GitHub Actions composite action "jobs is not a valid key"

Composite actions are not workflows. Their action.yml uses runs.using: composite with a steps list. A jobs key is invalid because composite actions run inside a single job, not orchestrate jobs.

What this error means

A composite action fails to load with a schema error around an unexpected jobs key.

github-actions

Error: 'jobs' is not a valid key for a composite action.
Composite actions define runs.using: 'composite' with a 'steps' list, not 'jobs'.

Common causes

Workflow syntax in an action manifest

The author used jobs (workflow syntax) inside a composite action.yml.

How to fix it

Use runs.steps

Replace the jobs block with runs.using: composite and a steps list.
Give each run step a shell.

action.yml

runs:
  using: composite
  steps:
    - run: echo "hello"
      shell: bash

How to prevent it

Remember composite actions are step lists, reusable workflows are job lists.
Lint action.yml against the composite schema.

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