');
+    expect(mocks.setOutput).toHaveBeenCalledWith('url', publishedRelease.html_url);
+  });
+
   it('leaves an existing draft recoverable when an upload fails', async () => {
     config = {
       ...config,

src/github.ts

@@ -9,6 +9,43 @@ type GitHub = InstanceType<typeof GitHub>;
 
 type UploadChunk = ArrayBuffer | Uint8Array<ArrayBufferLike>;
 type UploadBody = ReadableStream<Uint8Array<ArrayBufferLike>>;
+type UnknownRecord = Record<string, unknown>;
+
+const asRecord = (value: unknown): UnknownRecord | undefined =>
+  typeof value === 'object' && value !== null ? (value as UnknownRecord) : undefined;
+
+const getErrorStatus = (error: unknown): number | undefined => {
+  const errorRecord = asRecord(error);
+  if (typeof errorRecord?.status === 'number') {
+    return errorRecord.status;
+  }
+
+  const response = asRecord(errorRecord?.response);
+  return typeof response?.status === 'number' ? response.status : undefined;
+};
+
+const getResponseData = (error: unknown): UnknownRecord | undefined => {
+  const response = asRecord(asRecord(error)?.response);
+  return asRecord(response?.data);
+};
+
+const getErrorMessage = (error: unknown): string | undefined => {
+  const message = asRecord(error)?.message;
+  return typeof message === 'string' ? message : undefined;
+};
+
+const getRequestUrl = (error: unknown): string | undefined => {
+  const request = asRecord(asRecord(error)?.request);
+  return typeof request?.url === 'string' ? request.url : undefined;
+};
+
+const getValidationErrors = (error: unknown): unknown[] => {
+  const errors = getResponseData(error)?.errors;
+  return Array.isArray(errors) ? errors : [];
+};
+
+const hasValidationErrorCode = (error: unknown, code: string): boolean =>
+  asRecord(getValidationErrors(error)[0])?.code === code;
 
 const fileUploadStream = (fileHandle: FileHandle): UploadBody => {
   const source = fileHandle.readableWebStream() as ReadableStream<UploadChunk>;
@@ -278,10 +315,7 @@ export class GitHubReleaser implements Releaser {
     try {
       await this.github.rest.repos.deleteReleaseAsset(githubParams);
     } catch (error: unknown) {
-      const status =
-        (error as { status?: number; response?: { status?: number } })?.status ??
-        (error as { response?: { status?: number } })?.response?.status;
-      if (status !== 404) {
+      if (getErrorStatus(error) !== 404) {
         throw error;
       }
 
@@ -352,10 +386,10 @@ const releaseAssetMatchesName = (
   asset: { name: string; label?: string | null },
 ): boolean => asset.name === name || asset.name === alignAssetName(name) || asset.label === name;
 
-const isReleaseAssetUpdateNotFound = (error: any): boolean => {
-  const errorStatus = error?.status ?? error?.response?.status;
-  const requestUrl = error?.request?.url;
-  const errorMessage = error?.message;
+const isReleaseAssetUpdateNotFound = (error: unknown): boolean => {
+  const errorStatus = getErrorStatus(error);
+  const requestUrl = getRequestUrl(error);
+  const message = getErrorMessage(error);
   const isReleaseAssetRequest =
     typeof requestUrl === 'string' &&
     (/\/releases\/assets\//.test(requestUrl) || /\/releases\/\d+\/assets(?:\?|$)/.test(requestUrl));
@@ -363,15 +397,15 @@ const isReleaseAssetUpdateNotFound = (error: any): boolean => {
   return (
     errorStatus === 404 &&
     (isReleaseAssetRequest ||
-      (typeof errorMessage === 'string' && errorMessage.includes('update-a-release-asset')))
+      (typeof message === 'string' && message.includes('update-a-release-asset')))
   );
 };
 
-const isImmutableReleaseAssetUploadFailure = (error: any): boolean => {
-  const errorStatus = error?.status ?? error?.response?.status;
-  const errorMessage = error?.response?.data?.message ?? error?.message;
+const isImmutableReleaseAssetUploadFailure = (error: unknown): boolean => {
+  const errorStatus = getErrorStatus(error);
+  const message = getResponseData(error)?.message ?? getErrorMessage(error);
 
