Bump fast-xml-builder from 1.1.4 to 1.2.0

Bumps [fast-xml-builder](https://github.com/NaturalIntelligence/fast-xml-builder) from 1.1.4 to 1.2.0.
- [Changelog](https://github.com/NaturalIntelligence/fast-xml-builder/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md)
- [Commits](https://github.com/NaturalIntelligence/fast-xml-builder/compare/v1.1.4...v1.2.0)

---
updated-dependencies:
- dependency-name: fast-xml-builder
  dependency-version: 1.2.0
  dependency-type: indirect
...

Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com>

.github/workflows/e2e-tests.yml

@@ -495,7 +495,7 @@ jobs:
   test-proxy:
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
     container:
-      image: ubuntu:22.04
+      image: mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/dotnet:10.0
       options: --dns 127.0.0.1
     services:
       squid-proxy:
@@ -508,15 +508,6 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v6
-      - name: Install Powershell
-        run: |
-          apt-get update
-          apt-get install -y wget apt-transport-https software-properties-common
-          wget -q "https://packages.microsoft.com/config/ubuntu/$(lsb_release -rs)/packages-microsoft-prod.deb"
-          dpkg -i packages-microsoft-prod.deb
-          rm packages-microsoft-prod.deb
-          apt-get update
-          apt-get install -y powershell
       - name: Clear toolcache
         shell: pwsh
         run: __tests__/clear-toolcache.ps1 ${{ runner.os }}
@@ -658,3 +649,44 @@ jobs:
       - name: Verify dotnet
         shell: pwsh
         run: __tests__/verify-dotnet.ps1 -Patterns "^8.0.416$", "^9.0.308$", "^10.0.101$", "^8.0"
+
+  test-setup-latest-version:
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.operating-system }}
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        operating-system: [ubuntu-latest]
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - name: Clear toolcache
+        shell: pwsh
+        run: __tests__/clear-toolcache.ps1 ${{ runner.os }}
+      - name: Setup dotnet latest
+        uses: ./
+        with:
+          dotnet-version: latest
+      - name: Verify dotnet
+        shell: pwsh
+        run: __tests__/verify-dotnet.ps1 -Patterns "^\d+\.\d+\.\d+"
+
+  test-setup-latest-with-channel-abcxx:
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.operating-system }}
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        operating-system: [macos-latest]
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - name: Clear toolcache
+        shell: pwsh
+        run: __tests__/clear-toolcache.ps1 ${{ runner.os }}
+      - name: Setup dotnet latest with A.B.Cxx channel
+        uses: ./
+        with:
+          dotnet-version: latest
+          dotnet-channel: '9.0.1xx'
+      - name: Verify dotnet
+        shell: pwsh
+        run: __tests__/verify-dotnet.ps1 -Patterns "^9\.0\.1\d{2}"

.licensed.yml

@@ -14,3 +14,4 @@ allowed:
 reviewed:
   npm:
     - sax # ISC + MIT
+    - "@actions/http-client" # MIT

.licenses/npm/@actions/cache.dep.yml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 name: "@actions/cache"
-version: 5.0.1
+version: 5.0.5
 type: npm
 summary: Actions cache lib
 homepage: https://github.com/actions/toolkit/tree/main/packages/cache

.licenses/npm/@actions/core-1.11.1.dep.yml

@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
----
-name: "@actions/core"
-version: 1.11.1
-type: npm
-summary: Actions core lib
-homepage: https://github.com/actions/toolkit/tree/main/packages/core
-license: mit
-licenses:
-- sources: LICENSE.md
-  text: |-
-    The MIT License (MIT)
-
-    Copyright 2019 GitHub
-
-    Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
-
-    The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
-
-    THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
-notices: []

.licenses/npm/@actions/core.dep.yml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 name: "@actions/core"
-version: 2.0.1
+version: 2.0.3
 type: npm
 summary: Actions core lib
 homepage: https://github.com/actions/toolkit/tree/main/packages/core

.licenses/npm/@actions/exec-1.1.1.dep.yml

@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
----
-name: "@actions/exec"
-version: 1.1.1
-type: npm
-summary: Actions exec lib
-homepage: https://github.com/actions/toolkit/tree/main/packages/exec
-license: mit
-licenses:
-- sources: LICENSE.md
-  text: |-
-    The MIT License (MIT)
-
-    Copyright 2019 GitHub
-
-    Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
-
-    The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
-
-    THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
-notices: []

.licenses/npm/@actions/github.dep.yml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 name: "@actions/github"
-version: 6.0.0
+version: 6.0.1
 type: npm
 summary: Actions github lib
 homepage: https://github.com/actions/toolkit/tree/main/packages/github

.licenses/npm/@actions/glob.dep.yml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 name: "@actions/glob"
-version: 0.5.0
+version: 0.5.1
 type: npm
 summary: Actions glob lib
 homepage: https://github.com/actions/toolkit/tree/main/packages/glob

.licenses/npm/@actions/http-client-3.0.2.dep.yml

@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 ---
 name: "@actions/http-client"
-version: 3.0.0
+version: 3.0.2
 type: npm
 summary: Actions Http Client
 homepage: https://github.com/actions/toolkit/tree/main/packages/http-client
-license: mit
+license: other
 licenses:
 - sources: LICENSE
   text: |

.licenses/npm/@actions/io-1.1.3.dep.yml

@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
----
-name: "@actions/io"
-version: 1.1.3
-type: npm
-summary: Actions io lib
-homepage: https://github.com/actions/toolkit/tree/main/packages/io
-license: mit
-licenses:
-- sources: LICENSE.md
-  text: |-
-    The MIT License (MIT)
-
-    Copyright 2019 GitHub
-
-    Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
-
-    The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
-
-    THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
-notices: []

.licenses/npm/@octokit/openapi-types-19.0.2.dep.yml

@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
----
-name: "@octokit/openapi-types"
-version: 19.0.2
-type: npm
-summary: Generated TypeScript definitions based on GitHub's OpenAPI spec for api.github.com
-homepage:
-license: mit
-licenses:
-- sources: LICENSE
-  text: |-
-    Copyright 2020 Gregor Martynus
-
-    Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
-
-    The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
-
-    THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
-- sources: README.md
-  text: "[MIT](LICENSE)"
-notices: []

.licenses/npm/@octokit/plugin-rest-endpoint-methods.dep.yml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 name: "@octokit/plugin-rest-endpoint-methods"
-version: 10.1.5
+version: 10.4.1
 type: npm
 summary: Octokit plugin adding one method for all of api.github.com REST API endpoints
 homepage:

.licenses/npm/@octokit/types-12.3.0.dep.yml

@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
----
-name: "@octokit/types"
-version: 12.3.0
-type: npm
-summary: Shared TypeScript definitions for Octokit projects
-homepage:
-license: mit
-licenses:
-- sources: LICENSE
-  text: |
-    MIT License Copyright (c) 2019 Octokit contributors
-
-    Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
-
-    The above copyright notice and this permission notice (including the next paragraph) shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
-
-    THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
-- sources: README.md
-  text: "[MIT](LICENSE)"
-notices: []

.licenses/npm/brace-expansion.dep.yml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 name: brace-expansion
-version: 1.1.12
+version: 1.1.13
 type: npm
 summary: Brace expansion as known from sh/bash
 homepage: https://github.com/juliangruber/brace-expansion

.licenses/npm/fast-xml-builder.dep.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+---
+name: fast-xml-builder
+version: 1.1.4
+type: npm
+summary: Build XML from JSON without C/C++ based libraries
+homepage:
+license: mit
+licenses:
+- sources: LICENSE
+  text: |
+    MIT License
+
+    Copyright (c) 2026 Natural Intelligence
+
+    Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+    of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+    in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+    to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+    copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+    furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+
+    The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+    copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+
+    THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+    IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+    FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+    AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+    LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+    OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
+    SOFTWARE.
+notices: []

.licenses/npm/fast-xml-parser.dep.yml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 name: fast-xml-parser
-version: 5.3.6
+version: 5.5.11
 type: npm
 summary: Validate XML, Parse XML, Build XML without C/C++ based libraries
 homepage:

