Add ephemerals documentation for expiration and noise reduction features

[Copilot]

Documents all features that automatically expire workflow resources and reduce repository noise: stop-after, expires, close-older-discussions, hide-older-comments, allowed-github-references, and SideRepoOps pattern.

New Documentation

File: docs/src/content/docs/guides/ephemerals.md

Expiration Features

• on.stop-after - Auto-disable workflows after deadline (absolute dates or relative deltas like +7d, +25h)
• safe-outputs.*.expires - Auto-close issues/discussions/PRs after time period, generates maintenance workflow
• close-older-discussions - Close older discussions when creating new ones (matches by title-prefix or labels)
• hide-older-comments - Minimize previous comments from same workflow (configurable reasons: outdated, resolved, spam, etc.)

Noise Reduction

• SideRepoOps - Isolate automation in separate repository targeting main codebase
• allowed-github-references - Escape GitHub references (#123, owner/repo#456) to prevent timeline clutter
• Discussions vs Issues - Guidance for ephemeral content (discussions better for time-bound, temporary content)

Example combining features for clean automation:

on:
  schedule:
    - cron: "0 9 * * 1"
  stop-after: "+30d"

safe-outputs:
  github-token: ${{ secrets.MAIN_REPO_PAT }}
  allowed-github-references: []  # Prevent timeline noise
  create-discussion:
    target-repo: "org/main-repo"
    title-prefix: "[weekly-report]"
    expires: 7
    close-older-discussions: true

Bug Fix

Fixed broken anchor link in safe-outputs.md: #agent-task-creation-create-agent-session → #agent-session-creation-create-agent-session

Documentation Integration

• Added sidebar entry under Guides section
• All internal links validated
• Follows Astro Starlight + Diátaxis structure

Warning

Firewall rules blocked me from connecting to one or more addresses (expand for details)

I tried to connect to the following addresses, but was blocked by firewall rules:

• telemetry.astro.build
  • Triggering command: /opt/hostedtoolcache/node/24.12.0/x64/bin/node node /home/REDACTED/work/gh-aw/gh-aw/docs/node_modules/.bin/astro build grep -l close-older .go /usr/sbin/grep close-older ge.go ep grep -l close-older ir_test.go ep close-older ken_extraction_t-c nfig/composer/venpx @marp-team/marp-cli slides/index.md --html --allow-local-files -o public/sli-o grep (dns block)
  • Triggering command: /opt/hostedtoolcache/node/24.12.0/x64/bin/node node /home/REDACTED/work/gh-aw/gh-aw/docs/node_modules/.bin/astro build grep -l es/index.html g/console/render_formatting_testpublic/slides/index.html nfig/composer/vendor/bin/grep close-older ct_update_contra--norc tnet/tools/grep grep -l close-older g/testutil/tempdir.go tnet/tools/grep close-older r_test.go 0/x64/bin/grep grep (dns block)

If you need me to access, download, or install something from one of these locations, you can either:

• Configure Actions setup steps to set up my environment, which run before the firewall is enabled
• Add the appropriate URLs or hosts to the custom allowlist in this repository's Copilot coding agent settings (admins only)

Original prompt

Create a "Ephemerals" documentation page that lists and documents all the features in place in agentic workflows to "expire things"

• on.stop-after
• safe-outputs....expires
• closed-older-...

Also mention mean sites to reduce noise:

• SideRepoOps
• allowed-GitHub-references
• using discussions

Custom agent used: technical-doc-writer
AI technical documentation writer for GitHub Actions library using Astro Starlight and GitHub Docs voice

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