move env.CHANGES check to substages as...

.github/workflows/next-container-build.yaml

@@ -60,8 +60,6 @@ jobs:
     name: Next build
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs: check-changes
-    # run this stage only if there are changes that match the includes and not the excludes
-    if: ${{ env.CHANGES != '' }}
     permissions:
       contents: read
       packages: write
@@ -73,25 +71,33 @@ jobs:
           fetch-depth: 0
 
       - name: Setup Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@v4
+        # run this stage only if there are changes that match the includes and not the excludes
+        if: ${{ env.CHANGES != '' }}
+        uses: actions/setup-go@v5
         with:
           go-version-file: 'go.mod'
 
       - name: Get the last commit short SHA
+        # run this stage only if there are changes that match the includes and not the excludes
+        if: ${{ env.CHANGES != '' }}
         run: |
           SHORT_SHA=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)
           echo "SHORT_SHA=$SHORT_SHA" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           BASE_VERSION=$(grep -E "^VERSION \?=" Makefile | sed -r -e "s/.+= //") # 0.0.1
           echo "BASE_VERSION=$BASE_VERSION" >> $GITHUB_ENV
 
       - name: Login to quay.io
+        # run this stage only if there are changes that match the includes and not the excludes
+        if: ${{ env.CHANGES != '' }}
         uses: docker/login-action@v2
         with:
           registry: ${{ env.REGISTRY }}
           username: ${{ vars.QUAY_USERNAME }}
           password: ${{ secrets.QUAY_TOKEN }}
 
       - name: Build and push operator, bundle, and catalog images
+        # run this stage only if there are changes that match the includes and not the excludes
+        if: ${{ env.CHANGES != '' }}
         run: |
           # install skopeo, podman
           sudo apt-get -y update; sudo apt-get -y install skopeo podman