fix: draft prereleases before uploading assets

Signed-off-by: Rui Chen <rui@chenrui.dev>

.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+name: Bug report
+description: Report a bug or regression in action-gh-release
+title: "[Bug]: "
+labels:
+  - bug
+body:
+  - type: markdown
+    attributes:
+      value: |
+        Before filing:
+        - confirm the problem still reproduces on the latest release or `master`
+        - search existing issues for the same behavior
+        - if the original repository is private, include a minimal public repro, a sanitized workflow snippet, or exact redacted steps a maintainer can follow
+  - type: checkboxes
+    id: checks
+    attributes:
+      label: Pre-flight checks
+      options:
+        - label: I searched existing issues and did not find a duplicate
+          required: true
+        - label: I reproduced this with the latest released version or current `master`
+          required: true
+        - label: I included a reproducible example or a sanitized/redacted reproduction path if the original repository is private
+          required: true
+  - type: input
+    id: action_version
+    attributes:
+      label: action-gh-release version
+      description: Tag, SHA, or ref used in your workflow
+      placeholder: v2.5.2
+    validations:
+      required: true
+  - type: dropdown
+    id: runner
+    attributes:
+      label: Runner operating system
+      options:
+        - ubuntu-latest
+        - windows-latest
+        - macos-latest
+        - other
+    validations:
+      required: true
+  - type: input
+    id: target_repository
+    attributes:
+      label: Release target repository
+      description: Fill this in if you set the `repository:` input
+      placeholder: owner/repo
+  - type: input
+    id: repro_reference
+    attributes:
+      label: Reproduction repo, gist, or artifact
+      description: Link a minimal repro repository, gist, run URL, or other shareable artifact if you have one
+      placeholder: https://github.com/owner/repro-repo
+  - type: textarea
+    id: workflow
+    attributes:
+      label: Workflow snippet
+      description: Include the relevant `uses:` step and inputs. If the original repo is private, paste a sanitized version here.
+      render: yaml
+  - type: textarea
+    id: expected
+    attributes:
+      label: Expected behavior
+    validations:
+      required: true
+  - type: textarea
+    id: actual
+    attributes:
+      label: Actual behavior
+    validations:
+      required: true
+  - type: textarea
+    id: reproduce
+    attributes:
+      label: Steps to reproduce
+      description: Include tags, matrix/concurrency details, and any repo rules involved. If the original repo is private, describe the smallest setup a maintainer can recreate locally or in a throwaway repo.
+      placeholder: |
+        1. Trigger workflow with ...
+        2. Action creates ...
+        3. Action fails with ...
+    validations:
+      required: true
+  - type: textarea
+    id: logs
+    attributes:
+      label: Relevant logs
+      description: Paste the relevant error output or run URL
+      render: shell
+    validations:
+      required: true
+  - type: textarea
+    id: additional
+    attributes:
+      label: Additional context
+      description: Any extra environment, token, ruleset, or asset details

.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature_request.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+name: Feature request
+description: Propose an enhancement or new capability for action-gh-release
+title: "[Feature]: "
+labels:
+  - enhancement
+body:
+  - type: markdown
+    attributes:
+      value: |
+        Use this template for new capabilities, behavior changes, or ergonomics improvements.
+        If you are reporting something broken, use the bug report template instead.
+  - type: checkboxes
+    id: checks
+    attributes:
+      label: Pre-flight checks
+      options:
+        - label: I searched existing issues and did not find a duplicate request
+          required: true
+        - label: This is not a bug report for existing behavior
+          required: true
+  - type: textarea
+    id: problem
+    attributes:
+      label: Problem to solve
+      description: What workflow pain point or gap are you trying to address?
+    validations:
+      required: true
+  - type: textarea
+    id: proposal
+    attributes:
+      label: Proposed solution
+      description: Describe the behavior, input, or output you want
+    validations:
+      required: true
+  - type: textarea
+    id: workflow
+    attributes:
+      label: Example workflow snippet
+      description: Show how you would expect to use this
+      render: yaml
+  - type: textarea
+    id: alternatives
+    attributes:
+      label: Alternatives considered
+      description: Workarounds or other approaches you evaluated
+  - type: textarea
+    id: impact
+    attributes:
+      label: Why this belongs in action-gh-release
+      description: Explain the user impact or why this should live in the action rather than in workflow glue

.github/workflows/main.yml

@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@ jobs:
   build:
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v5
 
-      - uses: actions/setup-node@2028fbc5c25fe9cf00d9f06a71cc4710d4507903 # v6
+      - uses: actions/setup-node@53b83947a5a98c8d113130e565377fae1a50d02f # v6
         with:
           node-version-file: ".tool-versions"
           cache: "npm"
@@ -19,14 +19,12 @@ jobs:
         run: npm ci
       - name: Build
         run: npm run build
+      - name: Check dist freshness
+        run: |
+          git diff --exit-code --stat -- dist/index.js \
+          || (echo "##[error] found changed dist/index.js after build. please run 'npm run build' and commit the updated bundle" \
+              && exit 1)
       - name: Test
         run: npm run test
       - name: Format
         run: npm run fmtcheck
-      # - name: "check for uncommitted changes"
-      #   # Ensure no changes, but ignore node_modules dir since dev/fresh ci deps installed.
-      #   run: |
-      #     git diff --exit-code --stat -- . ':!node_modules' \
-      #     || (echo "##[error] found changed files after build. please 'npm run build && npm run fmt'" \
-      #             "and check in all changes" \
-      #         && exit 1)

AGENTS.md

@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+# action-gh-release
+
+This repository is maintained as a small, user-facing GitHub Action with a relatively wide compatibility surface.
+Optimize for stability, reproducibility, and clear user value over broad rewrites.
+
+## Core Rules
+
+- Prefer narrow behavior fixes over structural churn.
+- Reproduce current behavior on `master` before changing code.
+- Treat GitHub platform behavior as distinct from action behavior.
+  If GitHub controls the outcome, prefer docs or clearer errors over brittle workarounds.
+- Do not revive stale PRs mechanically.
+  Reuse the idea if it still has value, but reimplement on top of current `master`.
+- Avoid standalone refactors with no clear user-facing benefit.
+
+## Current Architecture
+
+- `src/main.ts` is the orchestration layer: parse config, validate inputs, create/update release, upload assets, finalize, set outputs.
+- `src/github.ts` owns release semantics: lookup, create/update/finalize, asset upload, race handling, and GitHub API interaction.
+- `src/util.ts` owns parsing and path normalization.
+- Keep behavior-specific logic in `src/github.ts` or `src/util.ts`; avoid growing `src/main.ts` with ad-hoc feature branches.
+
+## Bug-Fix Workflow
+
+- Reproduce the issue against current `master` first.
+- When available, use the companion consumer harness repo `action-gh-release-test`.
+- Capture exact workflow run URLs and release URLs before claiming a fix.
+- If the issue is really a docs/usage or platform-limit case, document it and close it as such instead of forcing a code change.
+- If a historical issue no longer reproduces on current `master`, prefer a short closeout note that asks the reporter to open a fresh issue if they still see it.
+
+## Feature Triage
+
+- Ship features only when there is clear user value or repeated demand.
+- Small convenience features are fine, but they should stay small.
+- Weak-demand features should not expand parsing complexity, cross-platform ambiguity, or maintenance surface.
+- For old feature PRs:
+  - check whether current `master` already covers the behavior
+  - prefer a tiny docs clarification if the behavior exists but is poorly explained
+  - close stale feature PRs when the idea is obsolete, low-value, or badly shaped for the current codebase
+
+## Contract Sync
+
+When behavior changes, keep the external contract in sync:
+
+- update `README.md`
+- update `action.yml`
+- update tests under `__tests__/`
+- regenerate `dist/index.js` with `npm run build`
+
+Docs-only changes do not need `dist/index.js` regeneration.
+
+## Verification
+
+For code changes, run:
+
+- `npm run fmtcheck`
+- `npm run typecheck`
+- `npm run build`
+- `npm test`
+
+For behavior changes, also run the relevant external regression workflow(s) in `action-gh-release-test` against the exact ref under test.
+
+## Release and Triage Conventions
+
+- Keep PR labels accurate. Release notes depend on them.
+  - bug fixes: `bug`
+  - docs-only changes: `documentation`
+  - additive features: `feature` or `enhancement`
+  - dependency updates: `dependencies`
+- Follow [RELEASE.md](RELEASE.md) for version bumps, changelog updates, tagging, and release publication.
+- Prefer manual issue/PR closeouts with a short rationale over implicit assumptions.
+- Do not auto-close old PRs or issues through unrelated docs PRs.
+
+## Implementation Preferences
+
+- Preserve the current upload/finalize flow unless there is strong evidence it needs to change.
+- Prefer upload-time semantics over filesystem mutation.
+- Be careful with parsing changes around `files`, path handling, and Windows compatibility.
+- Be careful with race-condition fixes; verify both local tests and consumer-repo concurrency harnesses.
+- Do not assume a refactor is safe just because tests are green. This action’s behavior is heavily shaped by GitHub API edge cases.

