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Full GitHub Actions environment variables list for YAML build workflow scripts example

Cameron McKenzie
Cameron McKenzie
TechTarget

If a developer wants to build a workflow, shell script or build job of any merit, they’ll need to take advantage of the various GitHub Actions environment variables that are available through the tool.

The standard documentation pages tell developers about the default GitHub Actions environment variables, which are prefixed with the string GITHUB and includes variables such as GITHUB_WORKFLOW, GITHUB_RUN_ID and GITHUB_ACTION. However, that’s by no means the full list of GitHub Actions environment variables available to developers when they create workflows on Ubuntu, Linus or MacOS.

Each container where continuous integration builds run offers a full suite of environment variables that the shell scripts and workflows should take advantage of. We’ll examine the full list of GitHub Actions environment variables, and more importantly, I’ll show you how to write a simple workflow so a developer can inspect their own environment and see for themselves what variables are available to use.

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Default GitHub Actions environment variables

The 18 default environment variables available to any GitHub Actions workflow or shell script are:

  1. CI
  2. GITHUB_WORKFLOW
  3. GITHUB_RUN_ID
  4. GITHUB_RUN_NUMBER
  5. GITHUB_ACTION
  6. GITHUB_ACTIONS
  7. GITHUB_ACTOR
  8. GITHUB_REPOSITORY
  9. GITHUB_EVENT_NAME
  10. GITHUB_EVENT_PATH
  11. GITHUB_WORKSPACE
  12. GITHUB_SHA
  13. GITHUB_REF
  14. GITHUB_HEAD_REF
  15. GITHUB_BASE_REF
  16. GITHUB_SERVER_URL
  17. GITHUB_API_URL
  18. GITHUB_GRAPHQL_URL

Full GitHub Actions environment variables List

While that’s an impressive list, if a developer is doing a build on the ubuntu-latest image, their build workflows have over 60 more GitHub Actions environment variables at their disposal. While they’re standard issue, they differ from distro to distro. For example, the macos-latest may have a few more or a few less variables available than ubuntu-latest.

Take the PATH variable for example, that’s available on windows-latest. But for obvious reasons, it’s not available on ubuntu-latest because Linux distros don’t have a configurable PATH.

In fairness, this example combines what some might consider system variables with the environment variables specifically provided by the continuous integration framework. But since all these system and environment variables are available to GitHub Action workflows and scripts, I don’t feel guilty about combining them in a single discussion.

GitHub Actions environment variables shell script

The full list of 81 or so environment and system variables is further down in this article. But there’s always a chance that the list will get outdated as soon as a new container is configured. Developers shouldn’t solely rely on what’s written here, and instead they should inspect their runtime container on their own to find out.

Here’s a simple YAML file that allows developers to inspect GitHub Actions environment variables on Windows, MacOS and Ubuntu. And if they’ve already got a GitHub account of their own, it’ll only take about two minutes to configure it.

GitHub Actions variables list script

The steps used in the following workflow to print out all GitHub Actions environment variables are:

  1. Create a simple YAML file that runs on a push to main or master
  2. Add three jobs, one for each of Ubuntu, Windows and MacOS
  3. Run a single GitHub Action step in each job that simply invokes the env command
  4. Run the build
  5. View the GitHub Action environment variable list in the job status window
# Publish GitHub workflow artifacts tutorial example
name: Publish GitHub Actions Artifacts Example
on:
  push:
    branches: [ main ]
jobs:
  github-actions-environment-variables-ubuntu:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: List of the GitHub Actions environment variables on Windows
        run: env

  github-actions-environment-variables-windows:
    runs-on: windows-latest
    steps:
      - name: Ubuntu GitHub Actions environment variables List
        run: env

  github-actions-environment-variables-macos:
    runs-on: macos-latest
    steps:
      - name: MacOs List of GitHub Actions environment variables
        run: env

Environment variables workflow example

When a developer uses the env command, it forces the container of interest to print out all its environment variables to the console. So, when this simple workflow runs, we get a GitHub Actions environment variables list for Ubuntu, Windows and the MacOS. Developers should run this script any time the latest version of a given container is updated and they’ll know if any new environment variables have been added or removed.

environment variables github actions

A full list of the GitHub Actions environment variables can be pulled from a simple workflow.

