Auto-create missing tags in release workflow when triggered via workflow_dispatch

[Copilot]

Problem

The release workflow fails when triggered via workflow_dispatch with a tag that doesn't exist yet:

Run # For workflow_dispatch, we need to checkout the specific tag
Error: Tag 'v2.24.1-alpha' does not exist. Create the tag first before running this workflow.
Error: Process completed with exit code 1.

This requires manual tag creation before workflow execution, breaking automation flow.

Solution

Modified .github/workflows/release.yml to automatically create the specified tag if it doesn't exist when triggered via workflow_dispatch.

Changes

• Step "Release - Checkout or create tag for workflow_dispatch" (lines 61-75):
  • Existing behavior preserved: checks out existing tags
  • New behavior: creates tag at current HEAD and pushes to origin if tag doesn't exist
  • Leverages existing contents: write permission (no permission changes needed)

Workflow Behavior

Before:

if tag exists: checkout tag
else: exit 1 with error

After:

if tag exists: checkout tag
else: create tag at HEAD && push tag

The workflow now seamlessly handles both scenarios:

• Tag exists: Standard release from existing tag (unchanged)
• Tag missing: Creates tag, then proceeds with release (new capability)

This eliminates pre-release tag creation as a manual prerequisite for workflow_dispatch triggers.

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[data-douser]

Superseded by #40