.licenses/npm/path-expression-matcher.dep.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+---
+name: path-expression-matcher
+version: 1.4.0
+type: npm
+summary: Efficient path tracking and pattern matching for XML/JSON parsers
+homepage: https://github.com/NaturalIntelligence/path-expression-matcher#readme
+license: mit
+licenses:
+- sources: LICENSE
+  text: |
+    MIT License
+
+    Copyright (c) 2024
+
+    Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+    of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+    in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+    to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+    copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+    furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+
+    The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+    copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+
+    THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+    IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+    FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+    AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+    LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+    OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
+    SOFTWARE.
+notices: []

.licenses/npm/strnum.dep.yml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 name: strnum
-version: 2.1.2
+version: 2.2.3
 type: npm
 summary: Parse String to Number based on configuration
 homepage:

.licenses/npm/undici-6.24.1.dep.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+---
+name: undici
+version: 6.24.1
+type: npm
+summary: An HTTP/1.1 client, written from scratch for Node.js
+homepage: https://undici.nodejs.org
+license: mit
+licenses:
+- sources: LICENSE
+  text: |
+    MIT License
+
+    Copyright (c) Matteo Collina and Undici contributors
+
+    Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+    of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+    in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+    to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+    copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+    furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+
+    The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+    copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+
+    THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+    IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+    FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+    AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+    LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+    OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
+    SOFTWARE.
+- sources: README.md
+  text: MIT
+notices: []

README.md

@@ -57,7 +57,30 @@ The `dotnet-version` input supports following syntax:
 - **A.B** or **A.B.x** (e.g. 8.0, 8.0.x) - installs the latest patch version of .NET SDK on the channel `8.0`, including prerelease versions (preview, rc)
 - **A** or **A.x** (e.g. 8, 8.x) - installs the latest minor version of the specified major tag, including prerelease versions (preview, rc)
 - **A.B.Cxx** (e.g. 8.0.4xx) - available since `.NET 5.0` release. Installs the latest version of the specific SDK release, including prerelease versions (preview, rc). 
+- **latest** - dynamically resolves to the highest active .NET SDK version. By default, it installs the latest **stable (GA)** version (excluding previews and end-of-life releases). Can be combined with `dotnet-channel` and `dotnet-quality`.
 
+## Using with `dotnet-channel` input
+
+The optional `dotnet-channel` input specifies the source channel for the installation. Supported values:
+
+| Value | Description |
+|-------|-------------|
+| `STS` | The most recent Standard Term Support release |
+| `LTS` | The most recent Long Term Support release |
+| `A.B` (e.g. `8.0`) | A specific release channel |
+| `A.B.Cxx` (e.g. `8.0.1xx`) | A specific SDK release (available since 5.0) |
+
+> **Note**: The `dotnet-channel` input is only applied when `dotnet-version` is set to `latest`. If used with a specific version, a warning will be logged and the channel input will be ignored.
+
+**Install latest LTS version:**
+```yaml
+steps:
+- uses: actions/checkout@v6
+- uses: actions/setup-dotnet@v5
+  with:
+    dotnet-version: latest
+    dotnet-channel: LTS
+```
 
 ## Using the `architecture` input
 Using the architecture input, it is possible to specify the required .NET SDK architecture. Possible values:  `x64`, `x86`, `arm64`, `amd64`, `arm`, `s390x`, `ppc64le`, `riscv64`. If the input is not specified, the architecture defaults to the host OS architecture (not all of the architectures are available on all platforms).
@@ -77,9 +100,10 @@ steps:
 ```
 
 ## Using the `dotnet-quality` input
-This input sets up the action to install the latest build of the specified quality in the channel. The possible values of `dotnet-quality` are: **daily**, **signed**, **validated**, **preview**, **ga**.
 
-> **Note**: `dotnet-quality` input can be used only with .NET SDK version in 'A.B', 'A.B.x', 'A', 'A.x' and 'A.B.Cxx' formats where the major version is higher than 5. In other cases, `dotnet-quality` input will be ignored.
+The `dotnet-quality` input installs the latest build of the specified quality in the channel. Supported values: `daily`, `preview`, `ga`.
+
+> **Note**: When used with a specific SDK version, `dotnet-quality` supports only `A.B`, `A.B.x`, `A`, `A.x`, and `A.B.Cxx` formats where the major version is higher than 5. For all other formats, `dotnet-quality` will be ignored.
 
