GitHub Actions Platform

A GitHub Actions Platform is a software development workflow platform (e.g. continuous integration (CI) workflows and continuous delivery (CD) workflows) built into GitHub repositories.

• Context:
  • It can (typically) integrate with secrets management to securely handle sensitive information, like API keys, ensuring these are not exposed in the workflow logs.
  • It can (often) automate CI/CD pipelines by setting up workflows triggered by events such as code pushes, pull requests, or scheduled intervals.
  • It can (often) run workflows defined in YAML files located in the `.github/workflows` directory of a repository, allowing for full control over build, test, and deployment processes.
  • It can (often) trigger workflows based on a wide range of GitHub events, including push events, pull request actions, issue creation, and more.
  • It can (often) handle matrix builds, enabling the testing of code across various environments, such as different operating systems or runtime versions.
  • It can (often) be executed on GitHub-hosted runners or self-hosted runners, giving developers the flexibility to use their own infrastructure for running workflows.
  • It can (often) generate and store artifacts, enabling the sharing of data across jobs and the collection of workflow outputs for future reference or analysis.
  • ...
  • It can support the use of pre-built or custom Actions to perform reusable tasks, which can be shared via the GitHub Marketplace or developed specifically for individual projects.
  • It can consist of multiple jobs and steps, allowing for complex workflows that execute tasks in parallel or sequentially based on defined conditions.
  • It can be integrated with third-party services like Docker, AWS, and Azure for enhanced deployment and testing scenarios.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • GitHub Actions, 2018, announced at the GitHub Universe conference and launched in limited public beta
  • GitHub Actions, 2019, became generally available in November.
  • ...
  • GitHub Actions, 2024, continuous evolution and expansion of features, including growth of the GitHub Actions Marketplace to over 10,000 pre-written actions.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Jenkins, an open-source automation server that performs CI/CD tasks but is not tied directly to GitHub repositories.
  • CircleCI, a cloud-based CI/CD platform with similar capabilities to GitHub Actions but operates independently of GitHub’s repository ecosystem.
• See: Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery, GitLab CI/CD, Jenkins, CircleCI.

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References

2023

• https://youtube.com/watch?v=R8_veQiYBjI
  • NOTES:
    1. GitHub Actions automate developer workflows, streamlining tasks that are time-consuming, error-prone, or tedious.
    2. GitHub Actions are not limited to CI/CD pipelines but can automate various software development workflows such as managing pull requests, issues, and releases.
    3. GitHub Actions operate based on GitHub events, where actions are triggered automatically in response to specific repository events such as pushes, pull requests, or issue creation.
    4. GitHub Actions allow developers to define workflows using YAML files, where each workflow is composed of multiple jobs and steps to automate tasks.
    5. GitHub Actions enable CI/CD pipelines, simplifying the process of building, testing, and deploying code from the same platform where the code is hosted.
    6. GitHub Actions support integration with external tools like Docker, AWS, and Nexus, facilitating seamless deployment and artifact management workflows.
    7. GitHub Actions provide an easy setup for CI/CD pipelines, removing the need for dedicated DevOps resources by allowing developers to build and maintain pipelines directly within their GitHub repositories.
    8. GitHub Actions enable matrix builds, allowing developers to run workflows across multiple environments, such as different operating systems or Java versions, simultaneously.
    9. GitHub Actions provide access to pre-built actions from the GitHub Marketplace, where developers can reuse existing workflows, such as setting up environments, testing code, or deploying artifacts.

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