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,3 +1,77 @@
+## 2.5.3
+
+`2.5.3` is a patch release focused on the remaining path-handling and release-selection bugs uncovered after `2.5.2`.
+It fixes `#639`, `#571`, `#280`, `#614`, `#311`, `#403`, and `#368`.
+It also adds documentation clarifications for `#541`, `#645`, `#542`, `#393`, and `#411`,
+where the current behavior is either usage-sensitive or constrained by GitHub platform limits rather than an action-side runtime bug.
+
+If you still hit an issue after upgrading, please open a report with the bug template and include a minimal repro or sanitized workflow snippet where possible.
+
+## What's Changed
+
+### Bug fixes 🐛
+
+* fix: prefer token input over GITHUB_TOKEN by @chenrui333 in https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/751
+* fix: clean up duplicate drafts after canonicalization by @chenrui333 in https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/753
+* fix: support Windows-style file globs by @chenrui333 in https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/754
+* fix: normalize refs-tag inputs by @chenrui333 in https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/755
+* fix: expand tilde file paths by @chenrui333 in https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/756
+
+### Other Changes 🔄
+
+* docs: clarify token precedence by @chenrui333 in https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/752
+* docs: clarify GitHub release limits by @chenrui333 in https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/758
+* documentation clarifications for empty-token handling, `preserve_order`, and special-character asset filename behavior
+
+## 2.5.2
+
+`2.5.2` is a patch release focused on the remaining release-creation and prerelease regressions in the `2.5.x` bug-fix cycle.
+It fixes `#705`, fixes `#708`, fixes `#740`, fixes `#741`, and fixes `#722`.
+Regression testing covers the shared-tag race, prerelease event behavior, dotfile asset labels,
+same-filename concurrent uploads, and blocked-tag cleanup behavior.
+
+If you still hit an issue after upgrading, please open a report with the bug template and include a minimal repro or sanitized workflow snippet where possible.
+
+## What's Changed
+
+### Bug fixes 🐛
+
+* fix: canonicalize releases after concurrent create by @chenrui333 in https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/746
+* fix: preserve prereleased events for prereleases by @chenrui333 in https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/748
+* fix: restore dotfile asset labels by @chenrui333 in https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/749
+* fix: handle upload already_exists races across workflows by @api2062 in https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/745
+* fix: clean up orphan drafts when tag creation is blocked by @chenrui333 in https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/750
+
+## 2.5.1
+
+`2.5.1` is a patch release focused on regressions introduced in `2.5.0` and on release lookup reliability.
+It fixes `#713`, addresses `#703`, and fixes `#724`. Regression testing shows that
+current `master` no longer reproduces the finalize-race behavior reported in `#704` and `#709`.
+
+## What's Changed
+
+### Bug fixes 🐛
+
+* fix: fetch correct asset URL after finalization; test; some refactoring by @pzhlkj6612 in https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/738
+* fix: release marked as 'latest' despite make_latest: false by @Boshen in https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/715
+* fix: use getReleaseByTag API instead of iterating all releases by @kim-em in https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/725
+
+### Other Changes 🔄
+
+* dependency updates, including the ESM/runtime compatibility refresh in https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/731
+
+## 2.5.0
+
+## What's Changed
+
+### Exciting New Features 🎉
+
+* feat: mark release as draft until all artifacts are uploaded by @dumbmoron in https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/692
+
+### Other Changes 🔄
+
+* dependency updates
+
 ## 2.4.2
 
 ## What's Changed
@@ -8,7 +82,7 @@
 
 ### Other Changes 🔄
 
-- dependency updates
+* dependency updates
 
 ## 2.4.1
 
@@ -189,7 +263,7 @@
 
 ## 2.0.0
 
-- `2.0.0`!? this release corrects a disjunction between git tag versions used in the marketplace and versions list this file. Previous versions should have really been 1.\*. Going forward this should be better aligned.
+- `2.0.0`!? this release corrects a disjunction between git tag versions used in the marketplace and the versions listed in this file. Previous versions should have really been 1.\*. Going forward this should be better aligned.
 - Upgrade action.yml declaration to node20 to address deprecations
 
 ## 0.1.15
@@ -200,7 +274,7 @@
 
 ## 0.1.14
 
-- provides an new workflow input option `generate_release_notes` which when set to true will automatically generate release notes for you based on GitHub activity [#179](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/179). Please see the [GitHub docs for this feature](https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/releasing-projects-on-github/automatically-generated-release-notes) for more information
+- provides a new workflow input option `generate_release_notes` which when set to true will automatically generate release notes for you based on GitHub activity [#179](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/179). Please see the [GitHub docs for this feature](https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/releasing-projects-on-github/automatically-generated-release-notes) for more information
 
 ## 0.1.13
 
@@ -208,7 +282,7 @@
 
 ## 0.1.12
 
-- fix bug leading to empty strings subsituted for inputs users don't provide breaking api calls [#144](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/144)
+- fix bug leading to empty strings substituted for inputs users don't provide breaking api calls [#144](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/144)
 
 ## 0.1.11
 
@@ -225,7 +299,7 @@
 ## 0.1.8
 
 - address recent warnings in assert upload api as well as introduce asset upload overrides, allowing for multiple runs for the same release with the same named asserts [#134](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/134)
-- fix backwards compatibility with `GITHUB_TOKEN` resolution. `GITHUB_TOKEN` is no resolved first from an env varibale and then from and input [#133](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/133)
+- fix backwards compatibility with `GITHUB_TOKEN` resolution. `GITHUB_TOKEN` is now resolved first from an env variable and then from an input [#133](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/133)
 - trim white space in provided `tag_name` [#130](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/130)
 
 ## 0.1.7
@@ -238,14 +312,14 @@
 
 This is a release catch up have a hiatus. Future releases will happen more frequently
 
-- Add 'fail_on_unmatched_files' input, useful for catching cases were your `files` input does not actually match what you expect [#55](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/55)
+- Add 'fail_on_unmatched_files' input, useful for catching cases where your `files` input does not actually match what you expect [#55](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/55)
 - Add `repository` input, useful for creating a release in an external repository [#61](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/61)
-- Add release `id` to outputs, useful for refering to release in workflow steps following the step that uses this action [#60](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/60)
+- Add release `id` to outputs, useful for referring to release in workflow steps following the step that uses this action [#60](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/60)
 - Add `upload_url` as action output, useful for managing uploads separately [#75](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/75)
 - Support custom `target_commitish` value, useful to customize the default [#76](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/76)
-- fix `body_path` input first then fall back on `body` input. this was the originally documented precedence but was implemened the the opposite order! [#85](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/85)
+- fix `body_path` input first then fall back on `body` input. This was the originally documented precedence but was implemented in the opposite order! [#85](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/85)
 - Retain original release info if the keys are not set, useful for filling in blanks for a release you've already started separately [#109](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/109)
-- Limit number of times github api request to create a release is retried, useful for avoiding eating up your rate limit and action minutes do to either an invalid token or other circumstance causing the api call to fail [#111](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/111)
+- Limit number of times github api request to create a release is retried, useful for avoiding eating up your rate limit and action minutes due to either an invalid token or other circumstance causing the api call to fail [#111](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/111)
 
 ## 0.1.5
 
@@ -255,7 +329,7 @@ This is a release catch up have a hiatus. Future releases will happen more frequ
 
 - Added support for updating releases body [#36](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/36)
 - Steps can now access the url of releases with the `url` output of this Action [#28](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/28)
-- Added basic GitHub API retry support to manage API turbulance [#26](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/26)
+- Added basic GitHub API retry support to manage API turbulence [#26](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/26)
 
 ## 0.1.3
 
@@ -270,7 +344,7 @@ This is now fixed.
 
 - Add support for newline-delimited asset list [#18](https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release/pull/18)
 
-GitHub actions inputs don't inherently support lists of things and one might like to append a list of files to include in a release. Previously this was possible using a comma-delimited list of asset path patterns to upload. You can now provide these as a newline delimieted list for better readability
+GitHub actions inputs don't inherently support lists of things and one might like to append a list of files to include in a release. Previously this was possible using a comma-delimited list of asset path patterns to upload. You can now provide these as a newline delimited list for better readability
 
 ```yaml
 - name: Release

README.md

@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - name: Release
         uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v2
         if: github.ref_type == 'tag'
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - name: Release
         uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v2
 ```
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - name: Build
         run: echo ${{ github.sha }} > Release.txt
       - name: Test
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - name: Build
         run: echo ${{ github.sha }} > Release.txt
       - name: Test
@@ -139,7 +139,21 @@ jobs:
 
 > **⚠️ Note:** Notice the `|` in the yaml syntax above ☝️. That lets you effectively declare a multi-line yaml string. You can learn more about multi-line yaml syntax [here](https://yaml-multiline.info)
 
-> **⚠️ Note for Windows:** Paths must use `/` as a separator, not `\`, as `\` is used to escape characters with special meaning in the pattern; for example, instead of specifying `D:\Foo.txt`, you must specify `D:/Foo.txt`. If you're using PowerShell, you can do this with `$Path = $Path -replace '\\','/'`
+> **⚠️ Note for Windows:** Both `\` and `/` path separators are accepted in `files` globs. If you need to match a literal glob metacharacter such as `[` or `]`, keep escaping the metacharacter itself in the pattern.
+
+If your release assets are generated under a subdirectory, set `working_directory`
+and keep the `files` patterns relative to that directory.
+
+```yaml
+- name: Release
+  uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v2
+  if: github.ref_type == 'tag'
+  with:
+    working_directory: dist
+    files: |
+      Release.txt
+      checksums/*.txt
+```
 