 ```yml
 steps:
@@ -91,6 +115,18 @@ steps:
 - run: dotnet build <my project>
 ```
 
+`dotnet-quality` can also be combined with `dotnet-version: latest` and `dotnet-channel` to target specific builds such as the latest `daily` build from the `LTS` channel.
+
+```yaml
+steps:
+- uses: actions/checkout@v6
+- uses: actions/setup-dotnet@v5
+  with:
+    dotnet-version: latest
+    dotnet-channel: LTS
+    dotnet-quality: daily
+```
+
 ## Using the `global-json-file` input
 `setup-dotnet` action can read .NET SDK version from a `global.json` file. Input `global-json-file` is used for specifying the path to the `global.json`. If the file that was supplied to `global-json-file` input doesn't exist, the action will fail with error.
 
@@ -371,4 +407,4 @@ The scripts and documentation in this project are released under the [MIT Licens
 
 ## Contributions
 
-Contributions are welcome! See [Contributor's Guide](docs/contributors.md)
+Contributions are welcome! See [Contributor's Guide](docs/contributors.md)

__tests__/installer.test.ts

@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import * as io from '@actions/io';
 import * as installer from '../src/installer';
 
 import {IS_WINDOWS} from '../src/utils';
-import {QualityOptions} from '../src/setup-dotnet';
 
 describe('installer tests', () => {
   const env = process.env;
@@ -40,7 +39,7 @@ describe('installer tests', () => {
 
       it('should throw the error in case of non-zero exit code of the installation script. The error message should contain logs.', async () => {
         const inputVersion = '10.0.101';
-        const inputQuality = '' as QualityOptions;
+        const inputQuality = '';
         const errorMessage = 'fictitious error message!';
 
         getExecOutputSpy.mockImplementation(() => {
@@ -62,7 +61,7 @@ describe('installer tests', () => {
 
       it('should return version of .NET SDK after installation complete', async () => {
         const inputVersion = '10.0.101';
-        const inputQuality = '' as QualityOptions;
+        const inputQuality = '';
         const stdout = `Fictitious dotnet version ${inputVersion} is installed`;
         getExecOutputSpy.mockImplementation(() => {
           return Promise.resolve({
@@ -84,7 +83,7 @@ describe('installer tests', () => {
 
       it(`should supply 'version' argument to the installation script if supplied version is in A.B.C syntax`, async () => {
         const inputVersion = '10.0.101';
-        const inputQuality = '' as QualityOptions;
+        const inputQuality = '';
         const stdout = `Fictitious dotnet version ${inputVersion} is installed`;
 
         getExecOutputSpy.mockImplementation(() => {
@@ -122,7 +121,7 @@ describe('installer tests', () => {
 
       it(`should warn if the 'quality' input is set and the supplied version is in A.B.C syntax`, async () => {
         const inputVersion = '10.0.101';
-        const inputQuality = 'ga' as QualityOptions;
+        const inputQuality = 'ga';
         const stdout = `Fictitious dotnet version ${inputVersion} is installed`;
         getExecOutputSpy.mockImplementation(() => {
           return Promise.resolve({
@@ -147,7 +146,7 @@ describe('installer tests', () => {
 
       it(`should warn if the 'quality' input is set and version isn't in A.B.C syntax but major tag is lower then 6`, async () => {
         const inputVersion = '3.1';
-        const inputQuality = 'ga' as QualityOptions;
+        const inputQuality = 'ga';
         const stdout = `Fictitious dotnet version ${inputVersion} is installed`;
 
         getExecOutputSpy.mockImplementation(() => {
@@ -174,7 +173,7 @@ describe('installer tests', () => {
       each(['10', '10.0', '10.0.x', '10.0.*', '10.0.X']).test(
         `should supply 'quality' argument to the installation script if quality input is set and version (%s) is not in A.B.C syntax`,
         async inputVersion => {
-          const inputQuality = 'ga' as QualityOptions;
+          const inputQuality = 'ga';
           const exitCode = 0;
           const stdout = `Fictitious dotnet version ${inputVersion} is installed`;
           getExecOutputSpy.mockImplementation(() => {
@@ -214,7 +213,7 @@ describe('installer tests', () => {
       each(['10', '10.0', '10.0.x', '10.0.*', '10.0.X']).test(
         `should supply 'channel' argument to the installation script if version (%s) isn't in A.B.C syntax`,
         async inputVersion => {
-          const inputQuality = '' as QualityOptions;
+          const inputQuality = '';
           const exitCode = 0;
           const stdout = `Fictitious dotnet version ${inputVersion} is installed`;
           getExecOutputSpy.mockImplementation(() => {
@@ -255,7 +254,7 @@ describe('installer tests', () => {
         it(`should supply '-ProxyAddress' argument to the installation script if env.variable 'https_proxy' is set`, async () => {
           process.env['https_proxy'] = 'https://proxy.com';
           const inputVersion = '10.0.101';
-          const inputQuality = '' as QualityOptions;
+          const inputQuality = '';
           const stdout = `Fictitious dotnet version ${inputVersion} is installed`;
 
           getExecOutputSpy.mockImplementation(() => {
@@ -293,7 +292,7 @@ describe('installer tests', () => {
         it(`should supply '-ProxyBypassList' argument to the installation script if env.variable 'no_proxy' is set`, async () => {
           process.env['no_proxy'] = 'first.url,second.url';
           const inputVersion = '10.0.101';
-          const inputQuality = '' as QualityOptions;
+          const inputQuality = '';
           const stdout = `Fictitious dotnet version ${inputVersion} is installed`;
 
           getExecOutputSpy.mockImplementation(() => {
@@ -331,7 +330,7 @@ describe('installer tests', () => {
 
       it(`should supply 'architecture' argument to the installation script when architecture is provided`, async () => {
         const inputVersion = '10.0.101';
-        const inputQuality = '' as QualityOptions;
+        const inputQuality = '';
         const inputArchitecture = 'x64';
         const stdout = `Fictitious dotnet version ${inputVersion} is installed`;
 
@@ -365,7 +364,7 @@ describe('installer tests', () => {
 
       it(`should NOT supply 'architecture' argument when architecture is not provided`, async () => {
         const inputVersion = '10.0.101';
-        const inputQuality = '' as QualityOptions;
+        const inputQuality = '';
         const stdout = `Fictitious dotnet version ${inputVersion} is installed`;
 
         getExecOutputSpy.mockImplementation(() => {
@@ -395,7 +394,7 @@ describe('installer tests', () => {
 
       it(`should supply 'install-dir' with arch subdirectory for cross-arch install`, async () => {
         const inputVersion = '10.0.101';
-        const inputQuality = '' as QualityOptions;
+        const inputQuality = '';
         const inputArchitecture = 'x64';
         const stdout = `Fictitious dotnet version ${inputVersion} is installed`;
 
@@ -436,7 +435,7 @@ describe('installer tests', () => {
 
       it(`should NOT supply 'install-dir' when architecture matches runner's native arch`, async () => {
         const inputVersion = '10.0.101';
-        const inputQuality = '' as QualityOptions;
+        const inputQuality = '';
         const nativeArch = os.arch().toLowerCase();
         const stdout = `Fictitious dotnet version ${inputVersion} is installed`;
 

__tests__/latest-version.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,223 @@
+import {DotnetVersionResolver} from '../src/installer';
+import * as hc from '@actions/http-client';
+import * as core from '@actions/core';
+
+// Mock http-client
+jest.mock('@actions/http-client');
+
+describe('DotnetVersionResolver with latest', () => {
+  let getJsonMock: jest.Mock;
+  let warningSpy: jest.SpyInstance;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    getJsonMock = jest.fn();
+    (hc.HttpClient as any).mockImplementation(() => {
+      return {
+        getJson: getJsonMock
+      };
+    });
+    warningSpy = jest.spyOn(core, 'warning').mockImplementation(() => {});
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    jest.clearAllMocks();
+    jest.restoreAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  const mockReleases = {
+    'releases-index': [
+      {
+        'channel-version': '10.0',
+        'support-phase': 'preview',
+        'release-type': 'lts'
+      },
+      {
+        'channel-version': '9.0',
+        'support-phase': 'active',
+        'release-type': 'sts'
+      },
+      {
+        'channel-version': '8.0',
+        'support-phase': 'active',
+        'release-type': 'lts'
+      },
+      {
+        'channel-version': '7.0',
+        'support-phase': 'eol',
+        'release-type': 'sts'
+      }
+    ]
+  };
+
+  it('should resolve "latest" to highest stable version by default', async () => {