-  return errorStatus === 422 && /immutable release/i.test(String(errorMessage));
+  return errorStatus === 422 && /immutable release/i.test(String(message));
 };
 
 const immutableReleaseAssetUploadMessage = (
@@ -480,8 +514,8 @@ export const upload = async (
 
     try {
       return await updateAssetLabel(uploadedAsset.id);
-    } catch (error: any) {
-      const errorStatus = error?.status ?? error?.response?.status;
+    } catch (error: unknown) {
+      const errorStatus = getErrorStatus(error);
 
       if (errorStatus === 404 && releaseId !== undefined) {
         try {
@@ -518,9 +552,8 @@ export const upload = async (
 
   try {
     return await handleUploadedAsset(await uploadAsset());
-  } catch (error: any) {
-    const errorStatus = error?.status ?? error?.response?.status;
-    const errorData = error?.response?.data;
+  } catch (error: unknown) {
+    const errorStatus = getErrorStatus(error);
 
     if (isImmutableReleaseAssetUploadFailure(error)) {
       throw new Error(immutableReleaseAssetUploadMessage(name, config.input_prerelease));
@@ -548,7 +581,7 @@ export const upload = async (
     if (
       config.input_overwrite_files !== false &&
       errorStatus === 422 &&
-      errorData?.errors?.[0]?.code === 'already_exists' &&
+      hasValidationErrorCode(error, 'already_exists') &&
       releaseId !== undefined
     ) {
       console.log(
@@ -603,7 +636,7 @@ export const release = async (
   try {
     _release = await findTagFromReleases(releaser, owner, repo, tag, maxRetries);
   } catch (error) {
-    if (error.status === 404) {
+    if (getErrorStatus(error) === 404) {
       const diagnostic = releaseLookup404Message(owner, repo, error);
       console.log(`⚠️ ${diagnostic}`);
       throw new ReleaseAccessError(diagnostic, error);
@@ -689,7 +722,7 @@ export const release = async (
     if (error instanceof ReleaseCreationError) {
       throw error;
     }
-    if (error.status !== 404) {
+    if (getErrorStatus(error) !== 404) {
       console.log(
         `⚠️ Unexpected error fetching GitHub release for tag ${config.github_ref}: ${error}`,
       );
@@ -840,7 +873,7 @@ export async function findTagFromReleases(
     const { data: release } = await releaser.getReleaseByTag({ owner, repo, tag });
     return release;
   } catch (error) {
-    if (error.status !== 404) {
+    if (getErrorStatus(error) !== 404) {
       throw error;
     }
   }
@@ -1058,15 +1091,12 @@ async function createRelease(
       created: canonicalRelease.id === createdRelease.data.id,
     };
   } catch (error: unknown) {
-    const githubError = error as {
-      status?: number;
-      response?: { data?: { errors?: Array<{ code?: string }> } };
-    };
+    const errorStatus = getErrorStatus(error);
     // presume a race with competing matrix runs
-    console.log(`⚠️ GitHub release failed with status: ${githubError.status}`);
+    console.log(`⚠️ GitHub release failed with status: ${errorStatus}`);
     console.log(errorMessage(error));
 
-    switch (githubError.status) {
+    switch (errorStatus) {
       case 403:
         console.log(
           'Skip retry — your GitHub token/PAT does not have the required permission to create a release',
@@ -1080,8 +1110,7 @@ async function createRelease(
 
       case 422:
         // Check if this is a race condition with "already_exists" error
-        const errorData = githubError.response?.data;
-        if (errorData?.errors?.[0]?.code === 'already_exists') {
+        if (hasValidationErrorCode(error, 'already_exists')) {
           console.log(
             '⚠️ Release already exists (race condition detected), retrying to find and update existing release...',
           );
@@ -1098,16 +1127,17 @@ async function createRelease(
   }
 }
 
-function isTagCreationBlockedError(error: any): boolean {
-  const errors = error?.response?.data?.errors;
-  if (!Array.isArray(errors) || error?.status !== 422) {
+function isTagCreationBlockedError(error: unknown): boolean {
+  if (getErrorStatus(error) !== 422) {
     return false;
   }
 
-  return errors.some(
-    ({ field, message }: { field?: string; message?: string }) =>
-      field === 'pre_receive' &&
-      typeof message === 'string' &&
-      message.includes('creations being restricted'),
-  );
+  return getValidationErrors(error).some((validationError) => {
+    const errorRecord = asRecord(validationError);
+    return (
+      errorRecord?.field === 'pre_receive' &&
+      typeof errorRecord.message === 'string' &&
+      errorRecord.message.includes('creations being restricted')
+    );
+  });
 }

tsconfig.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "compilerOptions": {
-    "useUnknownInCatchVariables": false,
+    "useUnknownInCatchVariables": true,
     /* Basic Options */
     // "incremental": true,                   /* Enable incremental compilation */
     "target": "es2022",

vitest.config.ts

@@ -7,10 +7,10 @@ export default defineConfig({
       reporter: ['text', 'json-summary', 'lcov'],
       include: ['src/**/*.ts'],
       thresholds: {
-        statements: 88,
-        branches: 83,
-        functions: 86,
-        lines: 88,
+        statements: 94,
+        branches: 90,
+        functions: 95,
+        lines: 94,
       },
     },
     include: ['__tests__/**/*.ts'],