 ### 📝 External release notes
 
@@ -157,7 +171,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - name: Generate Changelog
         run: echo "# Good things have arrived" > ${{ github.workspace }}-CHANGELOG.txt
       - name: Release
@@ -167,10 +181,26 @@ jobs:
           body_path: ${{ github.workspace }}-CHANGELOG.txt
           repository: my_gh_org/my_gh_repo
           # note you'll typically need to create a personal access token
-          # with permissions to create releases in the other repo
+          # with permissions to create releases in the other repo.
+          # A non-empty explicit token overrides GITHUB_TOKEN.
+          # Omit the input to use github.token; passing "" treats the token as unset.
           token: ${{ secrets.CUSTOM_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
 ```
 
+When you use GitHub's built-in `generate_release_notes` support, you can optionally
+pin the comparison base explicitly with `previous_tag`. This is useful when the default
+comparison range does not match the release series you want to publish.
+
+```yaml
+- name: Release
+  uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v2
+  with:
+    tag_name: stage-2026-03-15
+    target_commitish: ${{ github.sha }}
+    previous_tag: prod-2026-03-01
+    generate_release_notes: true
+```
+
 ### 💅 Customizing
 
 #### inputs
@@ -181,28 +211,47 @@ The following are optional as `step.with` keys
 | -------------------------- | ------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
 | `body`                     | String  | Text communicating notable changes in this release                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
 | `body_path`                | String  | Path to load text communicating notable changes in this release                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
-| `draft`                    | Boolean | Indicator of whether or not this release is a draft                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
+| `draft`                    | Boolean | Keep the release as a draft. Defaults to false. When reusing an existing draft release, set this to true to keep it draft; omit it to publish after upload.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
 | `prerelease`               | Boolean | Indicator of whether or not is a prerelease                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
-| `preserve_order`           | Boolean | Indicator of whether order of files should be preserved when uploading assets                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
-| `files`                    | String  | Newline-delimited globs of paths to assets to upload for release                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
+| `preserve_order`           | Boolean | Upload assets sequentially in the provided order. This controls the action's upload behavior, but it does not control the final asset ordering that GitHub may display on the release page or return from the Releases API.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
+| `files`                    | String  | Newline-delimited globs of paths to assets to upload for release. Escape glob metacharacters when you need to match a literal filename that contains them, such as `[` or `]`. `~/...` expands to the runner home directory. On Windows, both `\` and `/` separators are accepted. GitHub may normalize raw asset filenames that contain special characters; the action restores the asset label when possible, but the final download name remains GitHub-controlled. |
+| `working_directory`        | String  | Base directory to resolve `files` globs against. Use this when release assets live under a subdirectory. If omitted, the action resolves `files` from `${{ github.workspace }}`.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
 | `overwrite_files`          | Boolean | Indicator of whether files should be overwritten when they already exist. Defaults to true                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
 | `name`                     | String  | Name of the release. defaults to tag name                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
-| `tag_name`                 | String  | Name of a tag. defaults to `github.ref_name`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
+| `tag_name`                 | String  | Name of a tag. defaults to `github.ref_name`. `refs/tags/<name>` values are normalized to `<name>`.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
 | `fail_on_unmatched_files`  | Boolean | Indicator of whether to fail if any of the `files` globs match nothing                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
 | `repository`               | String  | Name of a target repository in `<owner>/<repo>` format. Defaults to GITHUB_REPOSITORY env variable                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
-| `target_commitish`         | String  | Commitish value that determines where the Git tag is created from. Can be any branch or commit SHA. Defaults to repository default branch.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
-| `token`                    | String  | Secret GitHub Personal Access Token. Defaults to `${{ github.token }}`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
+| `target_commitish`         | String  | Commitish value that determines where the Git tag is created from. Can be any branch or commit SHA. Defaults to repository default branch. When creating a new tag for an older commit, `github.token` may not have permission to create the ref; use a PAT or another token with sufficient contents permissions if you hit `403 Resource not accessible by integration`.                                                                 |
+| `token`                    | String  | Authorized GitHub token or PAT. Defaults to `${{ github.token }}` when omitted. A non-empty explicit token overrides `GITHUB_TOKEN`. Passing `""` treats the token as explicitly unset, so omit the input entirely or use an expression such as `${{ inputs.token || github.token }}` when wrapping this action in a composite action.                                                                                                                                                  |
 | `discussion_category_name` | String  | If specified, a discussion of the specified category is created and linked to the release. The value must be a category that already exists in the repository. For more information, see ["Managing categories for discussions in your repository."](https://docs.github.com/en/discussions/managing-discussions-for-your-community/managing-categories-for-discussions-in-your-repository)                                                     |
 | `generate_release_notes`   | Boolean | Whether to automatically generate the name and body for this release. If name is specified, the specified name will be used; otherwise, a name will be automatically generated. If body is specified, the body will be pre-pended to the automatically generated notes. See the [GitHub docs for this feature](https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/releasing-projects-on-github/automatically-generated-release-notes) for more information |
+| `previous_tag`             | String  | Optional. When `generate_release_notes` is enabled, use this tag as GitHub's `previous_tag_name` comparison base. If omitted, GitHub chooses the comparison base automatically.                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
 | `append_body`              | Boolean | Append to existing body instead of overwriting it                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
 | `make_latest`              | String  | Specifies whether this release should be set as the latest release for the repository. Drafts and prereleases cannot be set as latest. Can be `true`, `false`, or `legacy`. Uses GitHub api defaults if not provided                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
 
 💡 When providing a `body` and `body_path` at the same time, `body_path` will be
 attempted first, then falling back on `body` if the path can not be read from.
 
-💡 When the release info keys (such as `name`, `body`, `draft`, `prerelease`, etc.)
-are not explicitly set and there is already an existing release for the tag, the
-release will retain its original info.
+💡 When the release info keys (such as `name`, `body`, `prerelease`, etc.) are not
+explicitly set and there is already an existing release for the tag, the release
+will retain its original info.
+
+💡 Draft status is handled separately during finalization. If the action reuses an
+existing draft release, set `draft: true` to keep it draft; if `draft` is omitted,
+the action will publish that draft after uploading assets.
+
+💡 When the action creates a new release that uploads assets, it stages the release
+as a draft first, uploads the assets, and then publishes it unless `draft: true`
+keeps it as a draft. This keeps new prereleases compatible with GitHub immutable
+releases.
+
+💡 `files` is glob-based, so literal filenames that contain glob metacharacters such as
+`[` or `]` must be escaped in the pattern.
+
+💡 GitHub may normalize or rewrite uploaded asset filenames that contain special or
+non-ASCII characters. This action uploads the requested file, but it cannot force the
+final asset name that GitHub stores or returns from the Releases API. In particular,
+4-byte Unicode characters such as emoji cannot currently be restored via asset labels.
 
 #### outputs
 
@@ -213,7 +262,7 @@ The following outputs can be accessed via `${{ steps.<step-id>.outputs }}` from
 | `url`        | String | Github.com URL for the release                                                                                                                                                            |
 | `id`         | String | Release ID                                                                                                                                                                                |
 | `upload_url` | String | URL for uploading assets to the release                                                                                                                                                   |
-| `assets`     | String | JSON array containing information about each uploaded asset, in the format given [here](https://docs.github.com/en/rest/releases/assets#get-a-release-asset) (minus the `uploader` field) |
+| `assets`     | String | JSON array containing information about each updated (newly uploaded or overwritten) asset, in the format given [here](https://docs.github.com/en/rest/releases/assets#get-a-release-asset) (minus the `uploader` field) |
 
 As an example, you can use `${{ fromJSON(steps.<step-id>.outputs.assets)[0].browser_download_url }}` to get the download URL of the first asset.
 

RELEASE.md

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+# Release Workflow
+
+Use this checklist when cutting a new `action-gh-release` release.
+
+## Inputs
+
+- Decide the semantic version bump first: `major`, `minor`, or `patch`.
+- Review recent merged PRs and labels before drafting the changelog entry.
+- Make sure `master` is current and the worktree is clean before starting.
+
+## Checklist
+
+1. Update [package.json](package.json) to the new version.
+2. Add the new entry at the top of [CHANGELOG.md](CHANGELOG.md).
+   - Summarize the release in 1 short paragraph.
+   - Prefer user-facing fixes and features over internal churn.
+   - Keep the merged PR list aligned with `.github/release.yml` categories.
+3. Run `npm i` to refresh [package-lock.json](package-lock.json).
+4. Run the full local verification set:
+   - `npm run fmtcheck`
+   - `npm run typecheck`
+   - `npm run build`
+   - `npm test`
+5. Commit the release prep.
