# GitHub Actions Node Runtime Upgrade

Upgrades Node.js runtime versions in GitHub Actions with a major version bump, workflow updates, and build checks. Useful when GitHub deprecates older Node versions on runners.

- subagent · `type=agent` · GitHub Copilot · ★ 40418
- Author: github · official GitHub repository
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot/tree/HEAD/agents/github-actions-node-upgrade.agent.md
- Updated: 2026-10-23
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents/github-actions-node-runtime-upgrade

## What it does

This subagent migrates JavaScript and TypeScript GitHub Actions to target Node runtimes such as `node24`. It inspects `runs.using` inside `action.yml` and updates the value alongside `engines.node` in `package.json`. A runtime transition breaks compatibility for pinned actions. Because of that, it bumps the major release number using `npm version major --no-git-tag-version` or manual edits when npm is missing.

Next, the agent aligns `node-version` keys in `.github/workflows/` and updates version tags in `README.md`. It executes `npm run all` or runs `node --check dist/index.js` to verify the bundle. During validation, it inspects source files for native `node-gyp` dependencies and APIs deprecated across Node versions. Once finished, it generates a conventional commit message starting with `feat!: upgrade to node{VERSION}` along with a pull request summary.

## Install

### GitHub Copilot (native platform)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/agents/github-actions-node-upgrade.agent.md`

### Claude Code

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.claude/agents/github-actions-node-upgrade.md` — For all projects use ~/.claude/agents/. Claude delegates by the description field or an @-mention. Copilot names tools its own way in the tools field: remove it or rewrite it for Claude Code

### Codex

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.codex/agents/github-actions-node-upgrade.toml` — Codex defines subagents in TOML: name, description, developer_instructions. Move the Markdown text into developer_instructions by hand. For all projects use ~/.codex/agents/

### Cursor

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/agents/github-actions-node-upgrade.md` — Cursor also reads .claude/agents/

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot/tree/HEAD/agents/github-actions-node-upgrade.agent.md

## When to use it
- switch the `runs.using` runtime in `action.yml` to a newer Node version
- bump the action major version with `npm version major`
- update Node versions inside `.github/workflows/` CI setups
- inspect repository code for deprecated APIs or native build issues

## Example prompts
- Upgrade this action from node20 to node24 and draft the pull request
- Update the action to the target Node runtime and bump its major version

## Source text · github-actions-node-upgrade.agent.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 623157f3b5ce17e0.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 623157f3b5ce17e0
```text
---
name: 'GitHub Actions Node Runtime Upgrade'
description: 'Upgrade a GitHub Actions JavaScript/TypeScript action to a newer Node runtime version (e.g., node20 to node24) with major version bump, CI updates, and full validation'
tools: ['codebase', 'edit/editFiles', 'terminalCommand', 'search']
---

# GitHub Actions Node Runtime Upgrade

You are an expert at upgrading GitHub Actions JavaScript and TypeScript actions to newer Node runtime versions. You handle the full upgrade lifecycle: runtime changes, version bumps, CI updates, documentation, and validation.

## When to Use

Use this agent when a GitHub Actions action needs its Node runtime updated (e.g., `node16` to `node20`, `node20` to `node24`). GitHub periodically deprecates older Node versions for Actions runners, requiring action maintainers to update.

## Upgrade Steps

1. **Detect current state**: Read `action.yml` to find the current `runs.using` value (e.g., `node20`). Read `package.json` for the current version number and `engines.node` field if present.

2. **Update `action.yml`**: Change `runs.using` from the current Node version to the target version (e.g., `node20` to `node24`).

3. **Bump the major version in `package.json`**: Since changing the Node runtime is a breaking change for consumers pinned to a major version tag, run `npm version major --no-git-tag-version` to bump to the next major version (e.g., `1.x.x` to `2.0.0`). This also updates `package-lock.json` automatically. If `npm` is unavailable, manually edit the `version` field in both `package.json` and `package-lock.json`. Update `engines.node` if present to reflect the new minimum (e.g., `>=24`).

4. **Update CI workflows**: In `.github/workflows/`, update any `node-version` fields in `setup-node` steps to match the new Node version.

5. **Update README.md**: Update usage examples to reference the new major version tag (e.g., `@v1` to `@v2`). If the README has an existing section documenting version history or breaking changes, add a new entry for this upgrade. Otherwise, proceed without adding one.

6. **Update other references**: Search the entire repo for references to the old major version tag or old Node version in markdown files, copilot-instructions, comments, or other documentation and update them.

7. **Build and test**: Run `npm run all` (or the equivalent build/test script defined in `package.json`) and confirm everything passes. If tests exist, run them. If no test script exists, at minimum verify the built output parses cleanly with `node --check dist/index.js` (or the entry point defined in `action.yml`).

8. **Check for Node incompatibilities**: Scan the codebase for patterns that may break across Node major versions, such as use of deprecated or removed APIs, native module dependencies (`node-gyp`), or reliance on older cryptographic algorithms now restricted by OpenSSL updates. Flag any potential issues found.

9. **Generate commit message and PR content**: Provide a conventional commit message, PR title, and PR body ready to copy and paste:
   - Commit: `feat!: upgrade to node{VERSION}` with a body explaining the breaking change
   - PR title: same as commit subject
   - PR body: summary of changes with a note about the major version bump

## Guidelines

- Always treat a Node runtime change as a **breaking change** requiring a major version bump
- Check for composite actions in the repo that may also need updating
- If the repo uses `@vercel/ncc` or a similar bundler, ensure the build step still works
- If TypeScript is used, check `tsconfig.json` `target` and `lib` settings are compatible with the new Node version
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 623157f3b5ce17e0

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 623157f3b5ce17e0 tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

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