GitHub Actions Invalid JSON syntax in workflow

The workflow file contains invalid JSON syntax.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

What is

GitHub Actions Invalid JSON syntax in workflow

?

Understanding GitHub Actions

GitHub Actions is a powerful CI/CD tool that allows developers to automate their software workflows directly from their GitHub repositories. It enables users to build, test, and deploy code right from GitHub. With GitHub Actions, you can create workflows that are triggered by GitHub events such as push, pull requests, or on a schedule.

Identifying the Symptom

When working with GitHub Actions, you might encounter an error message indicating 'Invalid JSON syntax in workflow'. This error typically appears in the GitHub Actions logs when the workflow file contains syntax errors, preventing the workflow from executing correctly.

Common Error Message

The error message might look something like this:

Error: Invalid JSON syntax in workflow file: .github/workflows/main.yml

Details About the Issue

The 'Invalid JSON syntax in workflow' error occurs when the JSON structure within the workflow file is not correctly formatted. This could be due to missing commas, incorrect brackets, or other syntax issues that violate JSON standards. Although GitHub Actions primarily uses YAML for workflow files, JSON syntax errors can occur if JSON is embedded or improperly converted.

Why This Happens

This issue often arises when:

There are missing or extra commas in JSON objects.
Brackets are not properly closed.
Strings are not enclosed in double quotes.
There are trailing commas in JSON arrays or objects.

Steps to Fix the Issue

To resolve the 'Invalid JSON syntax in workflow' error, follow these steps:

Step 1: Validate JSON Syntax

Use an online JSON validator such as JSONLint to check your JSON syntax. Copy and paste your JSON content into the validator to identify and correct syntax errors.

Step 2: Check for Common Mistakes

Ensure all JSON objects are enclosed in curly braces {}.
Verify that all keys and string values are enclosed in double quotes "".
Remove any trailing commas from JSON objects and arrays.

Step 3: Use a JSON Formatter

Consider using a JSON formatter to automatically format your JSON code. Tools like JSON Formatter can help ensure your JSON is properly structured.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the 'Invalid JSON syntax in workflow' error in your GitHub Actions workflow file. Ensuring your JSON is correctly formatted is crucial for the successful execution of your workflows. For more information on GitHub Actions, visit the official GitHub Actions documentation.

Attached error:

GitHub Actions Invalid JSON syntax in workflow

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Master

GitHub Actions

debugging in Minutes

— Grab the Ultimate Cheatsheet

(Perfect for DevOps & SREs)

Most-used commands

Real-world configs/examples

Handy troubleshooting shortcuts

Thankyou for your submission

We have sent the cheatsheet on your email!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

GitHub Actions

Cheatsheet

(Perfect for DevOps & SREs)

Most-used commands

Thankyou for your submission

We have sent the cheatsheet on your email!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

MORE ISSUES

GitHub Actions Job failed due to incorrect file permissions

A file required by the job does not have the correct permissions.

GitHub Actions Invalid syntax in workflow file

The workflow file contains syntax errors.

GitHub Actions Failed to push to repository

The workflow is unable to push changes to the repository.

GitHub Actions Failed to execute command

A command executed in the workflow failed.

GitHub Actions Job failed due to missing tool

A tool required by the job is not installed or available.

GitHub Actions Invalid syntax in configuration file

A configuration file used in the workflow contains syntax errors.

GitHub Actions Failed to start service

A service required by the workflow could not be started.

GitHub Actions Invalid action version

The specified version of an action is not valid or does not exist.

GitHub Actions Job failed due to incorrect environment setup

The environment required for the job is not set up correctly.

GitHub Actions Invalid syntax in Dockerfile

The Dockerfile used in the workflow contains syntax errors.

GitHub Actions Failed to access repository

The workflow is unable to access the repository due to permissions or network issues.

GitHub Actions Job failed due to script execution error

A script executed in the workflow encountered an error.

GitHub Actions Invalid workflow reference

The workflow references another workflow or file that does not exist.

GitHub Actions Failed to set output

The workflow step is unable to set an output variable.

GitHub Actions Job failed due to network issues

The job encountered network connectivity problems.

GitHub Actions Invalid cache key error encountered during workflow execution.

The cache key specified in the workflow is not valid.

GitHub Actions Failed to install tool

A tool required by the workflow could not be installed.

GitHub Actions Job failed due to insufficient resources

The runner does not have enough resources to execute the job.

GitHub Actions Invalid event type

The workflow is triggered by an unsupported event type.

GitHub Actions Failed to download artifact

The workflow is unable to download an artifact due to network issues or incorrect URL.

GitHub Actions Invalid GitHub token

The GitHub token used in the workflow is invalid or expired.

GitHub Actions Job failed due to missing input

A required input for the job is not provided.

GitHub Actions Failed to upload logs

The workflow is unable to upload logs due to network issues or size limits.

GitHub Actions Job failed due to syntax error in script

A script executed in the workflow contains syntax errors.

GitHub Actions Invalid path specified

The workflow references a file or directory path that does not exist.

GitHub Actions Service container failed to start

A service container specified in the workflow could not be started.

GitHub Actions Failed to parse configuration file

A configuration file used in the workflow is malformed.

GitHub Actions Job failed due to missing permissions

The job requires permissions that are not granted.

GitHub Actions Invalid JSON syntax in workflow

The workflow file contains invalid JSON syntax.

GitHub Actions Job cancelled

The job was manually cancelled or automatically due to a failure in a previous step.

GitHub Actions Failed to authenticate with external service

Authentication credentials for an external service are incorrect or missing.

GitHub Actions Job failed due to missing dependencies

Dependencies required for the job are not installed or available.

GitHub Actions Unsupported runner OS

The workflow specifies a runner OS that is not supported.

GitHub Actions Invalid shell specified

The shell specified in the workflow is not recognized.

GitHub Actions Invalid matrix configuration

The matrix strategy in the workflow is incorrectly defined.

GitHub Actions Failed to checkout repository

The workflow is unable to clone the repository.

GitHub Actions Environment variable not set

A required environment variable is missing in the workflow.

GitHub Actions GitHub API rate limit exceeded

The workflow is making too many requests to the GitHub API.

GitHub Actions Self-hosted runner offline

The self-hosted runner is not connected to GitHub.

GitHub Actions Invalid syntax in action.yml

The action.yml file contains syntax errors.

GitHub Actions Artifact upload failed

The workflow is unable to upload artifacts due to size limits or network issues.

GitHub Actions Invalid runner label

The specified runner label does not match any available runners.

GitHub Actions Dependency installation failed

Dependencies specified in the workflow cannot be installed.

GitHub Actions Docker login failed

Incorrect Docker credentials or configuration.

GitHub Actions Secrets not available

Secrets are not accessible in the workflow environment.

GitHub Actions Timeout exceeded

The job or step took longer than the maximum allowed time.

GitHub Actions Permission denied

The action is trying to access a resource without the necessary permissions.

GitHub Actions Action not found

The specified action does not exist or is not accessible.

GitHub Actions Job was not triggered

The event that should trigger the workflow is not configured correctly.

GitHub Actions Workflow file is not valid

The YAML syntax in the workflow file is incorrect.

Backed by

Resources

Contact

Platform

Connect

Deep Sea Tech Inc. — Made with ❤️ in & 🏢

Doctor Droid