How to Run a Multi-Line Inline Script in GitHub Actions

A YAML pipe block (run: |) lets one step contain many shell lines that share the same shell process.

Use the | block scalar after run: to write several commands. They all execute in one shell invocation, so variables set on one line are visible on the next.

Steps

• Write run: | then indent the command lines beneath it.
• Keep every line at the same indent so YAML preserves them.
• Remember state persists across lines in a single step, but not across steps.

Workflow

steps:
  - run: |
      echo "Preparing build"
      VERSION=$(cat VERSION)
      echo "Building version $VERSION"
      make build VERSION="$VERSION"

Gotchas

• GitHub bash runs each step with set -eo pipefail, so a failing line aborts the step.
• A variable set in one step is gone in the next; persist it via $GITHUB_ENV if later steps need it.

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