+   - Use a plain release commit message like `release 2.5.4`.
+6. Create the annotated tag for the release commit.
+   - Example: `git tag -a v2.5.4 -m "v2.5.4"`
+7. Push the commit and tag.
+   - Example: `git push origin master && git push origin v2.5.4`
+8. Move the floating major tag to the new release tag.
+   - For the current major line, either run `npm run updatetag` or update the script first if the major ever changes.
+   - Verify the floating tag points at the same commit as the new full tag.
+9. Create the GitHub release from the new tag.
+   - Prefer the release body from [CHANGELOG.md](CHANGELOG.md), then let GitHub append generated notes only if they add value.
+   - Verify the release shows the expected tag, title, notes, and attached artifacts.
+
+## Notes
+
+- Behavior changes should already have matching updates in [README.md](README.md), [action.yml](action.yml), tests, and `dist/index.js` before release prep begins.
+- Docs-only releases still need an intentional changelog entry and version bump decision.
+- If a release is mainly bug fixes, keep the title and summary patch-oriented; do not bury the actual fixes under dependency noise.

__tests__/util.test.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 import {
   alignAssetName,
+  expandHomePattern,
   isTag,
+  normalizeFilePattern,
+  normalizeGlobPattern,
+  normalizeTagName,
   parseConfig,
   parseInputFiles,
   paths,
@@ -170,6 +174,29 @@ describe('util', () => {
     });
   });
   describe('parseConfig', () => {
+    const baseParsedConfig = {
+      github_ref: '',
+      github_repository: '',
+      github_token: '',
+      input_working_directory: undefined,
+      input_append_body: false,
+      input_body: undefined,
+      input_body_path: undefined,
+      input_draft: undefined,
+      input_prerelease: undefined,
+      input_preserve_order: undefined,
+      input_files: [],
+      input_overwrite_files: undefined,
+      input_name: undefined,
+      input_tag_name: undefined,
+      input_fail_on_unmatched_files: false,
+      input_target_commitish: undefined,
+      input_discussion_category_name: undefined,
+      input_generate_release_notes: false,
+      input_previous_tag: undefined,
+      input_make_latest: undefined,
+    };
+
     it('parses basic config', () => {
       assert.deepStrictEqual(
         parseConfig({
@@ -182,27 +209,7 @@ describe('util', () => {
           INPUT_TARGET_COMMITISH: '',
           INPUT_DISCUSSION_CATEGORY_NAME: '',
         }),
-        {
-          github_ref: '',
-          github_repository: '',
-          github_token: '',
-          input_working_directory: undefined,
-          input_append_body: false,
-          input_body: undefined,
-          input_body_path: undefined,
-          input_draft: undefined,
-          input_prerelease: undefined,
-          input_preserve_order: undefined,
-          input_files: [],
-          input_overwrite_files: undefined,
-          input_name: undefined,
-          input_tag_name: undefined,
-          input_fail_on_unmatched_files: false,
-          input_target_commitish: undefined,
-          input_discussion_category_name: undefined,
-          input_generate_release_notes: false,
-          input_make_latest: undefined,
-        },
+        baseParsedConfig,
       );
     });
 
@@ -212,25 +219,8 @@ describe('util', () => {
           INPUT_TARGET_COMMITISH: 'affa18ef97bc9db20076945705aba8c516139abd',
         }),
         {
-          github_ref: '',
-          github_repository: '',
-          github_token: '',
-          input_working_directory: undefined,
-          input_append_body: false,
-          input_body: undefined,
-          input_body_path: undefined,
-          input_draft: undefined,
-          input_prerelease: undefined,
-          input_files: [],
-          input_overwrite_files: undefined,
-          input_preserve_order: undefined,
-          input_name: undefined,
-          input_tag_name: undefined,
-          input_fail_on_unmatched_files: false,
+          ...baseParsedConfig,
           input_target_commitish: 'affa18ef97bc9db20076945705aba8c516139abd',
-          input_discussion_category_name: undefined,
-          input_generate_release_notes: false,
-          input_make_latest: undefined,
         },
       );
     });
@@ -240,25 +230,8 @@ describe('util', () => {
           INPUT_DISCUSSION_CATEGORY_NAME: 'releases',
         }),
         {
-          github_ref: '',
-          github_repository: '',
-          github_token: '',
-          input_working_directory: undefined,
-          input_append_body: false,
-          input_body: undefined,
-          input_body_path: undefined,
-          input_draft: undefined,
-          input_prerelease: undefined,
-          input_files: [],
-          input_preserve_order: undefined,
-          input_name: undefined,
-          input_overwrite_files: undefined,
-          input_tag_name: undefined,
-          input_fail_on_unmatched_files: false,
-          input_target_commitish: undefined,
+          ...baseParsedConfig,
           input_discussion_category_name: 'releases',
-          input_generate_release_notes: false,
-          input_make_latest: undefined,
         },
       );
     });
@@ -269,30 +242,25 @@ describe('util', () => {
           INPUT_GENERATE_RELEASE_NOTES: 'true',
         }),
         {
-          github_ref: '',
-          github_repository: '',
-          github_token: '',
-          input_working_directory: undefined,
-          input_append_body: false,
-          input_body: undefined,
-          input_body_path: undefined,
-          input_draft: undefined,
-          input_prerelease: undefined,
-          input_preserve_order: undefined,
-          input_files: [],
-          input_overwrite_files: undefined,
-          input_name: undefined,
-          input_tag_name: undefined,
-          input_fail_on_unmatched_files: false,
-          input_target_commitish: undefined,
-          input_discussion_category_name: undefined,
+          ...baseParsedConfig,
           input_generate_release_notes: true,
-          input_make_latest: undefined,
         },
       );
     });
 
-    it('prefers GITHUB_TOKEN over token input for backwards compatibility', () => {
+    it('supports an explicit previous tag for release notes generation', () => {
+      assert.deepStrictEqual(
+        parseConfig({
+          INPUT_PREVIOUS_TAG: '  v1.2.3  ',
+        }),
+        {
+          ...baseParsedConfig,
+          input_previous_tag: 'v1.2.3',
+        },
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('prefers token input over GITHUB_TOKEN', () => {
       assert.deepStrictEqual(
         parseConfig({
           INPUT_DRAFT: 'false',
@@ -302,25 +270,23 @@ describe('util', () => {
           INPUT_TOKEN: 'input-token',
         }),
         {
-          github_ref: '',
-          github_repository: '',
-          github_token: 'env-token',
-          input_working_directory: undefined,
-          input_append_body: false,
-          input_body: undefined,
-          input_body_path: undefined,
+          ...baseParsedConfig,
+          github_token: 'input-token',
           input_draft: false,
           input_prerelease: true,
           input_preserve_order: true,
-          input_files: [],
-          input_overwrite_files: undefined,
-          input_name: undefined,
-          input_tag_name: undefined,
-          input_fail_on_unmatched_files: false,
-          input_target_commitish: undefined,
-          input_discussion_category_name: undefined,
-          input_generate_release_notes: false,
-          input_make_latest: undefined,
+        },
+      );
+    });
+    it('falls back to GITHUB_TOKEN when token input is empty', () => {
+      assert.deepStrictEqual(
+        parseConfig({
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: 'env-token',
+          INPUT_TOKEN: '   ',
+        }),
+        {
+          ...baseParsedConfig,
+          github_token: 'env-token',
         },
       );
     });
@@ -332,25 +298,10 @@ describe('util', () => {
           INPUT_TOKEN: 'input-token',
         }),
         {
-          github_ref: '',
-          github_repository: '',
+          ...baseParsedConfig,
           github_token: 'input-token',
-          input_working_directory: undefined,
-          input_append_body: false,
-          input_body: undefined,
-          input_body_path: undefined,
           input_draft: false,
           input_prerelease: true,
-          input_preserve_order: undefined,
-          input_files: [],
-          input_overwrite_files: undefined,
-          input_name: undefined,
-          input_tag_name: undefined,
-          input_fail_on_unmatched_files: false,
-          input_target_commitish: undefined,
-          input_discussion_category_name: undefined,
-          input_generate_release_notes: false,
-          input_make_latest: undefined,
         },
       );
     });
@@ -361,25 +312,9 @@ describe('util', () => {
           INPUT_PRERELEASE: 'true',
         }),
         {
-          github_ref: '',
-          github_repository: '',
-          github_token: '',
-          input_working_directory: undefined,
-          input_append_body: false,
-          input_body: undefined,
-          input_body_path: undefined,
+          ...baseParsedConfig,
           input_draft: false,
           input_prerelease: true,
-          input_preserve_order: undefined,
-          input_files: [],
-          input_overwrite_files: undefined,
-          input_name: undefined,
-          input_tag_name: undefined,
-          input_fail_on_unmatched_files: false,
-          input_target_commitish: undefined,
-          input_discussion_category_name: undefined,
-          input_generate_release_notes: false,
-          input_make_latest: undefined,
         },
       );
     });
@@ -389,24 +324,7 @@ describe('util', () => {
           INPUT_MAKE_LATEST: 'false',
         }),
         {
-          github_ref: '',
-          github_repository: '',
-          github_token: '',
-          input_working_directory: undefined,
-          input_append_body: false,
-          input_body: undefined,
-          input_body_path: undefined,
-          input_draft: undefined,
-          input_prerelease: undefined,
-          input_preserve_order: undefined,
-          input_files: [],
-          input_name: undefined,
-          input_overwrite_files: undefined,
-          input_tag_name: undefined,
-          input_fail_on_unmatched_files: false,
-          input_target_commitish: undefined,
-          input_discussion_category_name: undefined,
-          input_generate_release_notes: false,
+          ...baseParsedConfig,
           input_make_latest: 'false',
         },
       );
@@ -417,28 +335,15 @@ describe('util', () => {
           INPUT_APPEND_BODY: 'true',
         }),
         {
-          github_ref: '',
-          github_repository: '',
-          github_token: '',
-          input_working_directory: undefined,
+          ...baseParsedConfig,
           input_append_body: true,
-          input_body: undefined,
-          input_body_path: undefined,
-          input_draft: undefined,
-          input_prerelease: undefined,
-          input_preserve_order: undefined,
-          input_files: [],
-          input_overwrite_files: undefined,
-          input_name: undefined,
-          input_tag_name: undefined,
-          input_fail_on_unmatched_files: false,
-          input_target_commitish: undefined,
-          input_discussion_category_name: undefined,
-          input_generate_release_notes: false,
-          input_make_latest: undefined,
         },
       );
     });
+
+    it('normalizes refs/tags-prefixed input_tag_name values', () => {
+      expect(parseConfig({ INPUT_TAG_NAME: 'refs/tags/v1.2.3' }).input_tag_name).toBe('v1.2.3');
+    });
   });
   describe('isTag', () => {
     it('returns true for tags', async () => {
@@ -449,6 +354,16 @@ describe('util', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe('normalizeTagName', () => {
+    it('strips refs/tags/ from explicit tag names', () => {
+      assert.equal(normalizeTagName('refs/tags/v1.2.3'), 'v1.2.3');
+    });
+
+    it('leaves plain tag names unchanged', () => {
+      assert.equal(normalizeTagName('v1.2.3'), 'v1.2.3');
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('paths', () => {
     it('resolves files given a set of paths', async () => {
       assert.deepStrictEqual(paths(['tests/data/**/*', 'tests/data/does/not/exist/*']), [
@@ -476,6 +391,56 @@ describe('util', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe('normalizeGlobPattern', () => {
+    it('preserves posix-style patterns on non-windows platforms', () => {
+      assert.equal(normalizeGlobPattern('./dist/**/*.tgz', 'linux'), './dist/**/*.tgz');
+    });
+
+    it('normalizes relative windows-style glob patterns', () => {
+      assert.equal(
+        normalizeGlobPattern('.\\release-assets\\rssguard-*win7.exe', 'win32'),
+        './release-assets/rssguard-*win7.exe',
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('normalizes absolute windows-style glob patterns', () => {
+      assert.equal(
+        normalizeGlobPattern('D:\\a\\repo\\build\\packages\\*', 'win32'),
+        'D:/a/repo/build/packages/*',
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('expandHomePattern', () => {
+    it('expands a bare tilde to the provided home directory', () => {
+      assert.equal(expandHomePattern('~', '/home/runner'), '/home/runner');
+    });
+
+    it('expands posix-style tilde paths', () => {
+      assert.equal(expandHomePattern('~/release.txt', '/home/runner'), '/home/runner/release.txt');
+    });
+
+    it('leaves non-tilde paths unchanged', () => {
+      assert.equal(expandHomePattern('./release.txt', '/home/runner'), './release.txt');
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('normalizeFilePattern', () => {
+    it('expands tilde paths before globbing', () => {
+      assert.equal(
+        normalizeFilePattern('~/release-assets/*.tgz', 'linux', '/home/runner'),
+        '/home/runner/release-assets/*.tgz',
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('expands tilde paths and normalizes windows separators', () => {
+      assert.equal(
+        normalizeFilePattern('~\\release-assets\\*.zip', 'win32', 'C:\\Users\\runner'),
+        'C:/Users/runner/release-assets/*.zip',
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('replaceSpacesWithDots', () => {
     it('replaces all spaces with dots', () => {
       expect(alignAssetName('John Doe.bla')).toBe('John.Doe.bla');

action.yml

@@ -13,22 +13,22 @@ inputs:
     description: "Gives the release a custom name. Defaults to tag name"
     required: false
   tag_name:
-    description: "Gives a tag name. Defaults to github.ref_name"
+    description: "Gives a tag name. Defaults to github.ref_name. refs/tags/<name> values are normalized to <name>."
     required: false
   draft:
-    description: "Creates a draft release. Defaults to false"
+    description: "Keeps the release as a draft. Defaults to false. New releases that upload assets are staged as drafts first; set this to true to keep the release draft instead of publishing it after upload."
     required: false
   prerelease:
     description: "Identify the release as a prerelease. Defaults to false"
     required: false
   preserve_order:
-    description: "Preserver the order of the artifacts when uploading"
+    description: "Upload artifacts sequentially in the provided order. This does not control the final display order GitHub uses for release assets."
     required: false
   files:
-    description: "Newline-delimited list of path globs for asset files to upload"
+    description: "Newline-delimited list of path globs for asset files to upload. Escape glob metacharacters when matching literal filenames that contain them. `~/...` expands to the runner home directory. On Windows, both \\ and / path separators are accepted. GitHub may normalize raw asset filenames that contain special characters; the action restores the asset label when possible, but the final download name remains GitHub-controlled."
     required: false
   working_directory:
-    description: "Base directory to resolve 'files' globs against (defaults to job working-directory)"
+    description: "Base directory to resolve 'files' globs against. Defaults to the workspace root used by the action step."
     required: false
   overwrite_files:
     description: "Overwrite existing files with the same name. Defaults to true"
@@ -41,11 +41,11 @@ inputs:
     description: "Repository to make releases against, in <owner>/<repo> format"
     required: false
   token:
-    description: "Authorized secret GitHub Personal Access Token. Defaults to github.token"
+    description: "Authorized GitHub token or PAT. Defaults to github.token when omitted. A non-empty explicit token overrides GITHUB_TOKEN. Passing an empty string treats the token as unset."
     required: false
     default: ${{ github.token }}
   target_commitish:
-    description: "Commitish value that determines where the Git tag is created from. Can be any branch or commit SHA."
+    description: "Commitish value that determines where the Git tag is created from. Can be any branch or commit SHA. When creating a new tag for an older commit, `github.token` may not have permission to create the ref; use a PAT or another token with sufficient contents permissions if you hit 403 `Resource not accessible by integration`."
     required: false
   discussion_category_name:
     description: "If specified, a discussion of the specified category is created and linked to the release. The value must be a category that already exists in the repository. If there is already a discussion linked to the release, this parameter is ignored."
@@ -53,6 +53,10 @@ inputs:
   generate_release_notes:
     description: "Whether to automatically generate the name and body for this release. If name is specified, the specified name will be used; otherwise, a name will be automatically generated. If body is specified, the body will be pre-pended to the automatically generated notes."
     required: false
+  previous_tag:
+    description: "Optional. When generate_release_notes is enabled, use this tag as GitHub's previous_tag_name comparison base. If omitted, GitHub chooses the comparison base automatically."
+    required: false
+    default: ""
   append_body:
     description: "Append to existing body instead of overwriting it. Default is false."
     required: false

package.json

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "action-gh-release",
-  "version": "2.4.2",
+  "version": "2.5.3",
   "private": true,
   "description": "GitHub Action for creating GitHub Releases",
   "main": "lib/main.js",
   "scripts": {
-    "build": "ncc build src/main.ts --minify --target es2022",
-    "build-debug": "ncc build src/main.ts --v8-cache --source-map",
+    "build": "esbuild src/main.ts --bundle --platform=node --format=cjs --target=node20 --outfile=dist/index.js --minify",
+    "build-debug": "esbuild src/main.ts --bundle --platform=node --format=cjs --target=node20 --outfile=dist/index.js --sourcemap --keep-names",
     "typecheck": "tsc --noEmit",
     "test": "vitest --coverage",
     "fmt": "prettier --write \"src/**/*.ts\" \"__tests__/**/*.ts\"",
@@ -22,20 +22,20 @@
   ],
   "author": "softprops",
   "dependencies": {
-    "@actions/core": "^1.11.1",
-    "@actions/github": "^6.0.1",
-    "@octokit/plugin-retry": "^8.0.3",
+    "@actions/core": "^3.0.0",
+    "@actions/github": "^9.0.0",
+    "@octokit/plugin-retry": "^8.1.0",
     "@octokit/plugin-throttling": "^11.0.3",
-    "glob": "^11.0.3",
-    "mime-types": "^3.0.1"
+    "glob": "^13.0.6",
+    "mime-types": "^3.0.2"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@types/glob": "^9.0.0",
     "@types/mime-types": "^3.0.1",
-    "@types/node": "^20.19.24",
-    "@vercel/ncc": "^0.38.4",
-    "@vitest/coverage-v8": "^4.0.6",
-    "prettier": "3.6.2",
+    "@types/node": "^20.19.37",
+    "@vitest/coverage-v8": "^4.1.0",
+    "esbuild": "^0.27.3",
+    "prettier": "3.8.1",
     "ts-node": "^10.9.2",
     "typescript": "^5.9.3",
     "typescript-formatter": "^7.2.2",

src/github.ts

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { statSync } from 'fs';
 import { open } from 'fs/promises';
 import { lookup } from 'mime-types';
 import { basename } from 'path';
-import { alignAssetName, Config, isTag, releaseBody } from './util';
+import { alignAssetName, Config, isTag, normalizeTagName, releaseBody } from './util';
 
 type GitHub = InstanceType<typeof GitHub>;
 
@@ -23,42 +23,83 @@ export interface Release {
   target_commitish: string;
   draft: boolean;
   prerelease: boolean;
-  assets: Array<{ id: number; name: string }>;
+  assets: Array<{ id: number; name: string; label?: string | null }>;
 }
 
+export interface ReleaseResult {
+  release: Release;
+  created: boolean;
+}
+
+type ReleaseNotesParams = {
+  owner: string;
+  repo: string;
+  tag_name: string;
+  target_commitish: string | undefined;
+  previous_tag_name?: string;
+};
+
+type ReleaseMutationParams = {
+  owner: string;
+  repo: string;
+  tag_name: string;
+  name: string;
+  body: string | undefined;
+  draft: boolean | undefined;
+  prerelease: boolean | undefined;
+  target_commitish: string | undefined;
+  discussion_category_name: string | undefined;
+  generate_release_notes: boolean | undefined;
+  make_latest: 'true' | 'false' | 'legacy' | undefined;
+  previous_tag_name?: string;
+};
+
 export interface Releaser {
   getReleaseByTag(params: { owner: string; repo: string; tag: string }): Promise<{ data: Release }>;
 
-  createRelease(params: {
-    owner: string;
-    repo: string;
-    tag_name: string;
-    name: string;
-    body: string | undefined;
-    draft: boolean | undefined;
-    prerelease: boolean | undefined;
-    target_commitish: string | undefined;
-    discussion_category_name: string | undefined;
-    generate_release_notes: boolean | undefined;
-    make_latest: 'true' | 'false' | 'legacy' | undefined;
-  }): Promise<{ data: Release }>;
+  createRelease(params: ReleaseMutationParams): Promise<{ data: Release }>;
 
-  updateRelease(params: {
+  updateRelease(
+    params: ReleaseMutationParams & {
+      release_id: number;
+      target_commitish: string;
+    },
+  ): Promise<{ data: Release }>;
+
+  finalizeRelease(params: {
     owner: string;
     repo: string;
     release_id: number;
-    tag_name: string;
-    target_commitish: string;
-    name: string;
-    body: string | undefined;
-    draft: boolean | undefined;
-    prerelease: boolean | undefined;
-    discussion_category_name: string | undefined;
-    generate_release_notes: boolean | undefined;
     make_latest: 'true' | 'false' | 'legacy' | undefined;
   }): Promise<{ data: Release }>;
 
-  allReleases(params: { owner: string; repo: string }): AsyncIterableIterator<{ data: Release[] }>;
+  allReleases(params: { owner: string; repo: string }): AsyncIterable<{ data: Release[] }>;
+
+  listReleaseAssets(params: {
+    owner: string;
+    repo: string;
+    release_id: number;
+  }): Promise<Array<{ id: number; name: string; label?: string | null; [key: string]: any }>>;
+
+  deleteReleaseAsset(params: { owner: string; repo: string; asset_id: number }): Promise<void>;
+
+  deleteRelease(params: { owner: string; repo: string; release_id: number }): Promise<void>;
+
+  updateReleaseAsset(params: {
+    owner: string;
+    repo: string;
+    asset_id: number;
+    name: string;
+    label: string;
+  }): Promise<{ data: any }>;
+
+  uploadReleaseAsset(params: {
+    url: string;
+    size: number;
+    mime: string;
+    token: string;
+    data: any;
+  }): Promise<{ status: number; data: any }>;
 }
 
 export class GitHubReleaser implements Releaser {
@@ -75,12 +116,7 @@ export class GitHubReleaser implements Releaser {
     return this.github.rest.repos.getReleaseByTag(params);
   }
 
-  async getReleaseNotes(params: {
-    owner: string;
-    repo: string;
-    tag_name: string;
-    target_commitish: string | undefined;
-  }): Promise<{
+  async getReleaseNotes(params: ReleaseNotesParams): Promise<{
     data: {
       name: string;
       body: string;
@@ -89,83 +125,130 @@ export class GitHubReleaser implements Releaser {
     return await this.github.rest.repos.generateReleaseNotes(params);
   }
 
+  private async prepareReleaseMutation<T extends ReleaseMutationParams>(
+    params: T,
+  ): Promise<Omit<T, 'previous_tag_name'>> {
+    const { previous_tag_name, ...releaseParams } = params;
+
+    if (
+      typeof releaseParams.make_latest === 'string' &&
+      !['true', 'false', 'legacy'].includes(releaseParams.make_latest)
+    ) {
+      releaseParams.make_latest = undefined;
+    }
+    if (releaseParams.generate_release_notes) {
+      const releaseNotes = await this.getReleaseNotes({
+        owner: releaseParams.owner,
+        repo: releaseParams.repo,
+        tag_name: releaseParams.tag_name,
+        target_commitish: releaseParams.target_commitish,
+        previous_tag_name,
+      });
+      releaseParams.generate_release_notes = false;
+      if (releaseParams.body) {
+        releaseParams.body = `${releaseParams.body}\n\n${releaseNotes.data.body}`;
+      } else {
+        releaseParams.body = releaseNotes.data.body;
+      }
+    }
+    releaseParams.body = releaseParams.body
+      ? this.truncateReleaseNotes(releaseParams.body)
+      : undefined;
+    return releaseParams;
+  }
+
   truncateReleaseNotes(input: string): string {
     // release notes can be a maximum of 125000 characters
     const githubNotesMaxCharLength = 125000;
     return input.substring(0, githubNotesMaxCharLength - 1);
   }
 
-  async createRelease(params: {
-    owner: string;
-    repo: string;
-    tag_name: string;
-    name: string;
-    body: string | undefined;
-    draft: boolean | undefined;
-    prerelease: boolean | undefined;
-    target_commitish: string | undefined;
-    discussion_category_name: string | undefined;
-    generate_release_notes: boolean | undefined;
-    make_latest: 'true' | 'false' | 'legacy' | undefined;
-  }): Promise<{ data: Release }> {
-    if (
-      typeof params.make_latest === 'string' &&
-      !['true', 'false', 'legacy'].includes(params.make_latest)
-    ) {
-      params.make_latest = undefined;
-    }
-    if (params.generate_release_notes) {
-      const releaseNotes = await this.getReleaseNotes(params);
-      params.generate_release_notes = false;
-      if (params.body) {
-        params.body = `${params.body}\n\n${releaseNotes.data.body}`;
-      } else {
-        params.body = releaseNotes.data.body;
-      }
-    }
-    params.body = params.body ? this.truncateReleaseNotes(params.body) : undefined;
-    return this.github.rest.repos.createRelease(params);
+  async createRelease(params: ReleaseMutationParams): Promise<{ data: Release }> {
+    return this.github.rest.repos.createRelease(await this.prepareReleaseMutation(params));
   }
 
-  async updateRelease(params: {
+  async updateRelease(
+    params: ReleaseMutationParams & {
+      release_id: number;
+      target_commitish: string;
+    },
+  ): Promise<{ data: Release }> {
+    return this.github.rest.repos.updateRelease(await this.prepareReleaseMutation(params));
+  }
+
+  async finalizeRelease(params: {
     owner: string;
     repo: string;
     release_id: number;
-    tag_name: string;
-    target_commitish: string;
-    name: string;
-    body: string | undefined;
-    draft: boolean | undefined;
-    prerelease: boolean | undefined;
-    discussion_category_name: string | undefined;
-    generate_release_notes: boolean | undefined;
     make_latest: 'true' | 'false' | 'legacy' | undefined;
-  }): Promise<{ data: Release }> {
-    if (
-      typeof params.make_latest === 'string' &&
-      !['true', 'false', 'legacy'].includes(params.make_latest)
-    ) {
-      params.make_latest = undefined;
-    }
-    if (params.generate_release_notes) {
-      const releaseNotes = await this.getReleaseNotes(params);
-      params.generate_release_notes = false;
-      if (params.body) {
-        params.body = `${params.body}\n\n${releaseNotes.data.body}`;
-      } else {
-        params.body = releaseNotes.data.body;
-      }
-    }
-    params.body = params.body ? this.truncateReleaseNotes(params.body) : undefined;
-    return this.github.rest.repos.updateRelease(params);
+  }) {
+    return await this.github.rest.repos.updateRelease({
+      owner: params.owner,
+      repo: params.repo,
+      release_id: params.release_id,
+      draft: false,
+      make_latest: params.make_latest,
+    });
   }
 
-  allReleases(params: { owner: string; repo: string }): AsyncIterableIterator<{ data: Release[] }> {
+  allReleases(params: { owner: string; repo: string }): AsyncIterable<{ data: Release[] }> {
     const updatedParams = { per_page: 100, ...params };
     return this.github.paginate.iterator(
       this.github.rest.repos.listReleases.endpoint.merge(updatedParams),
     );
   }
+
+  async listReleaseAssets(params: {
+    owner: string;
+    repo: string;
+    release_id: number;
+  }): Promise<Array<{ id: number; name: string; label?: string | null; [key: string]: any }>> {
+    return this.github.paginate(this.github.rest.repos.listReleaseAssets, {
+      ...params,
+      per_page: 100,
+    });
+  }
+
+  async deleteReleaseAsset(params: {
+    owner: string;
+    repo: string;
+    asset_id: number;
+  }): Promise<void> {
+    await this.github.rest.repos.deleteReleaseAsset(params);
+  }
+
+  async deleteRelease(params: { owner: string; repo: string; release_id: number }): Promise<void> {
+    await this.github.rest.repos.deleteRelease(params);
+  }
+
+  async updateReleaseAsset(params: {
+    owner: string;
+    repo: string;
+    asset_id: number;
+    name: string;
+    label: string;
+  }): Promise<{ data: any }> {
+    return await this.github.rest.repos.updateReleaseAsset(params);
+  }
+
+  async uploadReleaseAsset(params: {
+    url: string;
+    size: number;
+    mime: string;
+    token: string;
+    data: any;
+  }): Promise<{ status: number; data: any }> {
+    return this.github.request({
+      method: 'POST',
+      url: params.url,
+      headers: {
+        'content-length': `${params.size}`,
+        'content-type': params.mime,
+        authorization: `token ${params.token}`,
+      },
+      data: params.data,
+    });
+  }
 }
 
 export const asset = (path: string): ReleaseAsset => {
@@ -180,20 +263,41 @@ export const mimeOrDefault = (path: string): string => {
   return lookup(path) || 'application/octet-stream';
 };
 
+const releaseAssetMatchesName = (
+  name: string,
+  asset: { name: string; label?: string | null },
+): boolean => asset.name === name || asset.name === alignAssetName(name) || asset.label === name;
+
+const isReleaseAssetUpdateNotFound = (error: any): boolean => {
+  const errorStatus = error?.status ?? error?.response?.status;
+  const requestUrl = error?.request?.url;
+  const errorMessage = error?.message;
+  const isReleaseAssetRequest =
+    typeof requestUrl === 'string' &&
+    (/\/releases\/assets\//.test(requestUrl) || /\/releases\/\d+\/assets(?:\?|$)/.test(requestUrl));
+
+  return (
+    errorStatus === 404 &&
+    (isReleaseAssetRequest ||
+      (typeof errorMessage === 'string' && errorMessage.includes('update-a-release-asset')))
+  );
+};
+
 export const upload = async (
   config: Config,
-  github: GitHub,
+  releaser: Releaser,
   url: string,
   path: string,
-  currentAssets: Array<{ id: number; name: string }>,
+  currentAssets: Array<{ id: number; name: string; label?: string | null }>,
 ): Promise<any> => {
   const [owner, repo] = config.github_repository.split('/');
   const { name, mime, size } = asset(path);
+  const releaseIdMatch = url.match(/\/releases\/(\d+)\/assets/);
+  const releaseId = releaseIdMatch ? Number(releaseIdMatch[1]) : undefined;
   const currentAsset = currentAssets.find(
-    // note: GitHub renames asset filenames that have special characters, non-alphanumeric characters, and leading or trailing periods. The "List release assets" endpoint lists the renamed filenames.
-    // due to this renaming we need to be mindful when we compare the file name we're uploading with a name github may already have rewritten for logical comparison
-    // see https://docs.github.com/en/rest/releases/assets?apiVersion=2022-11-28#upload-a-release-asset
-    ({ name: currentName }) => currentName == alignAssetName(name),
+    // GitHub can rewrite uploaded asset names, so compare against both the raw name
+    // GitHub returns and the restored label we set when available.
+    (currentAsset) => releaseAssetMatchesName(name, currentAsset),
   );
   if (currentAsset) {
     if (config.input_overwrite_files === false) {
@@ -201,7 +305,7 @@ export const upload = async (
       return null;
     } else {
       console.log(`♻️ Deleting previously uploaded asset ${name}...`);
-      await github.rest.repos.deleteReleaseAsset({
+      await releaser.deleteReleaseAsset({
         asset_id: currentAsset.id || 1,
         owner,
         repo,
@@ -211,18 +315,95 @@ export const upload = async (
   console.log(`⬆️ Uploading ${name}...`);
   const endpoint = new URL(url);
   endpoint.searchParams.append('name', name);
-  const fh = await open(path);
-  try {
-    const resp = await github.request({
-      method: 'POST',
-      url: endpoint.toString(),
-      headers: {
-        'content-length': `${size}`,
-        'content-type': mime,
-        authorization: `token ${config.github_token}`,
-      },
-      data: fh.readableWebStream({ type: 'bytes' }),
-    });
+  const findReleaseAsset = async (
+    matches: (asset: { id: number; name: string; label?: string | null }) => boolean,
+    attempts: number = 3,
+  ) => {
+    if (releaseId === undefined) {
+      return undefined;
+    }
+
+    for (let attempt = 1; attempt <= attempts; attempt++) {
+      const latestAssets = await releaser.listReleaseAssets({
+        owner,
+        repo,
+        release_id: releaseId,
+      });
+      const latestAsset = latestAssets.find(matches);
+      if (latestAsset) {
+        return latestAsset;
+      }
+
+      if (attempt < attempts) {
+        await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 1000));
+      }
+    }
+
+    return undefined;
+  };
+  const uploadAsset = async () => {
+    const fh = await open(path);
+    try {
+      return await releaser.uploadReleaseAsset({
+        url: endpoint.toString(),
+        size,
+        mime,
+        token: config.github_token,
+        data: fh.readableWebStream({ type: 'bytes' }),
+      });
+    } finally {
+      await fh.close();
+    }
+  };
+
+  const maybeRestoreAssetLabel = async (uploadedAsset: {
+    id?: number;
+    name?: string;
+    label?: string | null;
+    [key: string]: any;
+  }) => {
+    if (!uploadedAsset.name || uploadedAsset.name === name || !uploadedAsset.id) {
+      return uploadedAsset;
+    }
+
+    console.log(`✏️ Restoring asset label to ${name}...`);
+
+    const updateAssetLabel = async (assetId: number) => {
+      const { data } = await releaser.updateReleaseAsset({
+        owner,
+        repo,
+        asset_id: assetId,
+        name: uploadedAsset.name!,
+        label: name,
+      });
+      return data;
+    };
+
+    try {
+      return await updateAssetLabel(uploadedAsset.id);
+    } catch (error: any) {
+      const errorStatus = error?.status ?? error?.response?.status;
+
+      if (errorStatus === 404 && releaseId !== undefined) {
+        try {
+          const latestAsset = await findReleaseAsset(
+            (currentAsset) =>
+              currentAsset.id === uploadedAsset.id || currentAsset.name === uploadedAsset.name,
+          );
