Apply labels and close stale issues and PRs

[GarethCabournDavies]

This implements a new GitHub action to apply labels warning that a PR or issue is stale, and closes it automatically if nothing happens for a week after it has been labelled stale

I think I've set it so that we can apply bug or long term labels so that this won't happen.

Standard information about the request

This is a new feature for GitHub management
This change has been proposed using the contribution guidelines

Motivation

I want to reduce the number of issues, and this is the easiest way to do that, rather than commenting on each one asking for an update.

Contents

Add a GitHub workflow which uses the Close Stale Issues action to mark and close issues/PRs

Links to any issues or associated PRs

I could link all the issues and PRs older than a couple of months, but lets not do that for now.

Testing performed

None

• The author of this pull request confirms they will adhere to the code of conduct

[spxiwh]

This makes sense to me, but I'd like @ahnitz 's approval as well before merging.

[titodalcanton]

I generally dislike this approach to issues, but will not oppose if there is consensus from others.

[ahnitz]

I think this is fine. The main issue is making sure people then add long-term labels to planning things and 'bug' as appropriate.

[Copilot]

Pull Request Overview

This PR implements a GitHub workflow to automatically mark stale issues and PRs, reducing backlog by closing those inactive for 60 days.

• Adds a new GitHub action workflow using actions/stale@v9.
• Configures exempt labels ("bug" and "long term") to prevent auto-closure of important items.

[GarethCabournDavies]

I do see this as more a reminder to close if things are transient, or a kick to get things moving if it has just been delayed

Please approve or reject if we don't want this

[GarethCabournDavies]

Ping on this

[GarethCabournDavies]

Suggested change

	exempt-issue-labels: 'long term,bug'
	exempt-issue-labels: 'long term,bug,work in progress'

Looking back at some of the older PRs, it may be worth adding work in progress to the list, especially for those of us who have back-burner projects on the go. I realise this is pretty much equivalent to long term, but with different reasoning behind it