Notes – GitHub Actions

GitHub Actions is a powerful automation platform built directly into GitHub.  It allows you to automate workflows within your software development life cycle, right in your repositories.

Here’s a breakdown of what it is:

Core Functionality:

• Automation of Workflows:
  • GitHub Actions enables you to create automated workflows that respond to events within your GitHub repository.  These events can include things like:
    • Pushing code.
    • Opening a pull request.
    • Creating an issue.
    • Scheduling tasks.
• CI/CD Capabilities:
  • A primary use of GitHub Actions is for Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD). This means you can automate the process of:
    • Building your code.
    • Running tests.
    • Deploying your applications.
• Workflow Definition:
  • Workflows are defined using YAML files, which are stored in your repository.  This allows you to keep your automation code alongside your project code.
• Actions (Reusable Components):
  • “Actions” are individual, reusable components that perform specific tasks within your workflows.  You can use actions created by the GitHub community, or create your own.
• Runners:
  • Workflows are executed on “runners,” which are servers that run your jobs.  GitHub provides hosted runners (Linux, macOS, Windows), or you can use self-hosted runners.

Key Features and Benefits:

• Tight Integration with GitHub: It’s built directly into GitHub, making it seamless to integrate with your repositories.
• Flexibility:  You can automate virtually any task within your GitHub workflow.
• Community and Marketplace:  A large community and a marketplace of pre-built actions simplify automation.
• Cross-Platform Support:  It supports various operating systems and programming languages.

In essence, GitHub Actions empowers developers to automate a wide range of tasks, from simple code checks to complex deployment pipelines, all within the familiar GitHub environment.