Automate workflows with GitHub Actions
Use GitHub Actions to automate your software development workflows, including continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD).
What is GitHub Actions?
GitHub Actions is a CI/CD platform that automates your build, test, and deployment pipeline. Create workflows that build and test every pull request or deploy merged changes to production.
Key concepts
Continuous Integration (CI)
- Automate testing for code changes
- Detect integration issues early
- Maintain consistent code quality
Continuous Deployment (CD)
- Automate deployment processes
- Standardize release procedures
- Accelerate feature delivery
Benefits
- Efficiency: Automate repetitive development tasks
- Reliability: Catch issues in development
- Availability: Run workflows 24/7 on GitHub's infrastructure
- Cost: Free for public repositories with free minutes for private repositories
Common use cases
| Task | Description |
|---|---|
| Run tests | Automate testing for code changes |
| Build projects | Compile and package applications |
| Deploy websites | Publish updates to web servers |
| Send notifications | Alert teams about build status |
What you'll learn
- Create GitHub Actions workflows
- Set up automated testing
- Deploy applications automatically
Before you begin
- Create a GitHub account
- Set up a code repository
- Install Git
- Basic command-line knowledge
This guide is designed for beginners. We'll explain each step as we go.
Next, set up your project in setup.md.