# Github Actions

> Create, debug, and test GitHub Actions workflows and custom actions. Use when building CI/CD pipelines, automating workflows, or troubleshooting GitHub Actions.

- Skill: `openhands/github-actions` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 5 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add openhands/github-actions`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/openhands/github-actions/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: DevOps & Infra
- Author: openhands (https://skillmd.com/u/openhands)
- Updated: 2026-09-09
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/openhands/github-actions

---


# GitHub Actions Guide

## Critical Rules

**Custom Action Deployment:**
- New custom actions MUST be merged to the main branch before they can be used
- After the initial merge, they should be tested from feature branches

**Debug Steps:**
Add debug steps that print non-secret parameters when:
- Creating a new action, OR
- Troubleshooting a particularly tricky issue

(Not required for every workflow - use when needed)

## Effectiveness Principles

Actions cost CI minutes. Be deliberate, not iterative:

1. **Monitor, don't poll** - use `gh run watch` / `gh pr checks --watch` to follow runs live
2. **Read logs, don't guess** - fetch the failed job's log before changing code
3. **Print actual values** - debug steps reveal the real `inputs`/`github` context, not your assumptions
4. **Test locally first** - `act` runs workflows on your machine and avoids burning CI minutes
5. **Plan the smallest reproduction** - one job, minimal matrix, narrow trigger before scaling up

See [README.md](README.md) for the full debugging workflow, `gh` commands, and YAML debug-step examples.

## Key Gotchas

1. **Secrets unavailable in fork PRs** - `pull_request` has no secrets for forks; `pull_request_target` does but **never check out or execute fork PR code inside it** (RCE with write permissions)
2. **Pin action versions** - Use `@v4` or SHA, not `@main` (prevents breaking changes)
3. **Explicit permissions** - Set `permissions:` block for GITHUB_TOKEN operations
4. **Artifacts for job-to-job data** - Files don't persist between jobs without `upload-artifact`/`download-artifact`