end gracefully if there are no changes

.github/workflows/maintenance.yml

@@ -144,8 +144,22 @@ jobs:
             - uses: actions/checkout@v4
               with:
                   ref: ${{ github.ref }}
+                  fetch-depth: 0
+
+            - name: Check for differences
+              id: check-diff
+              run: |
+                  git fetch origin main
+                  if git diff --quiet origin/main ${{ needs.create-branch-prefix.outputs.base-branch }}; then
+                    echo "No differences found between branches"
+                    echo "has_changes=false" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+                  else
+                    echo "Changes detected"
+                    echo "has_changes=true" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+                  fi
 
             - name: Create Pull Request
+              if: steps.check-diff.outputs.has_changes == 'true'
               env:
                   GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.LASTMJS_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
               run: |

.github/workflows/squash_branches.yml

@@ -74,10 +74,14 @@ jobs:
                     git merge --squash $branch
                   done
 
-                  # Create a merge commit with a descriptive message
-                  git commit -am "${{ inputs.commit-message }}"
-
-                  git push origin HEAD:$CURRENT_BRANCH
+                  # Check if there are any changes to commit
+                  if git diff --staged --quiet; then
+                    echo "No changes to commit"
+                  else
+                    # Create a merge commit with a descriptive message
+                    git commit -am "${{ inputs.commit-message }}"
+                    git push origin HEAD:$CURRENT_BRANCH
+                  fi
 
             - name: Delete branches
               run: |