What’s the full list of GitHub Actions environment variables look like? Well, here they are, all 123 of them as they appear in the ubuntu-latest. Windows and MacOS are listed below.

However, your local power grid may not have enough energy to allow you to scroll down fully.

Ubuntu GitHub Actions Environment Variables List

Here are the 81 environment variables the ubuntu-latest GitHub Actions runner spit out:

LEIN_HOME=/usr/local/lib/lein
M2_HOME=/usr/share/apache-maven-3.6.3
GOROOT_1_11_X64=/opt/hostedtoolcache/go/1.11.13/x64
ANDROID_HOME=/usr/local/lib/android/sdk
JAVA_HOME_11_X64=/usr/lib/jvm/adoptopenjdk-11-hotspot-amd64
ImageVersion=20201102.0
AGENT_TOOLSDIRECTORY=/opt/hostedtoolcache
LANG=C.UTF-8
AZURE_EXTENSION_DIR=/opt/az/azcliextensions
POWERSHELL_DISTRIBUTION_CHANNEL=GitHub-Actions-ubuntu18
GITHUB_API_URL=https://api.github.com
INVOCATION_ID=3e31b357ddec4640a495a5c29ee579d2
BOOST_ROOT_1_72_0=/opt/hostedtoolcache/boost/1.72.0/x64
JAVA_HOME_12_X64=/usr/lib/jvm/adoptopenjdk-12-hotspot-amd64
ANDROID_SDK_ROOT=/usr/local/lib/android/sdk
RUNNER_TOOL_CACHE=/opt/hostedtoolcache
SWIFT_PATH=/usr/share/swift/usr/bin
JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/adoptopenjdk-8-hotspot-amd64
RUNNER_TRACKING_ID=github_3ed81378-e0f3-42a1-8218-a31082ce8928
DOTNET_MULTILEVEL_LOOKUP="0"
GITHUB_REPOSITORY_OWNER=learn-github-actions
GITHUB_ACTIONS=true
DOTNET_SKIP_FIRST_TIME_EXPERIENCE="1"
CI=true
DOTNET_NOLOGO="1"
USER=runner
GITHUB_HEAD_REF=
GITHUB_ACTOR=learn-github-actions
GITHUB_ACTION=run
GRADLE_HOME=/usr/share/gradle
PWD=/home/runner/work/getting-started-github-actions/getting-started-github-actions
ImageOS=ubuntu18
PIPX_HOME="/opt/pipx"
HOME=/home/runner
GOROOT=/opt/hostedtoolcache/go/1.14.10/x64
JOURNAL_STREAM=9:30209
GOROOT_1_14_X64=/opt/hostedtoolcache/go/1.14.10/x64
JAVA_HOME_8_X64=/usr/lib/jvm/adoptopenjdk-8-hotspot-amd64
RUNNER_TEMP=/home/runner/work/_temp
GITHUB_RETENTION_DAYS=90
GOROOT_1_15_X64=/opt/hostedtoolcache/go/1.15.3/x64
CONDA=/usr/share/miniconda
GOROOT_1_13_X64=/opt/hostedtoolcache/go/1.13.15/x64
BOOST_ROOT_1_69_0=/opt/hostedtoolcache/boost/1.69.0/x64
GITHUB_ENV=/home/runner/work/_temp/_runner_file_commands/set_env_d3cc9327-7bd4-4c6e-bdc7-1b8aeda25deb
DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
RUNNER_WORKSPACE=/home/runner/work/getting-started-github-actions
GITHUB_REF=refs/heads/main
GITHUB_SHA=bd55886e2fdb736df000375418c501abca2d3721
GITHUB_RUN_ID=356470921
GITHUB_SERVER_URL=https://github.com
GOROOT_1_12_X64=/opt/hostedtoolcache/go/1.12.17/x64
GECKOWEBDRIVER=/usr/local/share/gecko_driver
DEPLOYMENT_BASEPATH=/opt/runner
GITHUB_EVENT_PATH=/home/runner/work/_temp/_github_workflow/event.json
CHROMEWEBDRIVER=/usr/local/share/chrome_driver
PIPX_BIN_DIR="/opt/pipx_bin"
HOMEBREW_REPOSITORY="/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew/Homebrew"
GITHUB_GRAPHQL_URL=https://api.github.com/graphql
RUNNER_OS=Linux
GITHUB_BASE_REF=
VCPKG_INSTALLATION_ROOT=/usr/local/share/vcpkg
GITHUB_PATH=/home/runner/work/_temp/_runner_file_commands/add_path_d3cc9327-7bd4-4c6e-bdc7-1b8aeda25deb
GITHUB_JOB=github-actions-environment-variables-ubuntu
PERFLOG_LOCATION_SETTING=RUNNER_PERFLOG
JAVA_HOME_7_X64=/usr/lib/jvm/zulu-7-azure-amd64
RUNNER_USER=runner
SHLVL=1
HOMEBREW_PREFIX="/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew"
GITHUB_REPOSITORY=learn-github-actions/getting-started-github-actions
GITHUB_EVENT_NAME=push
LEIN_JAR=/usr/local/lib/lein/self-installs/leiningen-2.9.4-standalone.jar
GITHUB_RUN_NUMBER=2
RUNNER_PERFLOG=/home/runner/perflog
GITHUB_WORKFLOW=Publish GitHub Actions Artifacts Example
ANT_HOME=/usr/share/ant
PATH=/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew/bin:/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew/sbin:/opt/pipx_bin:/usr/share/rust/.cargo/bin:/home/runner/.config/composer/vendor/bin:/home/runner/.dotnet/tools:/snap/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games:/usr/local/games:/snap/bin
SELENIUM_JAR_PATH=/usr/share/java/selenium-server-standalone.jar
GITHUB_WORKSPACE=/home/runner/work/getting-started-github-actions/getting-started-github-actions
CHROME_BIN=/usr/bin/google-chrome
HOMEBREW_CELLAR="/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew/Cellar"
_=/usr/bin/env

