Fix · GitHub and Git

GitHub Actions workflow fails (red cross)

Not checked against the vendor's current screens

What you may see

A red cross appears next to my commit
It says Process completed with exit code 1

Most likely cause

One step of the automatic job fails on GitHub's computer: a different Node version, a missing secret, or a test that fails.

Check first (about two minutes)

Open the failed run and click the first red step: the first error is the real one.
Check whether the same command passes on your own computer.

The fix prompt

What you type here never leaves your browser. The search runs on this page, and nothing is sent to a server or to an AI.

The exact error or what you see

What you did before it happened

Kept only in this browser, on this device. Keys and passwords are removed before anything is saved.

Prompt language

You are a patient senior engineer who knows Git and GitHub very well and explains them to people who are not developers. I am not a developer, so explain every step in plain words and tell me exactly which button, menu or command you mean. If you are not sure about something, say so; do not guess.

Menu and button names change over time. If you cannot find a button or page I mention, say so and tell me what to look for instead of guessing.

THE PROBLEM
GitHub Actions workflow fails (red cross)

THE EXACT ERROR OR WHAT I SEE
[paste the exact error here]

WHAT I DID BEFORE IT HAPPENED
[write in a few words what you did before it happened]

MOST LIKELY CAUSE
One step of the automatic job fails on GitHub's computer: a different Node version, a missing secret, or a test that fails.

DO THESE STEPS, IN THIS ORDER
1. Ask me to paste the first error lines of the failing step (without secrets).
2. Compare the Node version and the commands in the workflow file (.github/workflows) with my machine.
3. Check that every secret the workflow uses is defined in the repository's Actions secrets settings (by name only; never ask for the value).
4. Fix the smallest thing, push, and watch the run again.
Stop and tell me if what you see does not match a step. Do not skip ahead.

CHECK THAT IT WORKED
- The run ends with a green tick.
Tell me exactly what I should see on the screen when it works.

DO NOT CHANGE
- Do not delete the workflow or its tests to get a green tick.
- Anything I did not ask about: the design, the text, other pages, other settings or the data.
- Do not delete files, data or branches, do not reset or force-push, and do not rewrite history, unless you first show me exactly what would be lost and I say yes.
- Do not paste, print or ask me to paste a password or secret key into this chat. If one is needed, tell me which settings page of the right service to store it in.

WHEN YOU FINISH
Explain in simple words what you changed (file by file or setting by setting), why you changed it, and how I can undo it.

Paste it into Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini or Cursor, then follow what it says.

After you tried it, did it work?

Steps

Ask me to paste the first error lines of the failing step (without secrets).
Compare the Node version and the commands in the workflow file (.github/workflows) with my machine.
Check that every secret the workflow uses is defined in the repository's Actions secrets settings (by name only; never ask for the value).
Fix the smallest thing, push, and watch the run again.

Do not do this

Do not print secrets in the workflow log to debug.
Do not delete the workflow or its tests to get a green tick.

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