+          if (latestAsset) {
+            return await updateAssetLabel(latestAsset.id);
+          }
+        } catch (refreshError) {
+          console.warn(`error refreshing release assets for ${name}: ${refreshError}`);
+        }
+      }
+
+      console.warn(`error updating release asset label for ${name}: ${error}`);
+      return uploadedAsset;
+    }
+  };
+
+  const handleUploadedAsset = async (resp: { status: number; data: any }) => {
     const json = resp.data;
     if (resp.status !== 201) {
       throw new Error(
@@ -231,10 +412,64 @@ export const upload = async (
         }\n${json.message}\n${JSON.stringify(json.errors)}`,
       );
     }
+    const assetWithLabel = await maybeRestoreAssetLabel(json);
     console.log(`✅ Uploaded ${name}`);
-    return json;
-  } finally {
-    await fh.close();
+    return assetWithLabel;
+  };
+
+  try {
+    return await handleUploadedAsset(await uploadAsset());
+  } catch (error: any) {
+    const errorStatus = error?.status ?? error?.response?.status;
+    const errorData = error?.response?.data;
+
+    if (releaseId !== undefined && isReleaseAssetUpdateNotFound(error)) {
+      try {
+        const latestAsset = await findReleaseAsset((currentAsset) =>
+          releaseAssetMatchesName(name, currentAsset),
+        );
+        if (latestAsset) {
+          console.warn(
+            `error updating release asset metadata for ${name}: ${error}. Matching asset is present after refresh; continuing...`,
+          );
+          return latestAsset;
+        }
+      } catch (refreshError) {
+        console.warn(
+          `error refreshing release assets after metadata update failure: ${refreshError}`,
+        );
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Handle race conditions across concurrent workflows uploading the same asset.
+    if (
+      config.input_overwrite_files !== false &&
+      errorStatus === 422 &&
+      errorData?.errors?.[0]?.code === 'already_exists' &&
+      releaseId !== undefined
+    ) {
+      console.log(
+        `⚠️ Asset ${name} already exists (race condition), refreshing assets and retrying once...`,
+      );
+      const latestAssets = await releaser.listReleaseAssets({
+        owner,
+        repo,
+        release_id: releaseId,
+      });
+      const latestAsset = latestAssets.find((currentAsset) =>
+        releaseAssetMatchesName(name, currentAsset),
+      );
+      if (latestAsset) {
+        await releaser.deleteReleaseAsset({
+          owner,
+          repo,
+          asset_id: latestAsset.id,
+        });
+        return await handleUploadedAsset(await uploadAsset());
+      }
+    }
+
+    throw error;
   }
 };
 
@@ -242,7 +477,7 @@ export const release = async (
   config: Config,
   releaser: Releaser,
   maxRetries: number = 3,
-): Promise<Release> => {
+): Promise<ReleaseResult> => {
   if (maxRetries <= 0) {
     console.log(`❌ Too many retries. Aborting...`);
     throw new Error('Too many retries.');
@@ -250,11 +485,16 @@ export const release = async (
 
   const [owner, repo] = config.github_repository.split('/');
   const tag =
-    config.input_tag_name ||
+    normalizeTagName(config.input_tag_name) ||
     (isTag(config.github_ref) ? config.github_ref.replace('refs/tags/', '') : '');
 
   const discussion_category_name = config.input_discussion_category_name;
   const generate_release_notes = config.input_generate_release_notes;
+  const previous_tag_name = config.input_previous_tag;
+
+  if (generate_release_notes && previous_tag_name) {
+    console.log(`📝 Generating release notes using previous tag ${previous_tag_name}`);
+  }
   try {
     const _release: Release | undefined = await findTagFromReleases(releaser, owner, repo, tag);
 
@@ -268,6 +508,7 @@ export const release = async (
         discussion_category_name,
         generate_release_notes,
         maxRetries,
+        previous_tag_name,
       );
     }
 
@@ -303,7 +544,6 @@ export const release = async (
       body = workflowBody || existingReleaseBody;
     }
 
-    const draft = config.input_draft !== undefined ? config.input_draft : existingRelease.draft;
     const prerelease =
       config.input_prerelease !== undefined ? config.input_prerelease : existingRelease.prerelease;
 
@@ -317,13 +557,17 @@ export const release = async (
       target_commitish,
       name,
       body,
-      draft,
+      draft: existingRelease.draft,
       prerelease,
       discussion_category_name,
       generate_release_notes,
       make_latest,
+      previous_tag_name,
     });
-    return release.data;
+    return {
+      release: release.data,
+      created: false,
+    };
   } catch (error) {
     if (error.status !== 404) {
       console.log(
@@ -341,12 +585,120 @@ export const release = async (
       discussion_category_name,
       generate_release_notes,
       maxRetries,
+      previous_tag_name,
     );
   }
 };
 
 /**
- * Finds a release by tag name from all a repository's releases.
+ * Finalizes a release by unmarking it as "draft" (if relevant)
+ * after all artifacts have been uploaded.
+ *
+ * @param config - Release configuration as specified by user
+ * @param releaser - The GitHub API wrapper for release operations
+ * @param release - The existing release to be finalized
+ * @param maxRetries - The maximum number of attempts to finalize the release
+ */
+export const finalizeRelease = async (
+  config: Config,
+  releaser: Releaser,
+  release: Release,
+  releaseWasCreated: boolean = false,
+  maxRetries: number = 3,
+): Promise<Release> => {
+  if (config.input_draft === true || release.draft === false) {
+    return release;
+  }
+
+  if (maxRetries <= 0) {
+    console.log(`❌ Too many retries. Aborting...`);
+    throw new Error('Too many retries.');
+  }
+
+  const [owner, repo] = config.github_repository.split('/');
+  try {
+    const { data } = await releaser.finalizeRelease({
+      owner,
+      repo,
+      release_id: release.id,
+      make_latest: config.input_make_latest,
+    });
+
+    return data;
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.warn(`error finalizing release: ${error}`);
+
+    if (releaseWasCreated && release.draft && isTagCreationBlockedError(error)) {
+      let deleted = false;
+
+      try {
+        console.log(
+          `🧹 Deleting draft release ${release.id} for tag ${release.tag_name} because tag creation is blocked by repository rules...`,
+        );
+        await releaser.deleteRelease({
+          owner,
+          repo,
+          release_id: release.id,
+        });
+        deleted = true;
+      } catch (cleanupError) {
+        console.warn(`error deleting orphan draft release ${release.id}: ${cleanupError}`);
+      }
+
+      const cleanupResult = deleted
+        ? `Deleted draft release ${release.id} to avoid leaving an orphaned draft release.`
+        : `Failed to delete draft release ${release.id}; manual cleanup may still be required.`;
+      throw new Error(
+        `Tag creation for ${release.tag_name} is blocked by repository rules. ${cleanupResult}`,
+      );
+    }
+
+    console.log(`retrying... (${maxRetries - 1} retries remaining)`);
+    return finalizeRelease(config, releaser, release, releaseWasCreated, maxRetries - 1);
+  }
+};
+
+/**
+ * Lists assets belonging to a release.
+ *
+ * @param config - Release configuration as specified by user
+ * @param releaser - The GitHub API wrapper for release operations
+ * @param release - The existing release to be checked
+ * @param maxRetries - The maximum number of attempts
+ */
+export const listReleaseAssets = async (
+  config: Config,
+  releaser: Releaser,
+  release: Release,
+  maxRetries: number = 3,
+): Promise<Array<{ id: number; name: string; [key: string]: any }>> => {
+  if (maxRetries <= 0) {
+    console.log(`❌ Too many retries. Aborting...`);
+    throw new Error('Too many retries.');
+  }
+
+  const [owner, repo] = config.github_repository.split('/');
+  try {
+    const assets = await releaser.listReleaseAssets({
+      owner,
+      repo,
+      release_id: release.id,
+    });
+
+    return assets;
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.warn(`error listing assets of release: ${error}`);
+    console.log(`retrying... (${maxRetries - 1} retries remaining)`);
+    return listReleaseAssets(config, releaser, release, maxRetries - 1);
+  }
+};
+
+/**
+ * Finds a release by tag name.
+ *
+ * Uses the direct getReleaseByTag API for O(1) lookup instead of iterating
+ * through all releases. This also avoids GitHub's API pagination limit of
+ * 10000 results which would cause failures for repositories with many releases.
  *
  * @param releaser - The GitHub API wrapper for release operations
  * @param owner - The owner of the repository
@@ -360,16 +712,152 @@ export async function findTagFromReleases(
   repo: string,
   tag: string,
 ): Promise<Release | undefined> {
-  for await (const { data: releases } of releaser.allReleases({
-    owner,
-    repo,
-  })) {
-    const release = releases.find((release) => release.tag_name === tag);
-    if (release) {
-      return release;
+  try {
+    const { data: release } = await releaser.getReleaseByTag({ owner, repo, tag });
+    return release;
+  } catch (error) {
+    // Release not found (404) or other error - return undefined to allow creation
+    if (error.status === 404) {
+      return undefined;
+    }
+    // Re-throw unexpected errors
+    throw error;
+  }
+}
+
+const CREATED_RELEASE_DISCOVERY_RETRY_DELAY_MS = 1000;
+const RECENT_RELEASE_SCAN_PAGES = 2;
+
+async function sleep(ms: number): Promise<void> {
+  await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, ms));
+}
+
+async function recentReleasesByTag(
+  releaser: Releaser,
+  owner: string,
+  repo: string,
+  tag: string,
+): Promise<Release[]> {
+  const matches: Release[] = [];
+  let pages = 0;
+
+  for await (const page of releaser.allReleases({ owner, repo })) {
+    matches.push(...page.data.filter((release) => release.tag_name === tag));
+    pages += 1;
+
+    if (pages >= RECENT_RELEASE_SCAN_PAGES) {
+      break;
     }
   }
-  return undefined;
+
+  return matches;
+}
+
+function pickCanonicalRelease(
+  releases: Release[],
+  releaseByTag: Release | undefined,
+): Release | undefined {
+  if (releaseByTag && releases.some((release) => release.id === releaseByTag.id)) {
+    return releaseByTag;
+  }
+
+  if (releases.length === 0) {
+    return releaseByTag;
+  }
+
+  return [...releases].sort((left, right) => {
+    if (left.draft !== right.draft) {
+      return Number(left.draft) - Number(right.draft);
+    }
+
+    return left.id - right.id;
+  })[0];
+}
+
+async function cleanupDuplicateDraftReleases(
+  releaser: Releaser,
+  owner: string,
+  repo: string,
+  tag: string,
+  canonicalReleaseId: number,
+  releases: Release[],
+): Promise<void> {
+  const uniqueReleases = Array.from(
+    new Map(releases.map((release) => [release.id, release])).values(),
+  );
+
+  for (const duplicate of uniqueReleases) {
+    if (duplicate.id === canonicalReleaseId || !duplicate.draft || duplicate.assets.length > 0) {
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    try {
+      console.log(`🧹 Removing duplicate draft release ${duplicate.id} for tag ${tag}...`);
+      await releaser.deleteRelease({
+        owner,
+        repo,
+        release_id: duplicate.id,
+      });
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.warn(`error deleting duplicate release ${duplicate.id}: ${error}`);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+async function canonicalizeCreatedRelease(
+  releaser: Releaser,
+  owner: string,
+  repo: string,
+  tag: string,
+  createdRelease: Release,
+  maxRetries: number,
+): Promise<Release> {
+  const attempts = Math.max(maxRetries, 1);
+
+  for (let attempt = 1; attempt <= attempts; attempt += 1) {
+    let releaseByTag: Release | undefined;
+    try {
+      releaseByTag = await findTagFromReleases(releaser, owner, repo, tag);
