ci improvements, update protoc (#13876)

* Fix md5 return_type to only return Utf8 as per current code impl.

* ci improvements

* Lock taiki-e/install-action to a githash for apache action policy - Release 2.46.19 in the case of this hash.

* Lock taiki-e/install-action to a githash for apache action policy - Release 2.46.19 in the case of this hash.

* Revert nextest change until action is approved.

* Exclude requires workspace

* Fixing minor typo to verify ci caching of builds is working as expected.

* Updates from PR review.

* Adding issue link for disabling intel mac build

* improve performance of running examples

* remove cargo check

Author: Omega359

.github/actions/setup-macos-aarch64-builder/action.yaml

@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ runs:
       run: |
         mkdir -p $HOME/d/protoc
         cd $HOME/d/protoc
-        export PROTO_ZIP="protoc-21.4-osx-aarch_64.zip"        
-        curl -LO https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/download/v21.4/$PROTO_ZIP
+        export PROTO_ZIP="protoc-29.1-osx-aarch_64.zip"
+        curl -LO https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/download/v29.1/$PROTO_ZIP
         unzip $PROTO_ZIP
         echo "$HOME/d/protoc/bin" >> $GITHUB_PATH
         export PATH=$PATH:$HOME/d/protoc/bin
@@ -43,5 +43,7 @@ runs:
         rustup toolchain install stable
         rustup default stable
         rustup component add rustfmt
+    - name: Setup rust cache
+      uses: Swatinem/rust-cache@v2
     - name: Configure rust runtime env
       uses: ./.github/actions/setup-rust-runtime        

.github/actions/setup-macos-builder/action.yaml

@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ runs:
       run: |
         mkdir -p $HOME/d/protoc
         cd $HOME/d/protoc
-        export PROTO_ZIP="protoc-21.4-osx-x86_64.zip"        
-        curl -LO https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/download/v21.4/$PROTO_ZIP
+        export PROTO_ZIP="protoc-29.1-osx-x86_64.zip"
+        curl -LO https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/download/v29.1/$PROTO_ZIP
         unzip $PROTO_ZIP
         echo "$HOME/d/protoc/bin" >> $GITHUB_PATH
         export PATH=$PATH:$HOME/d/protoc/bin

.github/actions/setup-windows-builder/action.yaml

@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ runs:
       run: |
         mkdir -p $HOME/d/protoc
         cd $HOME/d/protoc
-        export PROTO_ZIP="protoc-21.4-win64.zip"
-        curl -LO https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/download/v21.4/$PROTO_ZIP
+        export PROTO_ZIP="protoc-29.1-win64.zip"
+        curl -LO https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/download/v29.1/$PROTO_ZIP
         unzip $PROTO_ZIP
         export PATH=$PATH:$HOME/d/protoc/bin
         protoc.exe --version

.github/workflows/dependencies.yml

@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           submodules: true
+          fetch-depth: 1
       - name: Setup Rust toolchain
         uses: ./.github/actions/setup-builder
         with:

.github/workflows/docs_pr.yaml

@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           submodules: true
+          fetch-depth: 1
       - name: Setup Rust toolchain
         uses: ./.github/actions/setup-builder
         with: