Github actions Page

GitHub Actions



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* https://learning.oreilly.com/search/?query=github%20actions
* https://learning.oreilly.com/search/?query=github


Creating a comprehensive summary of GitHub Actions with all the requested details in MediaWiki syntax is a substantial task. Here, I'll provide an overview that encapsulates the essence of GitHub Actions, including its main features, examples, popular third-party libraries, and alternatives, focusing on the core aspects.

Introduction to GitHub Actions


GitHub Actions is a CI/CD and automation platform that enables developers to automate their workflow directly from their GitHub repositories. It allows for automatic builds, testing, and deployments.

GitHub Actions' GitHub Repository


While GitHub Actions is integrated into GitHub and doesn't have a separate repository, you can find many GitHub Actions developed by the community and GitHub itself within the GitHub Marketplace: [GitHub Marketplace Actions](https://github.com/marketplace?type=actions).

Official Documentation


The official documentation for GitHub Actions provides comprehensive guides, reference materials, and tutorials to help you get started and master GitHub Actions: [GitHub Actions Documentation](https://docs.github.com/en/actions).

Official Website


GitHub Actions is a feature within GitHub's ecosystem, with its details and features highlighted on the official GitHub website: [GitHub Features - Actions](https://github.com/features/actions).

Wikipedia on GitHub Actions


For an overview and historical context, Wikipedia offers a summary of GitHub Actions within its page on GitHub: [GitHub - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GitHub#GitHub_Actions).

Main Features of GitHub Actions


1. **Workflow Automation**: Automate your build, test, and deployment workflows.
2. **Custom Workflows**: Create workflows that fit your development process using the YAML syntax.
3. **Hosted Runners**: Run workflows on GitHub-hosted runners in virtual environments.
4. **Matrix Builds**: Run tests across multiple versions of languages or environments simultaneously.
5. **Docker Container Support**: Use or build Docker containers within workflows.

Code Example 1: Simple Workflow File


```yaml
name: CI

on: [push]

jobs:
build:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest

steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v2
- name: Run a one-line script
run: echo Hello, world!
```

Code Example 2: Matrix Build


```yaml
jobs:
build:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
strategy:
matrix:
node-version: [10.x, 12.x, 14.x]
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v2
- name: Use Node.js ${{ matrix.node-version }}
uses: actions/setup-node@v1
with:
node-version: ${{ matrix.node-version }}
```

Code Example 3: Deploying to GitHub Pages


```yaml
steps:
- name: Build and Deploy
uses: JamesIves/github-pages-deploy-action@releases/v3
with:
GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
BRANCH: gh-pages
FOLDER: build
```

Code Example 4: Caching Dependencies


```yaml
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v2
- uses: actions/cache@v2
with:
path: node_modules
key: ${{ runner.os }}-node-${{ hashFiles('**/package-lock.json') }}
restore-keys: |
${{ runner.os }}-node-
```

Code Example 5: Docker Container Action


```yaml
jobs:
build:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest

steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v2
- name: Run a Docker container
uses: docker://alpine:3.10
with:
args: /bin/sh -c "echo Hello, world!"
```

Code Example 6: Setting up a Specific Version of Node.js


```yaml
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v2
- name: Use Node.js 14
uses: actions/setup-node@v2
with:
node-version: '14'
```

Code Example 7: Running Tests


```yaml
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v2
- name: Install Dependencies
run: npm install
- name: Run Tests
run: npm test
```

Code Example 8: Manual Trigger for Workflows


```yaml
on:
workflow_dispatch:
```

Popular Third-Party Libraries


1. **actions/checkout**: Checks out your repository under `$GITHUB_WORKSPACE`.
2. **actions/setup-node**: Sets up a Node.js environment.
3. **actions/cache**: Caches dependencies and build outputs.
4. **JamesIves/github-pages-deploy-action**: Automates the deployment to GitHub Pages.
5. **actions/upload-artifact**: Uploads artifacts from your workflow.

Competition or Alternatives


GitHub Actions competes with other CI/CD and automation platforms:
1. **Jenkins**: A

self-hosted automation server with a vast plugin ecosystem.
2. **GitLab CI/CD**: Integrated CI/CD within the GitLab ecosystem.
3. **CircleCI**: A cloud-based platform for automated testing and deployment.
4. **Travis CI**: A cloud-based continuous integration service.
5. **Azure Pipelines**: Part of Azure DevOps Services for CI/CD pipelines.

This summary encapsulates the essence of GitHub Actions, showcasing how it integrates with the GitHub ecosystem to provide powerful automation, CI/CD capabilities, and workflow optimization directly from repositories. GitHub Actions simplifies the automation of software workflows, making it easier for developers to build, test, and deploy their code.



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Fair Use Sources


Fair Use Sources:
* https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/quickstart/github-glossary
* The Official Git Glossary
* Git Reference
* Git SCM
* B0978TF66B (G4Pg 2021)
* B01NBEQCA1 (PrGt 2016)
* B0827FGT77 (BgGH 2019)
* 9781492091127 (VCgt 2022)
* B07RGKKBTY (GHDum 2019)


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