GitHub Actions Environment Variables List on MacOS

And here are the 80 environment variables the MacOS GitHub Actions runner listed:

GITHUB_JOB=github-actions-environment-variables-macos
GITHUB_EVENT_PATH=/Users/runner/work/_temp/_github_workflow/event.json
RUNNER_OS=macOS
XCODE_12_DEVELOPER_DIR=/Applications/Xcode_12.1.app/Contents/Developer
GITHUB_BASE_REF=
NVM_CD_FLAGS=
ANDROID_HOME=/Users/runner/Library/Android/sdk
SHELL=/bin/bash
CHROMEWEBDRIVER=/usr/local/Caskroom/chromedriver/86.0.4240.22
PIPX_BIN_DIR=/usr/local/opt/pipx_bin
GITHUB_REPOSITORY_OWNER=learn-github-actions
TMPDIR=/var/folders/24/8k48jl6d249_n_qfxwsl6xvm0000gn/T/
GITHUB_RUN_NUMBER=2
GITHUB_ACTIONS=true
ANDROID_SDK_ROOT=/Users/runner/Library/Android/sdk
RUNNER_WORKSPACE=/Users/runner/work/getting-started-github-actions
RCT_NO_LAUNCH_PACKAGER=1
JAVA_HOME_8_X64=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/adoptopenjdk-8.jdk/Contents/Home
NUNIT_BASE_PATH=/Library/Developer/nunit
RUNNER_PERFLOG=/usr/local/opt/runner/perflog
GITHUB_WORKFLOW=Publish GitHub Actions Artifacts Example
GITHUB_REF=refs/heads/main
NUNIT3_PATH=/Library/Developer/nunit/3.6.0
LC_ALL=en_US.UTF-8
RUNNER_TOOL_CACHE=/Users/runner/hostedtoolcache
JAVA_HOME_11_X64=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/adoptopenjdk-11.jdk/Contents/Home
JAVA_HOME_14_X64=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/adoptopenjdk-14.jdk/Contents/Home
NVM_DIR=/Users/runner/.nvm
USER=runner
GITHUB_API_URL=https://api.github.com
GITHUB_EVENT_NAME=push
GITHUB_SHA=bd55886e2fdb736df000375418c501abca2d3721
XCODE_10_DEVELOPER_DIR=/Applications/Xcode_10.3.app/Contents/Developer
RUNNER_TEMP=/Users/runner/work/_temp
ImageVersion=20201107.1
SSH_AUTH_SOCK=/private/tmp/com.apple.launchd.fd1ZVGpP4V/Listeners
GITHUB_SERVER_URL=https://github.com
__CF_USER_TEXT_ENCODING=0x1F5:0:0
HOMEBREW_NO_AUTO_UPDATE=1
GITHUB_HEAD_REF=
AGENT_TOOLSDIRECTORY=/Users/runner/hostedtoolcache
GITHUB_GRAPHQL_URL=https://api.github.com/graphql
PATH=/usr/local/opt/pipx_bin:/Users/runner/.cargo/bin:/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.7.0/bin:/usr/local/opt/ruby/bin:/usr/local/opt/curl/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/Users/runner/bin:/Users/runner/.yarn/bin:/usr/local/go/bin:/Users/runner/Library/Android/sdk/tools:/Users/runner/Library/Android/sdk/platform-tools:/Users/runner/Library/Android/sdk/ndk-bundle:/Library/Frameworks/Mono.framework/Versions/Current/Commands:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/Users/runner/.dotnet/tools:/Users/runner/.ghcup/bin:/Users/runner/hostedtoolcache/stack/2.5.1/x64
_=/usr/bin/env
GITHUB_RETENTION_DAYS=90
PERFLOG_LOCATION_SETTING=RUNNER_PERFLOG
CONDA=/usr/local/miniconda
EDGEWEBDRIVER=/usr/local/share/edge_driver
PWD=/Users/runner/work/getting-started-github-actions/getting-started-github-actions
DOTNET_ROOT=/Users/runner/.dotnet
JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/adoptopenjdk-8.jdk/Contents/Home
VCPKG_INSTALLATION_ROOT=/usr/local/share/vcpkg
JAVA_HOME_7_X64=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/zulu-7.jdk/Contents/Home
JAVA_HOME_12_X64=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/adoptopenjdk-12.jdk/Contents/Home
LANG=en_US.UTF-8
ImageOS=macos1015
XPC_FLAGS=0x0
PIPX_HOME=/usr/local/opt/pipx
GITHUB_ACTOR=learn-github-actions
XPC_SERVICE_NAME=0
GECKOWEBDRIVER=/usr/local/opt/geckodriver/bin
SHLVL=2
HOME=/Users/runner
RUNNER_TRACKING_ID=github_55227cb1-2fd1-40f7-8c27-cd2ac3605153
GITHUB_WORKSPACE=/Users/runner/work/getting-started-github-actions/getting-started-github-actions
ANDROID_NDK_18R_PATH=/Users/runner/Library/Android/sdk/ndk/18.1.5063045
CI=true
GITHUB_RUN_ID=356470921
LOGNAME=runner
GITHUB_ENV=/Users/runner/work/_temp/_runner_file_commands/set_env_52fb4442-e3d2-49d0-956f-d7326c15833e
LC_CTYPE=en_US.UTF-8
JAVA_HOME_13_X64=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/adoptopenjdk-13.jdk/Contents/Home
HOMEBREW_CASK_OPTS=--no-quarantine
POWERSHELL_DISTRIBUTION_CHANNEL=GitHub-Actions-macos1015
ANDROID_NDK_HOME=/Users/runner/Library/Android/sdk/ndk-bundle
BOOTSTRAP_HASKELL_NONINTERACTIVE=1
XCODE_11_DEVELOPER_DIR=/Applications/Xcode_11.7.app/Contents/Developer
GITHUB_REPOSITORY=learn-github-actions/getting-started-github-actions
GITHUB_PATH=/Users/runner/work/_temp/_runner_file_commands/add_path_52fb4442-e3d2-49d0-956f-d7326c15833e
GITHUB_ACTION=run
DOTNET_MULTILEVEL_LOOKUP=0