+    getJsonMock.mockResolvedValue({result: mockReleases});
+
+    const resolver = new DotnetVersionResolver('latest');
+    const version = await resolver.createDotnetVersion();
+
+    expect(version.value).toBe('9.0');
+    expect(version.type.toLowerCase()).toContain('channel');
+    expect(version.qualityFlag).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('should resolve "LATEST" (uppercase) to highest stable version', async () => {
+    getJsonMock.mockResolvedValue({result: mockReleases});
+
+    const resolver = new DotnetVersionResolver('LATEST');
+    const version = await resolver.createDotnetVersion();
+
+    expect(version.value).toBe('9.0');
+    expect(version.type.toLowerCase()).toContain('channel');
+    expect(version.qualityFlag).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('should resolve "latest" to highest preview version if quality is preview', async () => {
+    getJsonMock.mockResolvedValue({result: mockReleases});
+
+    const resolver = new DotnetVersionResolver('latest', 'preview');
+    const version = await resolver.createDotnetVersion();
+
+    expect(version.value).toBe('10.0');
+  });
+
+  it('should resolve "latest" with channel filter LTS', async () => {
+    getJsonMock.mockResolvedValue({result: mockReleases});
+
+    const resolver = new DotnetVersionResolver('latest', '', 'LTS');
+    const version = await resolver.createDotnetVersion();
+
+    expect(version.value).toBe('8.0');
+  });
+
+  it('should resolve "latest" with channel filter STS', async () => {
+    getJsonMock.mockResolvedValue({result: mockReleases});
+
+    const resolver = new DotnetVersionResolver('latest', '', 'STS');
+    const version = await resolver.createDotnetVersion();
+
+    expect(version.value).toBe('9.0');
+  });
+
+  it('should resolve "latest" with channel filter STS and preview quality', async () => {
+    getJsonMock.mockResolvedValue({result: mockReleases});
+
+    const resolver = new DotnetVersionResolver('latest', 'preview', 'STS');
+    const version = await resolver.createDotnetVersion();
+
+    // preview quality includes all support-phases; STS filter → 9.0 (active, sts)
+    expect(version.value).toBe('9.0');
+  });
+
+  it('should warn if channel is provided but version is not latest', async () => {
+    getJsonMock.mockResolvedValue({result: mockReleases});
+
+    const resolver = new DotnetVersionResolver('8.0', '', 'LTS');
+    await resolver.createDotnetVersion();
+
+    expect(warningSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      `The 'dotnet-channel' input is only supported when 'dotnet-version' is set to 'latest'.`
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('should throw when releases-index API returns empty active releases', async () => {
+    const emptyReleases = {
+      'releases-index': [
+        {
+          'channel-version': '7.0',
+          'support-phase': 'eol',
+          'release-type': 'sts'
+        }
+      ]
+    };
+    getJsonMock.mockResolvedValue({result: emptyReleases});
+
+    const resolver = new DotnetVersionResolver('latest');
+
+    await expect(resolver.createDotnetVersion()).rejects.toThrow(
+      /Could not find any active releases/
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('should throw when releases-index response has unexpected format', async () => {
+    getJsonMock.mockResolvedValue({result: {}});
+
+    const resolver = new DotnetVersionResolver('latest');
+
+    await expect(resolver.createDotnetVersion()).rejects.toThrow(
+      /Unexpected response format/
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('should throw when releases-index response is null', async () => {
+    getJsonMock.mockResolvedValue({result: null});
+
+    const resolver = new DotnetVersionResolver('latest');
+
+    await expect(resolver.createDotnetVersion()).rejects.toThrow(
+      /Unexpected response format/
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('should resolve "latest" with ga quality same as default (no previews)', async () => {
+    getJsonMock.mockResolvedValue({result: mockReleases});
+
+    const resolver = new DotnetVersionResolver('latest', 'ga');
+    const version = await resolver.createDotnetVersion();
+
+    // ga should behave like no quality — skip preview (10.0), pick 9.0
+    expect(version.value).toBe('9.0');
+  });
+
+  it('should resolve "latest" with LTS channel and daily quality', async () => {
+    getJsonMock.mockResolvedValue({result: mockReleases});
+
+    const resolver = new DotnetVersionResolver('latest', 'daily', 'LTS');
+    const version = await resolver.createDotnetVersion();
+
+    // daily allows previews, LTS filter applies — 10.0 (preview, lts) is the highest LTS
+    expect(version.value).toBe('10.0');
+    expect(version.qualityFlag).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('should resolve "latest" with A.B channel directly without API call', async () => {
+    const resolver = new DotnetVersionResolver('latest', '', '8.0');
+    const version = await resolver.createDotnetVersion();
+
+    expect(version.value).toBe('8.0');
+    expect(version.type.toLowerCase()).toContain('channel');
+    expect(version.qualityFlag).toBe(true);
+    // Should NOT call the API
+    expect(getJsonMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('should resolve "latest" with A.B.Cxx channel directly without API call', async () => {
+    const resolver = new DotnetVersionResolver('latest', '', '8.0.1xx');
+    const version = await resolver.createDotnetVersion();
+
+    expect(version.value).toBe('8.0.1xx');
+    expect(version.type.toLowerCase()).toContain('channel');
+    expect(version.qualityFlag).toBe(true);
+    // Should NOT call the API
+    expect(getJsonMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('should resolve "latest" with A.B channel for older version with qualityFlag false', async () => {
+    const resolver = new DotnetVersionResolver('latest', '', '3.1');
+    const version = await resolver.createDotnetVersion();
+
+    expect(version.value).toBe('3.1');
+    expect(version.type.toLowerCase()).toContain('channel');
+    // major 3 < 6 → qualityFlag false
+    expect(version.qualityFlag).toBe(false);
+    expect(getJsonMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('should resolve "latest" with A.B.Cxx channel and quality', async () => {
+    const resolver = new DotnetVersionResolver('latest', 'ga', '8.0.2xx');
+    const version = await resolver.createDotnetVersion();
+
+    expect(version.value).toBe('8.0.2xx');
+    expect(version.qualityFlag).toBe(true);
+    expect(getJsonMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});

__tests__/setup-dotnet.test.ts

@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ describe('setup-dotnet tests', () => {
       inputs['dotnet-version'] = ['10.0'];
       inputs['dotnet-quality'] = 'fictitiousQuality';
 
-      const expectedErrorMessage = `Value '${inputs['dotnet-quality']}' is not supported for the 'dotnet-quality' option. Supported values are: daily, signed, validated, preview, ga.`;
+      const expectedErrorMessage = `Value '${inputs['dotnet-quality']}' is not supported for the 'dotnet-quality' option. Supported values are: daily, preview, ga.`;
 
       await setup.run();
       expect(setFailedSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expectedErrorMessage);
@@ -256,5 +256,95 @@ describe('setup-dotnet tests', () => {
       await setup.run();
       expect(setFailedSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expectedErrorMessage);
     });
+
+    it('should fail the action if unsupported dotnet-channel value is provided with latest', async () => {
+      inputs['dotnet-version'] = ['latest'];
+      inputs['dotnet-quality'] = '';
+      inputs['dotnet-channel'] = 'invalid';
+      inputs['architecture'] = '';
+
+      const expectedErrorMessage = `Value 'invalid' is not supported for the 'dotnet-channel' option. Supported values are: LTS, STS, A.B (e.g. 8.0), A.B.Cxx (e.g. 8.0.1xx).`;
+
+      await setup.run();
+      expect(setFailedSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expectedErrorMessage);
+    });
+
+    it('should warn but not fail if unsupported dotnet-channel value is provided with a specific version', async () => {
+      inputs['dotnet-version'] = ['8.0.x'];
+      inputs['dotnet-quality'] = '';
+      inputs['dotnet-channel'] = 'invalid';
+      inputs['architecture'] = '';
+
+      installDotnetSpy.mockImplementation(() => Promise.resolve(''));
+
+      await setup.run();
+      expect(setFailedSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(warningSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        `Value 'invalid' is not supported for the 'dotnet-channel' option and will be ignored because 'dotnet-version' is not set to 'latest'. Supported values are: LTS, STS, A.B (e.g. 8.0), A.B.Cxx (e.g. 8.0.1xx).`
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('should pass valid dotnet-channel value through without error', async () => {
+      inputs['dotnet-version'] = ['latest'];
+      inputs['dotnet-quality'] = '';
+      inputs['dotnet-channel'] = 'LTS';
+      inputs['architecture'] = '';
+
+      installDotnetSpy.mockImplementation(() => Promise.resolve(''));
+
+      await setup.run();
+      expect(setFailedSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('should pass A.B channel value through without error when used with latest', async () => {
+      inputs['dotnet-version'] = ['latest'];
+      inputs['dotnet-quality'] = '';
+      inputs['dotnet-channel'] = '8.0';
+      inputs['architecture'] = '';
+
+      installDotnetSpy.mockImplementation(() => Promise.resolve(''));
+
+      await setup.run();
+      expect(setFailedSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('should pass A.B.Cxx channel value through without error when used with latest', async () => {
+      inputs['dotnet-version'] = ['latest'];
+      inputs['dotnet-quality'] = '';
+      inputs['dotnet-channel'] = '8.0.1xx';
+      inputs['architecture'] = '';
+
+      installDotnetSpy.mockImplementation(() => Promise.resolve(''));
+
+      await setup.run();
+      expect(setFailedSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('should fail with A.B.Cxx channel if major version is below 5', async () => {
+      inputs['dotnet-version'] = ['latest'];
+      inputs['dotnet-quality'] = '';
+      inputs['dotnet-channel'] = '3.1.1xx';
+      inputs['architecture'] = '';
+
+      const expectedErrorMessage = `Value '3.1.1xx' is not supported for the 'dotnet-channel' option. Supported values are: LTS, STS, A.B (e.g. 8.0), A.B.Cxx (e.g. 8.0.1xx).`;
+
+      await setup.run();
+      expect(setFailedSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expectedErrorMessage);
+    });
+
+    it('should warn and not fail if valid dotnet-channel is provided with a non-latest version', async () => {
+      inputs['dotnet-version'] = ['8.0.x'];
+      inputs['dotnet-quality'] = '';
+      inputs['dotnet-channel'] = 'LTS';
+      inputs['architecture'] = '';
+
+      installDotnetSpy.mockImplementation(() => Promise.resolve(''));
+
+      await setup.run();
+      expect(setFailedSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(warningSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        `The 'dotnet-channel' input is only supported when 'dotnet-version' is set to 'latest'.`
+      );
+    });
   });
 });

action.yml

@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@ branding:
   color: green
 inputs:
   dotnet-version:
-    description: 'Optional SDK version(s) to use. If not provided, will install global.json version when available. Examples: 2.2.104, 3.1, 3.1.x, 3.x, 6.0.2xx'
+    description: 'Optional SDK version(s) to use. If not provided, will install global.json version when available. Examples: 2.2.104, 3.1, 3.1.x, 3.x, 6.0.2xx, latest'
   dotnet-quality:
-    description: 'Optional quality of the build. The possible values are: daily, signed, validated, preview, ga.'
+    description: 'Optional quality of the build. The possible values are: daily, preview, ga.'
+  dotnet-channel:
+    description: 'Optional channel for the installation. The possible values are: STS, LTS, A.B (e.g. 8.0), A.B.Cxx (e.g. 8.0.1xx, available since 5.0). To be used with "dotnet-version: latest".'
   global-json-file:
     description: 'Optional global.json location, if your global.json isn''t located in the root of the repo.'
   source-url:
@@ -39,4 +41,4 @@ runs:
   using: 'node24'
   main: 'dist/setup/index.js'
   post: 'dist/cache-save/index.js'
-  post-if: success()
+  post-if: success()

package-lock.json

@@ -9,14 +9,14 @@
       "version": "5.0.1",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
-        "@actions/cache": "^5.0.1",
-        "@actions/core": "^2.0.0",
+        "@actions/cache": "^5.0.5",
+        "@actions/core": "^2.0.3",
         "@actions/exec": "^2.0.0",
         "@actions/github": "^6.0.0",
-        "@actions/glob": "^0.5.0",
-        "@actions/http-client": "^3.0.0",
-        "@actions/io": "^1.0.2",
-        "fast-xml-parser": "^5.3.6",
+        "@actions/glob": "^0.5.1",
+        "@actions/http-client": "^3.0.2",
+        "@actions/io": "^2.0.0",
+        "fast-xml-parser": "^5.5.11",
         "json5": "^2.2.3",
         "semver": "^7.6.0"
       },
@@ -54,14 +54,15 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@actions/cache": {
-      "version": "5.0.1",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@actions/cache/-/cache-5.0.1.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-c+oH047Z2zmXLhjMZfEKjxZfv6Ou7T0sn5fhz6yupICXm5OOR47oZn5zxNO8MP7ttkxv5TOg3WsMrffri5Xhfw==",
+      "version": "5.0.5",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@actions/cache/-/cache-5.0.5.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-jiQSg0gfd+C2KPgcmdCOq7dCuCIQQWQ4b1YfGIRaaA9w7PJbRwTOcCz4LiFEUnqZGf0ha/8OKL3BeNwetHzYsQ==",
+      "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "@actions/core": "^2.0.0",
         "@actions/exec": "^2.0.0",
-        "@actions/glob": "^0.5.0",
-        "@actions/http-client": "^3.0.0",
+        "@actions/glob": "^0.5.1",
+        "@actions/http-client": "^3.0.2",
         "@actions/io": "^2.0.0",
         "@azure/abort-controller": "^1.1.0",
         "@azure/core-rest-pipeline": "^1.22.0",
@@ -70,12 +71,6 @@
         "semver": "^6.3.1"
       }
     },
-    "node_modules/@actions/cache/node_modules/@actions/io": {
-      "version": "2.0.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@actions/io/-/io-2.0.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-Jv33IN09XLO+0HS79aaODsvIRyduiF7NY/F6LYeK5oeUmrsz7aFdRphQjFoESF4jS7lMauDOttKALcpapVDIAg==",
-      "license": "MIT"
-    },
     "node_modules/@actions/cache/node_modules/semver": {
       "version": "6.3.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/semver/-/semver-6.3.1.tgz",
@@ -85,13 +80,13 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@actions/core": {
-      "version": "2.0.1",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@actions/core/-/core-2.0.1.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-oBfqT3GwkvLlo1fjvhQLQxuwZCGTarTE5OuZ2Wg10hvhBj7LRIlF611WT4aZS6fDhO5ZKlY7lCAZTlpmyaHaeg==",
+      "version": "2.0.3",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@actions/core/-/core-2.0.3.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-Od9Thc3T1mQJYddvVPM4QGiLUewdh+3txmDYHHxoNdkqysR1MbCT+rFOtNUxYAz+7+6RIsqipVahY2GJqGPyxA==",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "@actions/exec": "^2.0.0",
-        "@actions/http-client": "^3.0.0"
+        "@actions/http-client": "^3.0.2"
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@actions/exec": {
@@ -103,21 +98,19 @@
         "@actions/io": "^2.0.0"
       }
     },
-    "node_modules/@actions/exec/node_modules/@actions/io": {
-      "version": "2.0.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@actions/io/-/io-2.0.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-Jv33IN09XLO+0HS79aaODsvIRyduiF7NY/F6LYeK5oeUmrsz7aFdRphQjFoESF4jS7lMauDOttKALcpapVDIAg==",
-      "license": "MIT"
-    },
     "node_modules/@actions/github": {
-      "version": "6.0.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@actions/github/-/github-6.0.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-alScpSVnYmjNEXboZjarjukQEzgCRmjMv6Xj47fsdnqGS73bjJNDpiiXmp8jr0UZLdUB6d9jW63IcmddUP+l0g==",
+      "version": "6.0.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@actions/github/-/github-6.0.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-xbZVcaqD4XnQAe35qSQqskb3SqIAfRyLBrHMd/8TuL7hJSz2QtbDwnNM8zWx4zO5l2fnGtseNE3MbEvD7BxVMw==",
+      "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "@actions/http-client": "^2.2.0",
         "@octokit/core": "^5.0.1",
-        "@octokit/plugin-paginate-rest": "^9.0.0",
-        "@octokit/plugin-rest-endpoint-methods": "^10.0.0"
+        "@octokit/plugin-paginate-rest": "^9.2.2",
+        "@octokit/plugin-rest-endpoint-methods": "^10.4.0",
+        "@octokit/request": "^8.4.1",
+        "@octokit/request-error": "^5.1.1",
+        "undici": "^5.28.5"
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@actions/github/node_modules/@actions/http-client": {
@@ -131,57 +124,39 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@actions/glob": {
-      "version": "0.5.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@actions/glob/-/glob-0.5.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-tST2rjPvJLRZLuT9NMUtyBjvj9Yo0MiJS3ow004slMvm8GFM+Zv9HvMJ7HWzfUyJnGrJvDsYkWBaaG3YKXRtCw==",
