Unable to use actions/checkout in a container without Node.js installed

[profinanceir]

I'm trying to use actions/checkout in a GitHub Actions workflow running inside a container that doesn't have Node.js installed. The checkout step fails with an error related to missing Node.js. How can I resolve this issue?

[josegonzalez]

For me, this appears to happen on buildjet runners:

Current runner version: '2.326.0'
Runner name: 'buildjet.com_ef3489b8-ed6d-4aee-ae23-9ecb799cff1e'
Runner group name: 'Default'
Machine name: 'ubuntu'
GITHUB_TOKEN Permissions
Secret source: Actions
Prepare workflow directory
Prepare all required actions
Getting action download info
Download action repository 'actions/checkout@v5' (SHA:08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8)
Error: System.ArgumentOutOfRangeException: Specified argument was out of the range of valid values. (Parameter ''using: node24' is not supported, use 'docker', 'node12', 'node16' or 'node20' instead.')
   at GitHub.Runner.Worker.ActionManifestManager.ConvertRuns(IExecutionContext executionContext, TemplateContext templateContext, TemplateToken inputsToken, String fileRelativePath, MappingToken outputs)
   at GitHub.Runner.Worker.ActionManifestManager.Load(IExecutionContext executionContext, String manifestFile)
Error: Failed to load actions/checkout/v5/action.yml

Switching to the official arm runners (what I was using buildjet for) appears to make them work.

https://github.com/dokku/dokku/actions/runs/16923328314/job/47954448110

[jimsheldon]

@josegonzalez's error is likely that the actions runner added support for executing node24 actions in version
2.327.1, but it looks like you are using 2.326.0.

[josegonzalez]

Yeah thats fine, though I didn't have control over the runner version (that was on buildjet I assume?). The switch to the official arm runner fixed it, and I posted my comment in case others seeing this issue were seeing it because of the runner platform vs some other issue (as the OP didn't really post details about their failed job environment).