Environment Variables for GitHub Actions on Windows

The windows-latest container takes first place in the GitHub Actions environment variables race with a listing of 120:

ALLUSERSPROFILE=C:\ProgramData
ANDROID_HOME=C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk
ANDROID_NDK_HOME=C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk\ndk-bundle
ANDROID_NDK_PATH=C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk\ndk-bundle
ANDROID_SDK_ROOT=C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk
ANT_HOME=C:\ProgramData\chocolatey\lib\ant\tools\apache-ant-1.10.9
APPDATA=C:\Users\runneradmin\AppData\Roaming
AZURE_EXTENSION_DIR=C:\Program Files\Common Files\AzureCliExtensionDirectory
BOOST_ROOT_1_69_0=C:\hostedtoolcache\windows\Boost\1.69.0\x86_64
BOOST_ROOT_1_72_0=C:\hostedtoolcache\windows\Boost\1.72.0\x86_64
ChocolateyInstall=C:\ProgramData\chocolatey
ChromeWebDriver=C:\SeleniumWebDrivers\ChromeDriver
CI=true
COBERTURA_HOME=C:\cobertura-2.1.1
COMMONPROGRAMFILES=C:\Program Files\Common Files
CommonProgramFiles(x86)=C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files
CommonProgramW6432=C:\Program Files\Common Files
COMPUTERNAME=fv-az108-346
COMSPEC=C:\windows\system32\cmd.exe
CONDA=C:\Miniconda
DEPLOYMENT_BASEPATH=C:\actions
DOTNET_MULTILEVEL_LOOKUP=0
DriverData=C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\DriverData
EdgeWebDriver=C:\SeleniumWebDrivers\EdgeDriver
GCM_INTERACTIVE=Never
GeckoWebDriver=C:\SeleniumWebDrivers\GeckoDriver
GITHUB_ACTION=run
GITHUB_ACTIONS=true
GITHUB_ACTOR=learn-github-actions
GITHUB_API_URL=https://api.github.com
GITHUB_BASE_REF=
GITHUB_ENV=D:\a\_temp\_runner_file_commands\set_env_b6f2af2e-458c-4990-b67f-6f9a9d664614
GITHUB_EVENT_NAME=push
GITHUB_EVENT_PATH=D:\a\_temp\_github_workflow\event.json
GITHUB_GRAPHQL_URL=https://api.github.com/graphql
GITHUB_HEAD_REF=
GITHUB_JOB=github-actions-environment-variables-windows
GITHUB_PATH=D:\a\_temp\_runner_file_commands\add_path_b6f2af2e-458c-4990-b67f-6f9a9d664614
GITHUB_REF=refs/heads/main
GITHUB_REPOSITORY=learn-github-actions/getting-started-github-actions
GITHUB_REPOSITORY_OWNER=learn-github-actions
GITHUB_RETENTION_DAYS=90
GITHUB_RUN_ID=356470921
GITHUB_RUN_NUMBER=2
GITHUB_SERVER_URL=https://github.com
GITHUB_SHA=bd55886e2fdb736df000375418c501abca2d3721
GITHUB_WORKFLOW=Publish GitHub Actions Artifacts Example
GITHUB_WORKSPACE=D:\a\getting-started-github-actions\getting-started-github-actions
GOROOT=C:\hostedtoolcache\windows\go\1.14.10\x64
GOROOT_1_10_X64=C:\hostedtoolcache\windows\go\1.10.8\x64
GOROOT_1_11_X64=C:\hostedtoolcache\windows\go\1.11.13\x64
GOROOT_1_12_X64=C:\hostedtoolcache\windows\go\1.12.17\x64
GOROOT_1_13_X64=C:\hostedtoolcache\windows\go\1.13.15\x64
GOROOT_1_14_X64=C:\hostedtoolcache\windows\go\1.14.10\x64
GOROOT_1_15_X64=C:\hostedtoolcache\windows\go\1.15.3\x64
GOROOT_1_9_X64=C:\hostedtoolcache\windows\go\1.9.7\x64
GRADLE_HOME=C:\ProgramData\chocolatey\lib\gradle\tools\gradle-6.7
HOMEDRIVE=C:
HOMEPATH=\Users\runneradmin
IEWebDriver=C:\SeleniumWebDrivers\IEDriver
