Actions can now run in a Node.js 16 runtime

Actions authors can now specify that their action can run in Node.js 16 by specifying runs.using as node16 in the action's action.yml. This is in addition to the existing Node.js 12 support; actions can continue to specify runs.using: node12 to use the Node.js 12 runtime.

Runners supporting Node.js 16 actions are available on all GitHub-hosted runners and in GitHub Enterprise Server 3.4 and newer. GitHub Enterprise Server 3.3 and newer can manually install a newer runner to add support for Node.js 16 based actions.

As a result, actions authors who move from targeting Node.js 12 to Node.js 16 should release with a new major version number to communicate that there is a possible breaking change for GitHub Enterprise Server 3.3 and earlier.

Updates to Markdown pasting on GitHub

We've made some updates to how paste formatting works in Markdown-enabled fields on GitHub. For example, in code editors and on gists, you'll now be able to paste URLs on selected texts that will render as Markdown links like [...](https://...) by using the keyboard shortcut cmd|ctrl + v.

The following paste formatting changes have been made to pull requests, issue comments and wikis:

  • Spreadsheet cells and HTML tables will render as Markdown tables
  • Any copied text containing links will render the links in Markdown

All of this formatting can be disabled when pasting using the keyboard shortcut: cmd|ctl + shift + v or cmd|ctl + shift + Alt + v.

markdown formatting demo gif

Learn more about writing and formatting at GitHub.

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Render mathematical expressions in Markdown

You can now use LaTeX style syntax to render math expressions within Markdown inline (using $ delimiters) or in blocks (using $$ delimiters).

Writing expressions as blocks

To add math as a multiline block displayed separately from surrounding text, start a new line and delimit the expression with two dollar symbols $$.

**The Cauchy-Schwarz Inequality**
$$\left( \sum_{k=1}^n a_k b_k \right)^2 \leq \left( \sum_{k=1}^n a_k^2 \right) \left( \sum_{k=1}^n b_k^2 \right)$$

Displayed math markdown rendering

Writing inline expressions

To include a math expression inline with your text, delimit the expression with a dollar symbol $.

This sentence uses `$` delimiters to show math inline:  $\sqrt{3x-1}+(1+x)^2$

Inline math markdown rendering

GitHub's math rendering capability uses MathJax; an open source, JavaScript-based display engine. MathJax supports a wide range of LaTeX macros and a number of useful accessibility extensions. For more information, see the MathJax documentation and the MathJax Accessibility Extensions documentation.

Some users have previously used a workaround to generate images of mathematical expressions through API requests. Images generated this way will remain viewable, but this technique will no longer work. Going forward, expressions should be written directly in Markdown using LaTeX syntax as described above.

For more information about authoring content with advanced formatting, see Working with advanced formatting in the GitHub documentation.

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