# Tools Github Actions > GitHub Actions workflow authoring for CI/CD pipelines, job configuration, matrix builds, secrets, and common automation patterns. Use when this capability is needed. - Skill: `tomevault-io/tools-github-actions` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/tools-github-actions` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/tools-github-actions/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: DevOps & Infra - Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/tools-github-actions --- # GitHub Actions ## Overview GitHub Actions automates CI/CD workflows directly in GitHub. Use this skill for creating workflows, configuring jobs, and implementing common automation patterns. ## When to Use - Setting up CI/CD pipelines - Automating tests, builds, deployments - Creating reusable workflows - Matrix testing across versions - Scheduled tasks and automation ## Workflow Structure ```yaml name: CI on: push: branches: [main] pull_request: branches: [main] jobs: build: runs-on: ubuntu-latest steps: - uses: actions/checkout@v4 - name: Run tests run: npm test ``` ## Triggers (on:) ### Push & PR ```yaml on: push: branches: [main, develop] paths: - 'src/**' - '!src/**/*.md' tags: - 'v*' pull_request: branches: [main] types: [opened, synchronize, reopened] ``` ### Schedule (Cron) ```yaml on: schedule: - cron: '0 0 * * *' # Daily at midnight - cron: '0 */6 * * *' # Every 6 hours ``` ### Manual & Dispatch ```yaml on: workflow_dispatch: inputs: environment: description: 'Deploy environment' required: true default: 'staging' type: choice options: - staging - production repository_dispatch: types: [deploy] ``` ### Release ```yaml on: release: types: [published, created] ``` ## Job Configuration ### Basic Job ```yaml jobs: test: runs-on: ubuntu-latest timeout-minutes: 30 steps: - uses: actions/checkout@v4 - run: npm test ``` ### Job Dependencies ```yaml jobs: build: runs-on: ubuntu-latest steps: - run: npm run build deploy: needs: build runs-on: ubuntu-latest steps: - run: ./deploy.sh ``` ### Conditional Jobs ```yaml jobs: deploy: if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' runs-on: ubuntu-latest notify: if: failure() needs: [build, test] ``` ## Matrix Builds ```yaml jobs: test: runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }} strategy: matrix: os: [ubuntu-latest, macos-latest, windows-latest] node: [18, 20, 22] exclude: - os: windows-latest node: 18 include: - os: ubuntu-latest node: 22 experimental: true fail-fast: false max-parallel: 4 steps: - uses: actions/setup-node@v4 with: node-version: ${{ matrix.node }} ``` ## Common Actions ### Checkout ```yaml - uses: actions/checkout@v4 with: fetch-depth: 0 # Full history submodules: true # Include submodules token: ${{ secrets.PAT }} # For private repos ``` ### Setup Node ```yaml - uses: actions/setup-node@v4 with: node-version: '20' cache: 'npm' # or 'pnpm', 'yarn' registry-url: 'https://npm.pkg.github.com' ``` ### Cache ```yaml - uses: actions/cache@v4 with: path: | ~/.npm node_modules key: ${{ runner.os }}-node-${{ hashFiles('**/package-lock.json') }} restore-keys: | ${{ runner.os }}-node- ``` ### Upload/Download Artifacts ```yaml - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4 with: name: build-output path: dist/ retention-days: 5 - uses: actions/download-artifact@v4 with: name: build-output path: dist/ ``` ## Environment Variables ```yaml env: NODE_ENV: production # Workflow level jobs: build: env: CI: true # Job level steps: - run: echo $MY_VAR env: MY_VAR: step-level # Step level ``` ### Using Secrets ```yaml steps: - run: ./deploy.sh env: API_KEY: ${{ secrets.API_KEY }} AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID: ${{ secrets.AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID }} ``` ## Outputs & Sharing Data ### Job Outputs ```yaml jobs: build: outputs: version: ${{ steps.version.outputs.value }} steps: - id: version run: echo "value=$(cat package.json | jq -r .version)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT deploy: needs: build steps: - run: echo "Deploying version ${{ needs.build.outputs.version }}" ``` ### Step Outputs ```yaml steps: - id: vars run: | echo "sha_short=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT echo "branch=${GITHUB_REF#refs/heads/}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT - run: echo "SHA: ${{ steps.vars.outputs.sha_short }}" ``` ## Contexts & Expressions ### Common Contexts ```yaml ${{ github.sha }} # Commit SHA ${{ github.ref }} # refs/heads/main ${{ github.ref_name }} # main ${{ github.event_name }} # push, pull_request ${{ github.actor }} # User who triggered ${{ github.repository }} # owner/repo ${{ runner.os }} # Linux, Windows, macOS ${{ secrets.TOKEN }} # Secret value ${{ vars.MY_VAR }} # Repository variable ``` ### Expressions ```yaml if: ${{ github.event_name == 'push' }} if: ${{ contains(github.event.head_commit.message, '[skip ci]') }} if: ${{ startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/') }} if: ${{ always() }} # Run even if previous failed if: ${{ failure() }} # Run only if failed if: ${{ success() }} # Run only if succeeded ``` ## Common Workflows ### Node.js CI ```yaml name: Node.js CI on: [push, pull_request] jobs: build: runs-on: ubuntu-latest steps: - uses: actions/checkout@v4 - uses: actions/setup-node@v4 with: node-version: '20' cache: 'npm' - run: npm ci - run: npm run lint - run: npm test - run: npm run build ``` ### Deploy on Release ```yaml name: Deploy on: release: types: [published] jobs: deploy: runs-on: ubuntu-latest environment: production steps: - uses: actions/checkout@v4 - run: ./deploy.sh env: DEPLOY_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.DEPLOY_TOKEN }} ``` ### PR Checks ```yaml name: PR Checks on: pull_request jobs: lint: runs-on: ubuntu-latest steps: - uses: actions/checkout@v4 - run: npm ci && npm run lint test: runs-on: ubuntu-latest steps: - uses: actions/checkout@v4 - run: npm ci && npm test ``` ## Reusable Workflows ### Define Reusable ```yaml # .github/workflows/reusable-deploy.yml name: Reusable Deploy on: workflow_call: inputs: environment: required: true type: string secrets: deploy_token: required: true jobs: deploy: runs-on: ubuntu-latest environment: ${{ inputs.environment }} steps: - run: ./deploy.sh ``` ### Call Reusable ```yaml jobs: deploy: uses: ./.github/workflows/reusable-deploy.yml with: environment: production secrets: deploy_token: ${{ secrets.DEPLOY_TOKEN }} ``` ## Troubleshooting | Issue | Solution | |-------|----------| | Secret not available | Check secret name, scope | | Cache not working | Verify key, check paths | | Job skipped | Check `if` conditions | | Permission denied | Check `permissions` block | | Timeout | Increase `timeout-minutes` | --- > Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io/claim/tjboudreaux) — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.