ImageOS=win19
ImageVersion=20201021.0
JAVA_HOME=C:\Program Files\Java\jdk8u265-b01
JAVA_HOME_11_X64=C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-11.0.8+10
JAVA_HOME_13_X64=C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-13.0.2+8
JAVA_HOME_7_X64=C:\Program Files\Java\zulu-7-azure-jdk_7.31.0.5-7.0.232-win_x64
JAVA_HOME_8_X64=C:\Program Files\Java\jdk8u265-b01
LOCALAPPDATA=C:\Users\runneradmin\AppData\Local
LOGONSERVER=\\fv-az108-346
M2=C:\ProgramData\chocolatey\lib\maven\apache-maven-3.6.3\bin
M2_HOME=C:\ProgramData\chocolatey\lib\maven\apache-maven-3.6.3
M2_REPO=C:\ProgramData\m2
MAVEN_OPTS=-Xms256m
MonAgentClientLocation=C:\Packages\Plugins\Microsoft.Azure.Geneva.GenevaMonitoring\2.19.0.1\Monitoring\Agent
npm_config_cache=C:\npm\cache
npm_config_prefix=C:\npm\prefix
NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS=2
OS=Windows_NT
PATH=/c/Program Files/PowerShell/7:/c/Users/runneradmin/.dotnet/tools:/c/Program Files/Mercurial:/c/Program Files/MongoDB/Server/4.4/bin:/c/aliyun-cli:/c/ProgramData/kind:/c/vcpkg:/c/cf-cli:/c/Program Files (x86)/NSIS:/c/Program Files/Mercurial:/c/hostedtoolcache/windows/stack/2.5.1/x64:/c/ProgramData/chocolatey/lib/ghc.8.10.2.1/tools/ghc-8.10.2/bin:/c/Program Files/dotnet:/c/mysql-5.7.21-winx64/bin:/c/Program Files/R/R-4.0.3/bin/x64:/c/SeleniumWebDrivers/GeckoDriver:/c/Program Files (x86)/sbt/bin:/c/Rust/.cargo/bin:/c/Program Files (x86)/GitHub CLI:/bin:/c/hostedtoolcache/windows/go/1.14.10/x64/bin:/c/hostedtoolcache/windows/Python/3.7.9/x64/Scripts:/c/hostedtoolcache/windows/Python/3.7.9/x64:/c/hostedtoolcache/windows/Ruby/2.5.8/x64/bin:/c/Program Files/Java/jdk8u265-b01/bin:/c/npm/prefix:/c/Program Files/Microsoft SDKs/Azure/Azure Dev Spaces CLI:/c/Program Files/Microsoft SDKs/Azure/Azure Dev Spaces CLI:/c/Program Files (x86)/Microsoft SDKs/Azure/CLI2/wbin:/c/windows/system32:/c/windows:/c/windows/System32/Wbem:/c/windows/System32/WindowsPowerShell/v1.0:/c/windows/System32/OpenSSH:/c/ProgramData/Chocolatey/bin:/c/Program Files/Microsoft/Web Platform Installer:/c/Program Files/Docker:/c/Program Files/PowerShell/7:/c/Program Files/dotnet:/c/Program Files/Microsoft SQL Server/130/Tools/Binn:/c/Program Files/Microsoft SQL Server/Client SDK/ODBC/170/Tools/Binn:/c/Program Files (x86)/Windows Kits/10/Windows Performance Toolkit:/c/Program Files (x86)/Microsoft SQL Server/110/DTS/Binn:/c/Program Files (x86)/Microsoft SQL Server/120/DTS/Binn:/c/Program Files (x86)/Microsoft SQL Server/130/DTS/Binn:/c/Program Files (x86)/Microsoft SQL Server/140/DTS/Binn:/c/Program Files (x86)/Microsoft SQL Server/150/DTS/Binn:/c/Program Files/nodejs:/c/ProgramData/chocolatey/lib/pulumi/tools/Pulumi/bin:/c/ProgramData/chocolatey/lib/maven/apache-maven-3.6.3/bin:/c/Program Files/Microsoft Service Fabric/bin/Fabric/Fabric.Code:/c/Program Files/Microsoft SDKs/Service Fabric/Tools/ServiceFabricLocalClusterManager:/c/Program Files/OpenSSL/bin:/c/Strawberry/c/bin:/c/Strawberry/perl/site/bin:/c/Strawberry/perl/bin:/cmd:/mingw64/bin:/usr/bin:/c/tools/php:/c/Program Files (x86)/sbt/bin:/c/Program Files/TortoiseSVN/bin:/c/SeleniumWebDrivers/ChromeDriver:/c/SeleniumWebDrivers/EdgeDriver:/c/Program Files/CMake/bin:/c/Program Files/Amazon/AWSCLIV2:/c/Program Files/Amazon/SessionManagerPlugin/bin:/c/Program Files/Amazon/AWSSAMCLI/bin:/c/Program Files (x86)/Google/Cloud SDK/google-cloud-sdk/bin:/c/Users/runneradmin/AppData/Local/Microsoft/WindowsApps
