Github actions, schedule operation on branch

Question

I am trying to configure a github workflow, I have managed to configure it on push event. However what if I need it to run on after a time period has passed?

What I have understood from the documentation is that it can be achieved using a schedule.

name: Release Management

on: 
  schedule:
   - cron: "*/5 * * * *"

How do I specify the branch that the action will run on ?

My end goal is to automate releases.

Answer 1

If you take a look at the documentation here you will see that the GITHUB_SHA associated with the on: schedule event is "Last commit on default branch." This is what will be checked out by default when you use the actions/checkout action.

If your repository's default branch is master (which in general is the case) this workflow will checkout the last commit on master when it triggers.

name: Release Management
on: 
  schedule:
   - cron: "*/5 * * * *"
jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v2

If you want to checkout a different branch you can specify with parameters on the checkout action. This workflow will checkout the last commit on the some-branch branch.

name: Release Management
on: 
  schedule:
   - cron: "*/5 * * * *"
jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
        with:
          ref: some-branch

See documentation for the actions/checkout action for other options.