Debug-action-cache !free! -
The most effective way to see exactly why a cache is failing (e.g., version mismatches or path errors) is to enable diagnostic logging. This will show detailed logs of the download and upload process for your cached files. Step Debugging : Go to your repository Secrets and variables and add a new secret or variable named ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG with the value Runner Diagnostic Logging ACTIONS_RUNNER_DEBUG
A common culprit for cache misses is the environment. If your build script pulls in a timestamp, a random seed, or a local file path (e.g., /Users/john/project vs /Users/jane/project ), the cache will treat them as different actions. 3. Verbose Logging
Misconfigured remote caching (e.g., remote execution setup ) can lead to local builds not recognizing artifacts built on another machine. Advanced Troubleshooting: Execution Log Parser
If debug-action-cache points to a specific action but you cannot determine why the inputs changed, you need to analyze the execution logs. debug-action-cache
In the world of modern DevOps and CI/CD pipelines, speed is the ultimate currency. As projects grow, build times tend to balloon, often becoming a bottleneck for development teams. To combat this, build systems like and GitHub Actions utilize "action caching." However, when a cache doesn't behave as expected—either by failing to hit or by returning "poisoned" results—you need a way to look under the hood.
Run your build with execution logging enabled: bazel build //... --execution_log_json_file=/tmp/exec_log.json
The "paper" or primary documentation for this feature describes a method for investigating why two seemingly identical build actions produce different cache hashes. In Bazel, this is often handled via the --experimental_remote_cache_eviction_retries or specifically by generating to compare inputs. Key Functions The most effective way to see exactly why
You cannot browse the remote cache directly (unless using self-hosted runners with local storage). However, you can force a debug step after restoration.
Add a debug step to examine what was actually restored:
- name: Cache node_modules uses: actions/cache@v3 with: path: node_modules key: $ runner.os -node-$ hashFiles('package-lock.json') env: CACHE_VERBOSE: true # Extra debug logs If your build script pulls in a timestamp,
: With less time spent on waiting for computations or tests to complete, developers can focus more on writing code and less on waiting for results.
If the package-lock.json file changes by even a single character, the generated hash changes, causing a . The pipeline then runs from scratch and saves a new cache entry. Common Symptoms of Cache Failures
Two different machines running the exact same code produce different output hashes, leading to "cache poisoning." How to Debug the Cache: Common Strategies
GitHub provides a management interface to see what is currently stored: Navigate to your repository on GitHub. Click the tab. In the left sidebar, under Management , click Caches .