PATHEXT=.COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD;.VBS;.VBE;.JS;.JSE;.WSF;.WSH;.MSC;.CPL
PERFLOG_LOCATION_SETTING=RUNNER_PERFLOG
PGBIN=C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\13\bin
PGDATA=C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\13\data
PGPASSWORD=root
PGROOT=C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\13
PGUSER=postgres
PHPROOT=c:\tools\php
POWERSHELL_DISTRIBUTION_CHANNEL=GitHub-Actions-win19
PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE=AMD64
PROCESSOR_IDENTIFIER=Intel64 Family 6 Model 79 Stepping 1, GenuineIntel
PROCESSOR_LEVEL=6
PROCESSOR_REVISION=4f01
ProgramData=C:\ProgramData
PROGRAMFILES=C:\Program Files
ProgramFiles(x86)=C:\Program Files (x86)
ProgramW6432=C:\Program Files
PSModulePath=C:\Users\runneradmin\Documents\PowerShell\Modules;C:\Program Files\PowerShell\Modules;c:\program files\powershell\7\Modules;C:\Modules\azurerm_2.1.0;C:\Modules\azure_2.1.0;C:\Users\packer\Documents\WindowsPowerShell\Modules;C:\Program Files\WindowsPowerShell\Modules;C:\windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Modules;C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\130\Tools\PowerShell\Modules\;C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Cloud SDK\google-cloud-sdk\platform\PowerShell
PUBLIC=C:\Users\Public
RTOOLS40_HOME=C:\rtools40
RUNNER_OS=Windows
RUNNER_PERFLOG=C:\actions\perflog
RUNNER_TEMP=D:\a\_temp
RUNNER_TOOL_CACHE=C:/hostedtoolcache/windows
RUNNER_TRACKING_ID=github_03c88f51-183c-4d5f-b52a-7099bc3e0f05
RUNNER_WORKSPACE=D:\a\getting-started-github-actions
SBT_HOME=C:\Program Files (x86)\sbt\
SELENIUM_JAR_PATH=C:\selenium\selenium-server-standalone.jar
SYSTEMDRIVE=C:
SYSTEMROOT=C:\windows
TEMP=/tmp
TMP=/tmp
USERDOMAIN=fv-az108-346
USERDOMAIN_ROAMINGPROFILE=fv-az108-346
USERNAME=runneradmin
USERPROFILE=C:\Users\runneradmin
VCPKG_INSTALLATION_ROOT=C:\vcpkg
VS140COMNTOOLS=C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\Common7\Tools\
WINDIR=C:\windows
WIX=C:\Program Files (x86)\WiX Toolset v3.11\
TERM=xterm-256color
HOME=/c/Users/runneradmin

Processing the variables list

This is obviously a lot of data to process. But if developers wanted a list of all the Git/GitHub Actions environment variables available to them on the three most popular distros, well, you’re welcome.

But a more effective approach to working with environment variables might be to use that YAML script listed above. Developers can generate their own listing anytime they’re curious about what environment variables are available to their GitHub Actions workflows and shell scripts.