+      "version": "0.5.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@actions/glob/-/glob-0.5.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-+dv/t2aKQdKp9WWSp+1yIXVJzH5Q38M0Mta26pzIbeec14EcIleMB7UU6N7sNgbEuYfyuVGpE5pOKjl6j1WXkA==",
+      "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
-        "@actions/core": "^1.9.1",
+        "@actions/core": "^2.0.3",
         "minimatch": "^3.0.4"
       }
     },
-    "node_modules/@actions/glob/node_modules/@actions/core": {
-      "version": "1.11.1",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@actions/core/-/core-1.11.1.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-hXJCSrkwfA46Vd9Z3q4cpEpHB1rL5NG04+/rbqW9d3+CSvtB1tYe8UTpAlixa1vj0m/ULglfEK2UKxMGxCxv5A==",
-      "license": "MIT",
-      "dependencies": {
-        "@actions/exec": "^1.1.1",
-        "@actions/http-client": "^2.0.1"
-      }
-    },
-    "node_modules/@actions/glob/node_modules/@actions/exec": {
-      "version": "1.1.1",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@actions/exec/-/exec-1.1.1.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-+sCcHHbVdk93a0XT19ECtO/gIXoxvdsgQLzb2fE2/5sIZmWQuluYyjPQtrtTHdU1YzTZ7bAPN4sITq2xi1679w==",
-      "license": "MIT",
-      "dependencies": {
-        "@actions/io": "^1.0.1"
-      }
-    },
-    "node_modules/@actions/glob/node_modules/@actions/http-client": {
-      "version": "2.2.3",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@actions/http-client/-/http-client-2.2.3.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-mx8hyJi/hjFvbPokCg4uRd4ZX78t+YyRPtnKWwIl+RzNaVuFpQHfmlGVfsKEJN8LwTCvL+DfVgAM04XaHkm6bA==",
-      "license": "MIT",
-      "dependencies": {
-        "tunnel": "^0.0.6",
-        "undici": "^5.25.4"
-      }
-    },
     "node_modules/@actions/http-client": {
-      "version": "3.0.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@actions/http-client/-/http-client-3.0.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-1s3tXAfVMSz9a4ZEBkXXRQD4QhY3+GAsWSbaYpeknPOKEeyRiU3lH+bHiLMZdo2x/fIeQ/hscL1wCkDLVM2DZQ==",
+      "version": "3.0.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@actions/http-client/-/http-client-3.0.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-JP38FYYpyqvUsz+Igqlc/JG6YO9PaKuvqjM3iGvaLqFnJ7TFmcLyy2IDrY0bI0qCQug8E9K+elv5ZNfw62ZJzA==",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "tunnel": "^0.0.6",
-        "undici": "^5.28.5"
+        "undici": "^6.23.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@actions/http-client/node_modules/undici": {
+      "version": "6.24.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/undici/-/undici-6.24.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-sC+b0tB1whOCzbtlx20fx3WgCXwkW627p4EA9uM+/tNNPkSS+eSEld6pAs9nDv7WbY1UUljBMYPtu9BCOrCWKA==",
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=18.17"
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@actions/io": {
-      "version": "1.1.3",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@actions/io/-/io-1.1.3.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-wi9JjgKLYS7U/z8PPbco+PvTb/nRWjeoFlJ1Qer83k/3C5PHQi28hiVdeE2kHXmIL99mQFawx8qt/JPjZilJ8Q=="
+      "version": "2.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@actions/io/-/io-2.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-Jv33IN09XLO+0HS79aaODsvIRyduiF7NY/F6LYeK5oeUmrsz7aFdRphQjFoESF4jS7lMauDOttKALcpapVDIAg==",
+      "license": "MIT"
     },
     "node_modules/@ampproject/remapping": {
       "version": "2.2.1",
@@ -1619,9 +1594,10 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@octokit/openapi-types": {
-      "version": "19.0.2",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@octokit/openapi-types/-/openapi-types-19.0.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-8li32fUDUeml/ACRp/njCWTsk5t17cfTM1jp9n08pBrqs5cDFJubtjsSnuz56r5Tad6jdEPJld7LxNp9dNcyjQ=="
+      "version": "20.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@octokit/openapi-types/-/openapi-types-20.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-EtqRBEjp1dL/15V7WiX5LJMIxxkdiGJnabzYx5Apx4FkQIFgAfKumXeYAqqJCj1s+BMX4cPFIFC4OLCR6stlnA==",
+      "license": "MIT"
     },
     "node_modules/@octokit/plugin-paginate-rest": {
       "version": "9.2.2",
@@ -1638,33 +1614,19 @@
         "@octokit/core": "5"
       }
     },
-    "node_modules/@octokit/plugin-paginate-rest/node_modules/@octokit/openapi-types": {
-      "version": "20.0.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@octokit/openapi-types/-/openapi-types-20.0.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-EtqRBEjp1dL/15V7WiX5LJMIxxkdiGJnabzYx5Apx4FkQIFgAfKumXeYAqqJCj1s+BMX4cPFIFC4OLCR6stlnA==",
-      "license": "MIT"
-    },
-    "node_modules/@octokit/plugin-paginate-rest/node_modules/@octokit/types": {
-      "version": "12.6.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@octokit/types/-/types-12.6.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-1rhSOfRa6H9w4YwK0yrf5faDaDTb+yLyBUKOCV4xtCDB5VmIPqd/v9yr9o6SAzOAlRxMiRiCic6JVM1/kunVkw==",
+    "node_modules/@octokit/plugin-rest-endpoint-methods": {
+      "version": "10.4.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@octokit/plugin-rest-endpoint-methods/-/plugin-rest-endpoint-methods-10.4.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-xV1b+ceKV9KytQe3zCVqjg+8GTGfDYwaT1ATU5isiUyVtlVAO3HNdzpS4sr4GBx4hxQ46s7ITtZrAsxG22+rVg==",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
-        "@octokit/openapi-types": "^20.0.0"
-      }
-    },
-    "node_modules/@octokit/plugin-rest-endpoint-methods": {
-      "version": "10.1.5",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@octokit/plugin-rest-endpoint-methods/-/plugin-rest-endpoint-methods-10.1.5.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-LMEdsMV8TTMjMTqVoqMzV95XTbv0ZsWxCxQtjAunQOCdwoDH4BVF/Ke5JMSZEVCWGI2kzxnUNbFnK/MxwV7NjA==",
-      "dependencies": {
-        "@octokit/types": "^12.3.0"
+        "@octokit/types": "^12.6.0"
       },
       "engines": {
         "node": ">= 18"
       },
       "peerDependencies": {
-        "@octokit/core": ">=5"
+        "@octokit/core": "5"
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@octokit/request": {
@@ -1727,11 +1689,12 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@octokit/types": {
-      "version": "12.3.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@octokit/types/-/types-12.3.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-nJ8X2HRr234q3w/FcovDlA+ttUU4m1eJAourvfUUtwAWeqL8AsyRqfnLvVnYn3NFbUnsmzQCzLNdFerPwdmcDQ==",
+      "version": "12.6.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@octokit/types/-/types-12.6.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-1rhSOfRa6H9w4YwK0yrf5faDaDTb+yLyBUKOCV4xtCDB5VmIPqd/v9yr9o6SAzOAlRxMiRiCic6JVM1/kunVkw==",
+      "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
-        "@octokit/openapi-types": "^19.0.2"
+        "@octokit/openapi-types": "^20.0.0"
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@protobuf-ts/runtime": {
@@ -2041,9 +2004,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin/node_modules/brace-expansion": {
-      "version": "5.0.3",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/brace-expansion/-/brace-expansion-5.0.3.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-fy6KJm2RawA5RcHkLa1z/ScpBeA762UF9KmZQxwIbDtRJrgLzM10depAiEQ+CXYcoiqW1/m96OAAoke2nE9EeA==",
+      "version": "5.0.5",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/brace-expansion/-/brace-expansion-5.0.5.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-VZznLgtwhn+Mact9tfiwx64fA9erHH/MCXEUfB/0bX/6Fz6ny5EGTXYltMocqg4xFAQZtnO3DHWWXi8RiuN7cQ==",
       "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
@@ -2188,9 +2151,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@typescript-eslint/parser/node_modules/brace-expansion": {
-      "version": "5.0.3",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/brace-expansion/-/brace-expansion-5.0.3.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-fy6KJm2RawA5RcHkLa1z/ScpBeA762UF9KmZQxwIbDtRJrgLzM10depAiEQ+CXYcoiqW1/m96OAAoke2nE9EeA==",
+      "version": "5.0.5",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/brace-expansion/-/brace-expansion-5.0.5.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-VZznLgtwhn+Mact9tfiwx64fA9erHH/MCXEUfB/0bX/6Fz6ny5EGTXYltMocqg4xFAQZtnO3DHWWXi8RiuN7cQ==",
       "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
@@ -2411,9 +2374,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@typescript-eslint/type-utils/node_modules/brace-expansion": {
-      "version": "5.0.3",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/brace-expansion/-/brace-expansion-5.0.3.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-fy6KJm2RawA5RcHkLa1z/ScpBeA762UF9KmZQxwIbDtRJrgLzM10depAiEQ+CXYcoiqW1/m96OAAoke2nE9EeA==",
+      "version": "5.0.5",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/brace-expansion/-/brace-expansion-5.0.5.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-VZznLgtwhn+Mact9tfiwx64fA9erHH/MCXEUfB/0bX/6Fz6ny5EGTXYltMocqg4xFAQZtnO3DHWWXi8RiuN7cQ==",
