How to Clear GitHub Actions History in a Few Simple Steps
GitHub Actions is a powerful tool for automating workflows, but sometimes you may need to clear its history. Whether it’s for privacy, to free up storage, or to maintain a clean repository, the process is straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide to achieve this.
Introduction
GitHub Actions helps automate workflows, but there are times when you might want to clear its history, whether for privacy, debugging, or to maintain a clean repository. This guide will show you how to do this by creating and running a simple workflow.
This process doesn’t delete logs from the past permanently stored by GitHub, but it helps replace them with a clean slate.
Why reset a Repository?
- Privacy: Remove sensitive or unnecessary information.
- Debugging: Start fresh to test new workflows.
- Organized Repository: Keep your Actions tab tidy and focused.
Steps to Reset a Git Repository
Follow these steps to clear Github Action history:
Create API token
Create an API token with Repository access: Actions: Read and write and store the key.
Create a Bash Script
Start by creating a new file called clear_history.sh in your local repository directory. Add the following content to it:
#!/bin/bash
OWNER="--USER_NAME--" #EDIT
REPO="--REPO_NAME--" #EDIT
TOKEN="--MY_TOKEN--" #EDIT
runs=$(curl -s -H "Authorization: token $TOKEN" \
"https://api.github.com/repos/$OWNER/$REPO/actions/runs" | grep '"id":' | awk '{print $2}' | tr -d ',')
for run_id in $runs; do
echo "Deleting run ID: $run_id"
curl -X DELETE -H "Authorization: token $TOKEN" \
"https://api.github.com/repos/$OWNER/$REPO/actions/runs/$run_id"
doneEdit the three variables with your data and the key created in the previous step.
Execute script
Execute the script from terminal:
./clear_history.shConclusion
Clearing GitHub Actions history is a simple yet effective way to maintain a clean and organized repository. By following this guide and using a straightforward Bash script, you can reset your workflows and ensure your repository remains tidy and efficient. Remember to handle your GitHub tokens securely and revoke them when no longer needed.