refactored diff

Author: talentedmrjones

.github/workflows/backend.yml

@@ -32,16 +32,14 @@ jobs:
           version: v1.58
           working-directory: backend
 
-        # this check will exit non-zero when grep fails to find a match
-        # but that status is used in later if statements hence continue on error
       - name: Check for changes in backend/
-        id: backendDiff
-        run: git --no-pager diff --name-only origin/main HEAD | grep backend/
-        continue-on-error: true
-
+        id: diff
+        run: echo "files_changed=$(git --no-pager diff --name-only origin/main HEAD)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+        
   build:
     name: Build and Push
-    if: jobs.lint.steps.backendDiff.outcome == 'success'
+    needs: lint
+    if: contains(needs.lint.outputs.files_changed, 'backend/')
     environment: DEV
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     permissions: