On Fri, Apr 17, 2026 at 10:24 AM Alex Herbert <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> On Fri, 17 Apr 2026 at 15:07, Gary Gregory <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > This creates more complexity and delegation than is required to keep a
> > maintainer's life simple (at least mine).
> >
> > If I want or need a new version of that GitHub action, I need to update the
> > parent repo, release it, migrate to it. That's what we do for Maven builds
> > of course, but adding GitHub actions to the mix is a bridge too far for me.
> >
>
> Is a release of commons parent required?

If you're not using a specific version, then you are depending on a snapshot?

>
> The example of how to use this workflow is:
>
>   uses:
> apache/commons-parent/.github/workflows/codeql-analysis-reusable.yml@master
>
> The pin is not to a specific version but to the master branch.

That's even worse: How does this provide anything deterministic? We
want more precision, not less.

Gary

>From the
> github docs [1] I cannot determine if this means derived workflows just use
> the current public repo version, or if there is a release process to set
> the 'master'.
>
> Alex
>
> [1]
> https://docs.github.com/en/actions/reference/workflows-and-actions/workflow-syntax#jobsjob_idstepsuses
>
>
> > If this is going in the direction of Log4j, then it's going to be a real
> > problem in the long term: that integration with GitHub actions is so deep
> > and complicated, I've given up trying to understand it.
> >
> > This also raises the barrier to entry IMO, you need to know Java of course,
> > and Maven sure, but heaven forbid if something goes wrong with GitHub
> > actions...
> >
> > Gary
> >
> > On Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 09:18 Piotr P. Karwasz <[email protected]>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Hi all,
> > >
> > > As a follow-up to the November discussion [1], I have opened two PRs to
> > > introduce reusable workflows for CodeQL and Scorecards:
> > >
> > > - https://github.com/apache/commons-parent/pull/699
> > > - https://github.com/apache/commons-parent/pull/700
> > >
> > > The main concern raised (notably by Gary) is that the added indirection
> > > makes projects harder to maintain. I respectfully disagree: these
> > > workflows are essentially maintenance-free, they only change when
> > > dependencies are upgraded, and they rarely fail for reasons unrelated to
> > > the project itself (e.g. a compilation error).
> > >
> > > Rather than a project-wide rollout, I propose a limited trial: adopt the
> > > reusable workflows in two or three projects, evaluate the experience,
> > > and either extend to all projects or revert to the status quo.
> > >
> > > I am happy to monitor these workflows and address any issues that arise.
> > > My expectation is that they will go unnoticed.
> > >
> > > Thoughts?
> > >
> > > Piotr
> > >
> > > [1] https://lists.apache.org/thread/rnb8j9og60j4rs0pr1fljlvbpy2zf1tt
> > >
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> > >
> > >
> >

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