       "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
@@ -2493,9 +2456,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@typescript-eslint/typescript-estree/node_modules/brace-expansion": {
-      "version": "5.0.3",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/brace-expansion/-/brace-expansion-5.0.3.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-fy6KJm2RawA5RcHkLa1z/ScpBeA762UF9KmZQxwIbDtRJrgLzM10depAiEQ+CXYcoiqW1/m96OAAoke2nE9EeA==",
+      "version": "5.0.5",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/brace-expansion/-/brace-expansion-5.0.5.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-VZznLgtwhn+Mact9tfiwx64fA9erHH/MCXEUfB/0bX/6Fz6ny5EGTXYltMocqg4xFAQZtnO3DHWWXi8RiuN7cQ==",
       "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
@@ -2649,10 +2612,11 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/ajv": {
-      "version": "6.12.6",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ajv/-/ajv-6.12.6.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-j3fVLgvTo527anyYyJOGTYJbG+vnnQYvE0m5mmkc1TK+nxAppkCLMIL0aZ4dblVCNoGShhm+kzE4ZUykBoMg4g==",
+      "version": "6.14.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ajv/-/ajv-6.14.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-IWrosm/yrn43eiKqkfkHis7QioDleaXQHdDVPKg0FSwwd/DuvyX79TZnFOnYpB7dcsFAMmtFztZuXPDvSePkFw==",
       "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "fast-deep-equal": "^3.1.1",
         "fast-json-stable-stringify": "^2.0.0",
@@ -2859,9 +2823,10 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-NzUnlZexiaH/46WDhANlyR2bXRopNg4F/zuSA3OpZnllCUgRaOF2znDioDWrmbNVsuZk6l9pMquQB38cfBZwkQ=="
     },
     "node_modules/brace-expansion": {
-      "version": "1.1.12",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/brace-expansion/-/brace-expansion-1.1.12.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-9T9UjW3r0UW5c1Q7GTwllptXwhvYmEzFhzMfZ9H7FQWt+uZePjZPjBP/W1ZEyZ1twGWom5/56TF4lPcqjnDHcg==",
+      "version": "1.1.13",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/brace-expansion/-/brace-expansion-1.1.13.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-9ZLprWS6EENmhEOpjCYW2c8VkmOvckIJZfkr7rBW6dObmfgJ/L1GpSYW5Hpo9lDz4D1+n0Ckz8rU7FwHDQiG/w==",
+      "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "balanced-match": "^1.0.0",
         "concat-map": "0.0.1"
@@ -3651,10 +3616,10 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-DCXu6Ifhqcks7TZKY3Hxp3y6qphY5SJZmrWMDrKcERSOXWQdMhU9Ig/PYrzyw/ul9jOIyh0N4M0tbC5hodg8dw==",
       "dev": true
     },
-    "node_modules/fast-xml-parser": {
-      "version": "5.3.6",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/fast-xml-parser/-/fast-xml-parser-5.3.6.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-QNI3sAvSvaOiaMl8FYU4trnEzCwiRr8XMWgAHzlrWpTSj+QaCSvOf1h82OEP1s4hiAXhnbXSyFWCf4ldZzZRVA==",
+    "node_modules/fast-xml-builder": {
+      "version": "1.2.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/fast-xml-builder/-/fast-xml-builder-1.2.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-00aAWieqff+ZJhsXA4g1g7M8k+7AYoMUUHF+/zFb5U6Uv/P0Vl4QZo84/IcufzYalLuEj9928bXN9PbbFzMF0Q==",
       "funding": [
         {
           "type": "github",
@@ -3663,7 +3628,25 @@
       ],
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
-        "strnum": "^2.1.2"
+        "path-expression-matcher": "^1.5.0",
+        "xml-naming": "^0.1.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/fast-xml-parser": {
+      "version": "5.5.11",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/fast-xml-parser/-/fast-xml-parser-5.5.11.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-QL0eb0YbSTVWF6tTf1+LEMSgtCEjBYPpnAjoLC8SscESlAjXEIRJ7cHtLG0pLeDFaZLa4VKZLArtA/60ZS7vyA==",
+      "funding": [
+        {
+          "type": "github",
+          "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/NaturalIntelligence"
+        }
+      ],
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "fast-xml-builder": "^1.1.4",
+        "path-expression-matcher": "^1.4.0",
+        "strnum": "^2.2.3"
       },
       "bin": {
         "fxparser": "src/cli/cli.js"
@@ -3742,10 +3725,11 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/flatted": {
-      "version": "3.2.9",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/flatted/-/flatted-3.2.9.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-36yxDn5H7OFZQla0/jFJmbIKTdZAQHngCedGxiMmpNfEZM0sdEeT+WczLQrjK6D7o2aiyLYDnkw0R3JK0Qv1RQ==",
-      "dev": true
+      "version": "3.4.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/flatted/-/flatted-3.4.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-PjDse7RzhcPkIJwy5t7KPWQSZ9cAbzQXcafsetQoD7sOJRQlGikNbx7yZp2OotDnJyrDcbyRq3Ttb18iYOqkxA==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "ISC"
     },
     "node_modules/fs.realpath": {
       "version": "1.0.0",
@@ -5165,6 +5149,21 @@
         "node": ">=8"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/path-expression-matcher": {
+      "version": "1.5.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/path-expression-matcher/-/path-expression-matcher-1.5.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-cbrerZV+6rvdQrrD+iGMcZFEiiSrbv9Tfdkvnusy6y0x0GKBXREFg/Y65GhIfm0tnLntThhzCnfKwp1WRjeCyQ==",
+      "funding": [
+        {
+          "type": "github",
+          "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/NaturalIntelligence"
+        }
+      ],
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=14.0.0"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/path-is-absolute": {
       "version": "1.0.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/path-is-absolute/-/path-is-absolute-1.0.1.tgz",
@@ -5206,10 +5205,11 @@
       "dev": true
     },
     "node_modules/picomatch": {
-      "version": "2.3.1",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/picomatch/-/picomatch-2.3.1.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-JU3teHTNjmE2VCGFzuY8EXzCDVwEqB2a8fsIvwaStHhAWJEeVd1o1QD80CU6+ZdEXXSLbSsuLwJjkCBWqRQUVA==",
+      "version": "2.3.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/picomatch/-/picomatch-2.3.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-V7+vQEJ06Z+c5tSye8S+nHUfI51xoXIXjHQ99cQtKUkQqqO1kO/KCJUfZXuB47h/YBlDhah2H3hdUGXn8ie0oA==",
       "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
       "engines": {
         "node": ">=8.6"
       },
@@ -5718,9 +5718,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/strnum": {
-      "version": "2.1.2",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/strnum/-/strnum-2.1.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-l63NF9y/cLROq/yqKXSLtcMeeyOfnSQlfMSlzFt/K73oIaD8DGaQWd7Z34X9GPiKqP5rbSh84Hl4bOlLcjiSrQ==",
+      "version": "2.2.3",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/strnum/-/strnum-2.2.3.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-oKx6RUCuHfT3oyVjtnrmn19H1SiCqgJSg+54XqURKp5aCMbrXrhLjRN9TjuwMjiYstZ0MzDrHqkGZ5dFTKd+zg==",
       "funding": [
         {
           "type": "github",
@@ -6059,6 +6059,21 @@
         "node": "^12.13.0 || ^14.15.0 || >=16.0.0"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/xml-naming": {
+      "version": "0.1.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/xml-naming/-/xml-naming-0.1.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-k8KO9hrMyNk6tUWqUfkTEZbezRRpONVOzUTnc97VnCvyj6Tf9lyUR9EDAIeiVLv56jsMcoXEwjW8Kv5yPY52lw==",
+      "funding": [
+        {
+          "type": "github",
+          "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/NaturalIntelligence"
+        }
+      ],
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=16.0.0"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/y18n": {
       "version": "5.0.8",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/y18n/-/y18n-5.0.8.tgz",

package.json

@@ -29,14 +29,14 @@
   "author": "GitHub",
   "license": "MIT",
   "dependencies": {
-    "@actions/cache": "^5.0.1",
-    "@actions/core": "^2.0.0",
+    "@actions/cache": "^5.0.5",
+    "@actions/core": "^2.0.3",
     "@actions/exec": "^2.0.0",
     "@actions/github": "^6.0.0",
-    "@actions/glob": "^0.5.0",
-    "@actions/http-client": "^3.0.0",
-    "@actions/io": "^1.0.2",
-    "fast-xml-parser": "^5.3.6",
+    "@actions/glob": "^0.5.1",
+    "@actions/http-client": "^3.0.2",
+    "@actions/io": "^2.0.0",
+    "fast-xml-parser": "^5.5.11",
     "json5": "^2.2.3",
     "semver": "^7.6.0"
   },

src/installer.ts

@@ -16,21 +16,74 @@ export interface DotnetVersion {
   qualityFlag: boolean;
 }
 
+interface ReleaseIndexEntry {
+  'channel-version': string;
+  'support-phase': string;
+  'release-type': string;
+}
+
+interface ReleaseIndexResponse {
+  'releases-index': ReleaseIndexEntry[];
+}
+
