GitHub Actions: What Is It and How to Use It?

GitHub Actions is a continuous integration (CI) and continuous deployment (CD) tool available on the GitHub platform. It allows you to automatically test, build, and deploy changes in your software projects.

Key Concepts

Workflow

The foundation of GitHub Actions usage is the creation of a workflow. A workflow consists of a series of steps that run when a specific event occurs, such as pushing code to a repository.

Job

Steps within a workflow are referred to as one or more jobs. A job represents a series of steps running on a runner.

Runner

GitHub Actions uses runners, which are virtual machines used to perform a specific task.

How to Use GitHub Actions?

1. Create the .github/workflows Folder

In the root directory of your project, create a folder named .github/workflows.

2. Create a YAML File

Within this folder, create a YAML file. This file should define your workflow, specifying the steps that will be executed.

3. Commit and Push to GitHub

After creating your YAML file, make the necessary changes and commit them. Push the changes to GitHub to trigger the workflow.

4. Monitor Results

You can track running workflows and steps in the GitHub Actions tab.

GitHub Actions provides a powerful way to automate your CI/CD processes, leading to a more reliable and efficient software development lifecycle.