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To get started with GitHub Actions, add a YAML workflow file under .github/workflows/, choose an event such as push, define a job and its steps, then commit and push the file. Open the repository’s Actions tab to find the run. This guide uses GitHub’s official beginner example and explains how to adapt it safely.
What GitHub Actions does
GitHub Actions automates work associated with a repository. A workflow can build and test code, automate repository tasks, or deploy changes. It is a YAML file committed to the repository; GitHub runs it when one of its configured events occurs, when it is manually dispatched, or on a schedule.
Basic familiarity with repositories and pull requests is helpful. If you do not see an Actions tab in a repository, Actions may be disabled for it. Start with GitHub’s Actions quickstart for account and repository context.
Create your first workflow
1. Choose a starting point
You can use a recommended workflow template, browse the starter-workflows collection, or write a small workflow yourself. Templates cover areas including CI, deployment, automation, code scanning, and GitHub Pages. A template can save setup time, but read its comments and setup instructions before committing it—some workflows expect secrets or permissions you have not configured.
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2. Add a workflow file
At the repository root, create the directory .github/workflows/ if it does not already exist, then add a file such as learn-github-actions.yml. GitHub looks in this directory for workflow files associated with the event’s commit SHA or ref. Both .yml and .yaml extensions are accepted. See GitHub’s workflow-writing guidance for the current file conventions.
3. Paste the beginner example
This is the example in GitHub’s current beginner tutorial. The action versions and Node.js version shown are the ones in that tutorial when the cited page was retrieved; check the official tutorial and the action documentation before copying it later, because versions can change.
name: learn-github-actions
run-name: ${{ github.actor }} is learning GitHub Actions
on: [push]
jobs:
check-bats-version:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v6
- uses: actions/setup-node@v7
with:
node-version: '24'
- run: npm install -g bats
- run: bats -vThe workflow checks out the repository, sets up Node.js, installs Bats, and prints the Bats version. It is a learning example, not a complete test suite for every project. GitHub’s tutorial presents this configuration as an example; it is not an independent test of your repository.
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4. Commit and find the run
- Save the file in
.github/workflows/. - Commit and push it to the repository.
- Open the repository and select Actions.
- Select the workflow or its run to inspect the execution history. Open a job and then a step to see its logs and identify where a failure occurred.
Because the example listens for push, pushing the workflow file can start a run. A merge that pushes changes can also trigger it. The workflow monitoring guide explains how to inspect runs.
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A workflow’s basic structure is trigger → job → runner → steps. These fields answer different questions: what starts the automation, what work it does, where it runs, and which commands or reusable actions it performs.
| Element | What it means | In the example |
|---|---|---|
name |
A readable workflow name. | learn-github-actions |
run-name |
A readable name for an individual run; expressions can make it specific to the event. | Includes the actor who started the run. |
on |
The event or events that trigger the workflow. | push |
jobs |
The set of jobs in the workflow. Jobs can run independently in parallel or be sequenced with dependencies. | One job, check-bats-version. |
runs-on |
The runner environment for a job. | ubuntu-latest, a GitHub-hosted Linux runner label. |
steps |
Ordered actions and commands executed in a job. | Checkout, setup, install, and version commands. |
uses |
Invokes a reusable action. | actions/checkout@v6 and actions/setup-node@v7. |
with |
Supplies inputs to an action. | Sets the Node.js version to 24. |
run |
Runs a shell command on the job’s runner. | Installs Bats and prints its version. |
Steps in one job run in order on the same runner, so they can use files and other state created by earlier steps. Jobs are separate units and run in parallel by default unless you declare dependencies. An action packages a reusable task; you can find actions in the GitHub Marketplace. A runner is the machine that executes a job: GitHub offers hosted Linux, Windows, and macOS runners, and you can also operate self-hosted runners. The workflow concepts guide covers these building blocks.
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Choose a trigger that matches the work
The on key controls when GitHub starts a workflow. A push trigger is a straightforward first choice when you want automation after changes are pushed. For other needs, consider pull-request activity, manual dispatch, or a schedule. Pick the event based on when the job should run; a workflow that runs more often than needed creates unnecessary runs and noise.
Use GitHub’s workflow syntax reference for the valid event and filter syntax. When a trigger behaves unexpectedly, check that the event matches the activity you performed and that the workflow file is present on the relevant commit or ref.
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| Approach | Useful when | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended or starter template | You want a working structure quickly, or the repository fits a common CI, deployment, automation, code-scanning, or Pages task. | Read comments, adjust the trigger and commands, and configure any required secrets and access before enabling it. |
| Hand-written workflow | You want to learn the YAML structure or need a small, specific task. | Include the trigger, job, runner, and steps; start with only the commands your task needs. |
Neither approach is right for every repository. Templates are starting configurations, not proof that their permissions, triggers, and commands are suitable for your code. Browse GitHub’s starter workflow guide and inspect any workflow before you rely on it.
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Choose a runner
For a first workflow, a GitHub-hosted runner is often the simplest way to execute a job without operating the machine yourself. GitHub provides hosted Linux, Windows, and macOS runner options. A self-hosted runner can suit requirements for particular hardware, operating-system configuration, or control over the execution environment, but you take responsibility for operating and maintaining it.
Specify the runner with runs-on. The example uses ubuntu-latest; consult GitHub’s runner documentation for current labels and details before choosing a runner for project-specific needs.
Handle secrets safely
Secrets are encrypted values scoped to an organization, repository, or environment. A workflow can access a secret only when it is explicitly passed to an action as an input or made available as an environment variable, as the action or command requires. Never hard-code credentials in YAML or print them in logs. For sensitive deployments, review GitHub’s secrets guidance and secure-use guidance before granting workflow access.
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For workflows that need an approval gate, environment secrets can be protected by required reviewers. GitHub’s current secrets reference lists technical limits of 1,000 organization secrets, 100 repository secrets, and 100 environment secrets, with a 48 KB maximum size per secret; these are limits, not setup targets, and should be checked in the live reference because GitHub may revise them.
Common first-run problems
- No Actions tab: Actions may be disabled for the repository. Check repository availability and settings with the owner or administrator.
- No run appears after a commit: Confirm the file is under
.github/workflows/, has a.ymlor.yamlextension, and is present on the commit or ref associated with the event. Check that the configured trigger matches what you did. - The workflow fails before your command: Open the run in the Actions tab, then inspect the job and failed step logs. Check whether an action reference is valid and whether the runner has the tools your command requires.
- A template cannot authenticate: Check its setup comments and identify which secret it expects. Add the credential through GitHub’s secrets settings and pass it only where required; do not paste it into the YAML.
- The workflow runs too often: Review the configured event and any filters in the syntax reference; narrow the trigger to the activity the job actually needs.
- The job needs a different environment: Revisit
runs-onand choose a suitable hosted runner label or configure a self-hosted runner if the project requires the control or hardware it provides.
Limits and cost considerations
Most introductory workflows will not approach GitHub’s execution limits. GitHub’s current limits page documents a maximum of 35 days for a workflow run, six hours for a GitHub-hosted job, and 256 jobs in a matrix workflow run. These are GitHub product limits, not independent benchmark results, and GitHub notes they can change. Check the live Actions limits reference if a workflow’s duration or scale makes them relevant.
Hosted versus self-hosted execution also changes who maintains the runner: with a self-hosted runner, you operate the machine and environment. The sources cited here do not establish a single cost estimate that applies to every repository or runner configuration, so check GitHub’s current plan and usage terms for your account before planning substantial automation.
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