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.warn(`error reloading release for tag ${tag}: ${error}`);
+    }
+
+    let recentReleases: Release[] = [];
+    try {
+      recentReleases = await recentReleasesByTag(releaser, owner, repo, tag);
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.warn(`error listing recent releases for tag ${tag}: ${error}`);
+    }
+
+    const canonicalRelease = pickCanonicalRelease(recentReleases, releaseByTag);
+    if (canonicalRelease) {
+      if (canonicalRelease.id !== createdRelease.id) {
+        console.log(
+          `↪️ Using release ${canonicalRelease.id} for tag ${tag} instead of duplicate draft ${createdRelease.id}`,
+        );
+      }
+
+      await cleanupDuplicateDraftReleases(releaser, owner, repo, tag, canonicalRelease.id, [
+        createdRelease,
+        ...recentReleases,
+      ]);
+      return canonicalRelease;
+    }
+
+    if (attempt < attempts) {
+      console.log(
+        `Release ${createdRelease.id} is not yet discoverable by tag ${tag}, retrying... (${
+          attempts - attempt
+        } retries remaining)`,
+      );
+      await sleep(CREATED_RELEASE_DISCOVERY_RETRY_DELAY_MS);
+    }
+  }
+
+  console.log(
+    `⚠️ Continuing with newly created release ${createdRelease.id} because tag ${tag} is still not discoverable`,
+  );
+  return createdRelease;
 }
 
 async function createRelease(
@@ -381,12 +869,14 @@ async function createRelease(
   discussion_category_name: string | undefined,
   generate_release_notes: boolean | undefined,
   maxRetries: number,
-) {
+  previous_tag_name: string | undefined,
+): Promise<ReleaseResult> {
   const tag_name = tag;
   const name = config.input_name || tag;
   const body = releaseBody(config);
-  const draft = config.input_draft;
   const prerelease = config.input_prerelease;
+  const draft =
+    config.input_draft === true || prerelease !== true || (config.input_files?.length ?? 0) > 0;
   const target_commitish = config.input_target_commitish;
   const make_latest = config.input_make_latest;
   let commitMessage: string = '';
@@ -395,7 +885,7 @@ async function createRelease(
   }
   console.log(`👩‍🏭 Creating new GitHub release for tag ${tag_name}${commitMessage}...`);
   try {
-    let release = await releaser.createRelease({
+    const createdRelease = await releaser.createRelease({
       owner,
       repo,
       tag_name,
@@ -407,8 +897,20 @@ async function createRelease(
       discussion_category_name,
       generate_release_notes,
       make_latest,
+      previous_tag_name,
     });
-    return release.data;
+    const canonicalRelease = await canonicalizeCreatedRelease(
+      releaser,
+      owner,
+      repo,
+      tag_name,
+      createdRelease.data,
+      maxRetries,
+    );
+    return {
+      release: canonicalRelease,
+      created: canonicalRelease.id === createdRelease.data.id,
+    };
   } catch (error) {
     // presume a race with competing matrix runs
     console.log(`⚠️ GitHub release failed with status: ${error.status}`);
@@ -444,3 +946,17 @@ async function createRelease(
     return release(config, releaser, maxRetries - 1);
   }
 }
+
+function isTagCreationBlockedError(error: any): boolean {
+  const errors = error?.response?.data?.errors;
+  if (!Array.isArray(errors) || error?.status !== 422) {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  return errors.some(
+    ({ field, message }: { field?: string; message?: string }) =>
+      field === 'pre_receive' &&
+      typeof message === 'string' &&
+      message.includes('creations being restricted'),
+  );
+}

src/main.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { setFailed, setOutput } from '@actions/core';
 import { getOctokit } from '@actions/github';
-import { GitHubReleaser, release, upload } from './github';
+import { GitHubReleaser, release, finalizeRelease, upload, listReleaseAssets } from './github';
 import { isTag, parseConfig, paths, unmatchedPatterns, uploadUrl } from './util';
 
 import { env } from 'process';
@@ -48,7 +48,11 @@ async function run() {
       },
     });
     //);
-    const rel = await release(config, new GitHubReleaser(gh));
+    const releaser = new GitHubReleaser(gh);
+    const releaseResult = await release(config, releaser);
+    let rel = releaseResult.release;
+    const releaseWasCreated = releaseResult.created;
+    let uploadedAssetIds: Set<number> = new Set();
     if (config.input_files && config.input_files.length > 0) {
       const files = paths(config.input_files, config.input_working_directory);
       if (files.length == 0) {
@@ -60,15 +64,12 @@ async function run() {
       }
       const currentAssets = rel.assets;
 
-      const uploadFile = async (path) => {
-        const json = await upload(config, gh, uploadUrl(rel.upload_url), path, currentAssets);
-        if (json) {
-          delete json.uploader;
-        }
-        return json;
+      const uploadFile = async (path: string) => {
+        const json = await upload(config, releaser, uploadUrl(rel.upload_url), path, currentAssets);
+        return json ? (json.id as number) : undefined;
       };
 
-      let results: (any | null)[];
+      let results: (number | undefined)[];
       if (!config.input_preserve_order) {
         results = await Promise.all(files.map(uploadFile));
       } else {
@@ -78,9 +79,29 @@ async function run() {
         }
       }
 
-      const assets = results.filter(Boolean);
+      uploadedAssetIds = new Set(results.filter((id): id is number => id !== undefined));
+    }
+
+    console.log('Finalizing release...');
+    rel = await finalizeRelease(config, releaser, rel, releaseWasCreated);
+
+    // Draft releases use temporary "untagged-..." URLs for assets.
+    // URLs will be changed to correct ones once the release is published.
+    console.log('Getting assets list...');
+    {
+      let assets: any[] = [];
+      if (uploadedAssetIds.size > 0) {
+        const updatedAssets = await listReleaseAssets(config, releaser, rel);
+        assets = updatedAssets
+          .filter((a) => uploadedAssetIds.has(a.id))
+          .map((a) => {
+            const { uploader, ...rest } = a;
+            return rest;
+          });
+      }
       setOutput('assets', assets);
     }
+
     console.log(`🎉 Release ready at ${rel.html_url}`);
     setOutput('url', rel.html_url);
     setOutput('id', rel.id.toString());

src/util.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import * as glob from 'glob';
 import { statSync, readFileSync } from 'fs';
+import { homedir } from 'os';
 import * as pathLib from 'path';
 
 export interface Config {
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ export interface Config {
   input_target_commitish?: string;
   input_discussion_category_name?: string;
   input_generate_release_notes?: boolean;
+  input_previous_tag?: string;
   input_append_body?: boolean;
   input_make_latest: 'true' | 'false' | 'legacy' | undefined;
 }
@@ -84,13 +86,21 @@ export const parseInputFiles = (files: string): string[] => {
     .filter((pat) => pat.trim() !== '');
 };
 
+const parseToken = (env: Env): string => {
+  const inputToken = env.INPUT_TOKEN?.trim();
+  if (inputToken) {
+    return inputToken;
+  }
+  return env.GITHUB_TOKEN?.trim() || '';
+};
+
 export const parseConfig = (env: Env): Config => {
   return {
-    github_token: env.GITHUB_TOKEN || env.INPUT_TOKEN || '',
+    github_token: parseToken(env),
     github_ref: env.GITHUB_REF || '',
     github_repository: env.INPUT_REPOSITORY || env.GITHUB_REPOSITORY || '',
     input_name: env.INPUT_NAME,
-    input_tag_name: env.INPUT_TAG_NAME?.trim(),
+    input_tag_name: normalizeTagName(env.INPUT_TAG_NAME?.trim()),
     input_body: env.INPUT_BODY,
     input_body_path: env.INPUT_BODY_PATH,
     input_files: parseInputFiles(env.INPUT_FILES || ''),
@@ -105,6 +115,7 @@ export const parseConfig = (env: Env): Config => {
     input_target_commitish: env.INPUT_TARGET_COMMITISH || undefined,
     input_discussion_category_name: env.INPUT_DISCUSSION_CATEGORY_NAME || undefined,
     input_generate_release_notes: env.INPUT_GENERATE_RELEASE_NOTES == 'true',
+    input_previous_tag: env.INPUT_PREVIOUS_TAG?.trim() || undefined,
     input_append_body: env.INPUT_APPEND_BODY == 'true',
     input_make_latest: parseMakeLatest(env.INPUT_MAKE_LATEST),
   };
@@ -117,11 +128,39 @@ const parseMakeLatest = (value: string | undefined): 'true' | 'false' | 'legacy'
   return undefined;
 };
 
+export const normalizeGlobPattern = (
+  pattern: string,
+  platform: NodeJS.Platform = process.platform,
+): string => {
+  if (platform === 'win32') {
+    return pattern.replace(/\\/g, '/');
+  }
+  return pattern;
+};
+
+export const expandHomePattern = (pattern: string, homeDirectory: string = homedir()): string => {
+  if (pattern === '~') {
+    return homeDirectory;
+  }
+  if (pattern.startsWith('~/') || pattern.startsWith('~\\')) {
+    return pathLib.join(homeDirectory, pattern.slice(2));
+  }
+  return pattern;
+};
+
+export const normalizeFilePattern = (
+  pattern: string,
+  platform: NodeJS.Platform = process.platform,
+  homeDirectory: string = homedir(),
+): string => {
+  return normalizeGlobPattern(expandHomePattern(pattern, homeDirectory), platform);
+};
+
 export const paths = (patterns: string[], cwd?: string): string[] => {
   return patterns.reduce((acc: string[], pattern: string): string[] => {
-    const matches = glob.sync(pattern, { cwd, dot: true, absolute: false });
+    const matches = glob.sync(normalizeFilePattern(pattern), { cwd, dot: true, absolute: false });
     const resolved = matches
-      .map((p) => (cwd ? pathLib.join(cwd, p) : p))
+      .map((p) => (cwd && !pathLib.isAbsolute(p) ? pathLib.join(cwd, p) : p))
       .filter((p) => {
         try {
           return statSync(p).isFile();
@@ -135,10 +174,10 @@ export const paths = (patterns: string[], cwd?: string): string[] => {
 
 export const unmatchedPatterns = (patterns: string[], cwd?: string): string[] => {
   return patterns.reduce((acc: string[], pattern: string): string[] => {
-    const matches = glob.sync(pattern, { cwd, dot: true, absolute: false });
+    const matches = glob.sync(normalizeFilePattern(pattern), { cwd, dot: true, absolute: false });
     const files = matches.filter((p) => {
       try {
-        const full = cwd ? pathLib.join(cwd, p) : p;
+        const full = cwd && !pathLib.isAbsolute(p) ? pathLib.join(cwd, p) : p;
         return statSync(full).isFile();
       } catch {
         return false;
@@ -152,6 +191,13 @@ export const isTag = (ref: string): boolean => {
   return ref.startsWith('refs/tags/');
 };
 
+export const normalizeTagName = (tag: string | undefined): string | undefined => {
+  if (!tag) {
+    return tag;
+  }
+  return isTag(tag) ? tag.replace('refs/tags/', '') : tag;
+};
+
 export const alignAssetName = (assetName: string): string => {
   return assetName.replace(/ /g, '.');
 };

tsconfig.json

@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
     // "paths": {},                           /* A series of entries which re-map imports to lookup locations relative to the 'baseUrl'. */
     // "rootDirs": [],                        /* List of root folders whose combined content represents the structure of the project at runtime. */
     // "typeRoots": [],                       /* List of folders to include type definitions from. */
-    "types": ["vitest/globals"],
+    "types": ["node", "vitest/globals"],
     // "allowSyntheticDefaultImports": true,  /* Allow default imports from modules with no default export. This does not affect code emit, just typechecking. */
     "esModuleInterop": true                   /* Enables emit interoperability between CommonJS and ES Modules via creation of namespace objects for all imports. Implies 'allowSyntheticDefaultImports'. */
     // "preserveSymlinks": true,              /* Do not resolve the real path of symlinks. */