improve dry run

.github/workflows/upload_plugin.yml

@@ -5,18 +5,16 @@ on:
     branches:
       - main
     tags:
-      # This filter affects how DRY_RUN is determined.  RC's will get DRY_RUN=true
+      # All runs triggered by tag will really push to S3.
+      # Take care when adding more patterns here.
       - 'v[0-9]+.[0-9]+.[0-9]+'
       - 'v[0-9]+.[0-9]+.[0-9]+-rc[0-9]+'
   pull_request: { }
   workflow_dispatch: { }
 
 env:
-  # Only write to S3 for real, if:
-  # 1) it was a tag push
-  # 2) the tag looks like a real release tag (not an RC).
-  # This works in conjunction with workflow tag filters above
-  DRY_RUN: ${{ !( github.ref_type == 'tag' && !contains( github.ref, 'rc' ) ) }}
+  # Do dry run in most cases, UNLESS the triggering event was a "tag".
+  DRY_RUN: ${{ ! github.ref_type == 'tag' }}
 
 jobs:
   upload_rpk_connect_plugin:
@@ -42,21 +40,25 @@ jobs:
       - name: Check out code repo
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: Add dummy tag for DRY_RUN (local only)
-        if: ${{ env.DRY_RUN }}
-        run: git tag -a "v999.999.999" -m "Dry run tag v999.999.999"
-
       - name: Install Go
         uses: actions/setup-go@v5
         with:
           go-version: 1.22.x
           check-latest: true
 
+      - name: Build binaries (dry run / snapshot mode)
+        if: ${{ env.DRY_RUN }}
+        uses: goreleaser/goreleaser-action@v6
+        with:
+          version: 1.26.2
+          args: build --snapshot
+
       - name: Build binaries
+        if: ${{ ! env.DRY_RUN }}
         uses: goreleaser/goreleaser-action@v6
         with:
           version: 1.26.2
-          args: build --timeout 120m
+          args: build
 
       - name: Upload connect plugin to S3
         uses: ./.github/actions/upload_managed_plugin