 const QUALITY_INPUT_MINIMAL_MAJOR_TAG = 6;
 const LATEST_PATCH_SYNTAX_MINIMAL_MAJOR_TAG = 5;
 export class DotnetVersionResolver {
   private inputVersion: string;
   private resolvedArgument: DotnetVersion;
 
-  constructor(version: string) {
+  constructor(
+    version: string,
+    private quality: QualityOptions = '',
+    private dotnetChannel?: string
+  ) {
     this.inputVersion = version.trim();
     this.resolvedArgument = {type: '', value: '', qualityFlag: false};
   }
 
+  private isVersionChannel(channel: string): boolean {
+    // A.B format (e.g., 3.1, 8.0)
+    if (/^\d+\.\d+$/.test(channel)) return true;
+    // A.B.Cxx format (e.g., 8.0.1xx) is supported only for .NET 5.0+
+    const latestPatchMatch = channel.match(/^(\d+)\.\d+\.\d{1}xx$/);
+    if (latestPatchMatch) {
+      const major = Number(latestPatchMatch[1]);
+      return (
+        !Number.isNaN(major) && major >= LATEST_PATCH_SYNTAX_MINIMAL_MAJOR_TAG
+      );
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
+
   private async resolveVersionInput(): Promise<void> {
+    if (this.inputVersion.toLowerCase() === 'latest') {
+      const channel = this.dotnetChannel || '';
+      if (this.isVersionChannel(channel)) {
+        // A.B or A.B.Cxx channels are passed directly to the install script
+        this.resolvedArgument.value = channel;
+      } else {
+        // LTS, STS, or empty — resolve via releases index API
+        this.resolvedArgument.value = await this.getLatestVersion(channel);
+      }
+      this.resolvedArgument.type = 'channel';
+      const latestChannelMajorTag = Number(
+        this.resolvedArgument.value.split('.')[0]
+      );
+      this.resolvedArgument.qualityFlag =
+        !Number.isNaN(latestChannelMajorTag) &&
+        latestChannelMajorTag >= QUALITY_INPUT_MINIMAL_MAJOR_TAG;
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (this.dotnetChannel) {
+      core.warning(
+        `The 'dotnet-channel' input is only supported when 'dotnet-version' is set to 'latest'.`
+      );
+    }
+
     if (!semver.validRange(this.inputVersion) && !this.isLatestPatchSyntax()) {
       throw new Error(
-        `The 'dotnet-version' was supplied in invalid format: ${this.inputVersion}! Supported syntax: A.B.C, A.B, A.B.x, A, A.x, A.B.Cxx`
+        `The 'dotnet-version' was supplied in invalid format: ${this.inputVersion}! Supported syntax: A.B.C, A.B, A.B.x, A, A.x, A.B.Cxx, latest`
       );
     }
     if (semver.valid(this.inputVersion)) {
@@ -96,6 +149,64 @@ export class DotnetVersionResolver {
     return this.resolvedArgument;
   }
 
+  private async getLatestVersion(channelFilter: string): Promise<string> {
+    const httpClient = new hc.HttpClient('actions/setup-dotnet', [], {
+      allowRetries: true,
+      maxRetries: 3
+    });
+
+    const response = await httpClient.getJson<ReleaseIndexResponse>(
+      DotnetVersionResolver.DotnetCoreIndexUrl
+    );
+
+    const result = response.result;
+    const rawReleasesInfo = result?.['releases-index'];
+
+    if (!Array.isArray(rawReleasesInfo)) {
+      throw new Error('Unexpected response format from .NET releases index.');
+    }
+
+    let releasesInfo = rawReleasesInfo;
+
+    // Filter out EOL versions
+    releasesInfo = releasesInfo.filter(info => info['support-phase'] !== 'eol');
+
+    // Filter out preview versions if quality is not 'preview' or 'daily'
+    // If quality is not specified, we assume strict stability (GA only)
+    const normalizedQuality = (this.quality || '').toLowerCase();
+    if (!['preview', 'daily'].includes(normalizedQuality)) {
+      releasesInfo = releasesInfo.filter(
+        info => info['support-phase'] !== 'preview'
+      );
+    }
+
+    // Apply channel filter (LTS/STS)
+    if (channelFilter) {
+      const type = channelFilter.toLowerCase();
+      releasesInfo = releasesInfo.filter(info => info['release-type'] === type);
+    }
+
+    releasesInfo.sort((a, b) => {
+      const partsA = a['channel-version'].split('.').map(Number);
+      const partsB = b['channel-version'].split('.').map(Number);
+      for (let i = 0; i < Math.max(partsA.length, partsB.length); i++) {
+        const diff = (partsB[i] || 0) - (partsA[i] || 0);
+        if (diff !== 0) return diff;
+      }
+      return 0;
+    });
+
+    if (releasesInfo.length === 0) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `Could not find any active releases matching channel '${
+          channelFilter || 'any'
+        }'`
+      );
+    }
+
+    return releasesInfo[0]['channel-version'];
+  }
+
   private async getLatestByMajorTag(majorTag: string): Promise<string> {
     const httpClient = new hc.HttpClient('actions/setup-dotnet', [], {
       allowRetries: true,
@@ -279,11 +390,16 @@ export class DotnetCoreInstaller {
   constructor(
     private version: string,
     private quality: QualityOptions,
-    private architecture?: string
+    private architecture?: string,
+    private dotnetChannel?: string
   ) {}
 
   public async installDotnet(): Promise<string | null> {
-    const versionResolver = new DotnetVersionResolver(this.version);
+    const versionResolver = new DotnetVersionResolver(
+      this.version,
+      this.quality,
+      this.dotnetChannel
+    );
     const dotnetVersion = await versionResolver.createDotnetVersion();
 
     const architectureArguments =

src/setup-dotnet.ts

@@ -15,13 +15,7 @@ import {restoreCache} from './cache-restore';
 import {Outputs} from './constants';
 import JSON5 from 'json5';
 
-const qualityOptions = [
-  'daily',
-  'signed',
-  'validated',
-  'preview',
-  'ga'
-] as const;
+const qualityOptions = ['daily', 'preview', 'ga'] as const;
 const supportedArchitectures = [
   'x64',
   'x86',
@@ -34,7 +28,18 @@ const supportedArchitectures = [
 ] as const;
 type SupportedArchitecture = (typeof supportedArchitectures)[number];
 
-export type QualityOptions = (typeof qualityOptions)[number];
+export type QualityOptions = (typeof qualityOptions)[number] | '';
+
+function isValidChannel(channel: string): boolean {
+  const upper = channel.toUpperCase();
+  if (upper === 'LTS' || upper === 'STS') return true;
+  // A.B format (e.g., 3.1, 8.0)
+  if (/^\d+\.\d+$/.test(channel)) return true;
+  // A.B.Cxx format (e.g., 8.0.1xx) - available since 5.0
+  const match = channel.match(/^(?<major>\d+)\.\d+\.\d{1}xx$/);
+  if (match && parseInt(match.groups!.major) >= 5) return true;
+  return false;
+}
 
 export async function run() {
   try {
@@ -50,6 +55,28 @@ export async function run() {
     const versions = core.getMultilineInput('dotnet-version');
     const installedDotnetVersions: (string | null)[] = [];
     const architecture = getArchitectureInput();
+    let dotnetChannel = core.getInput('dotnet-channel');
+
+    const isLatestRequested = versions.some(
+      version => version && version.toLowerCase() === 'latest'
+    );
+    if (dotnetChannel && !isValidChannel(dotnetChannel)) {
+      if (isLatestRequested) {
+        throw new Error(
+          `Value '${dotnetChannel}' is not supported for the 'dotnet-channel' option. Supported values are: LTS, STS, A.B (e.g. 8.0), A.B.Cxx (e.g. 8.0.1xx).`
+        );
+      } else {
+        core.warning(
+          `Value '${dotnetChannel}' is not supported for the 'dotnet-channel' option and will be ignored because 'dotnet-version' is not set to 'latest'. Supported values are: LTS, STS, A.B (e.g. 8.0), A.B.Cxx (e.g. 8.0.1xx).`
+        );
+        dotnetChannel = '';
+      }
+    } else if (dotnetChannel && !isLatestRequested) {
+      core.warning(
+        `The 'dotnet-channel' input is only supported when 'dotnet-version' is set to 'latest'.`
+      );
+      dotnetChannel = '';
+    }
 
     const globalJsonFileInput = core.getInput('global-json-file');
     if (globalJsonFileInput) {
@@ -80,17 +107,20 @@ export async function run() {
 
       if (quality && !qualityOptions.includes(quality)) {
         throw new Error(
-          `Value '${quality}' is not supported for the 'dotnet-quality' option. Supported values are: daily, signed, validated, preview, ga.`
+          `Value '${quality}' is not supported for the 'dotnet-quality' option. Supported values are: daily, preview, ga.`
         );
       }
 
       let dotnetInstaller: DotnetCoreInstaller;
-      const uniqueVersions = new Set<string>(versions);
+      const uniqueVersions = new Set<string>(
+        versions.map(v => (v.toLowerCase() === 'latest' ? 'latest' : v))
+      );
       for (const version of uniqueVersions) {
         dotnetInstaller = new DotnetCoreInstaller(
           version,
           quality,
-          architecture
+          architecture,
+          version.toLowerCase() === 'latest' ? dotnetChannel : undefined
         );
         const installedVersion = await dotnetInstaller.installDotnet();
         installedDotnetVersions.push(installedVersion);