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To get started with GitHub Actions, add a YAML workflow file under .github/workflows/, choose an event such as push, and define a job with a runner and steps. Commit and push the file, then open the repository’s Actions tab to inspect the run. You can start from a GitHub template or use the small example below.

What GitHub Actions does

GitHub Actions automates work tied to a repository, such as building and testing changes or deploying after a pull request is merged. A workflow is a YAML file stored in the repository; GitHub runs it when its configured event occurs, when it is manually started, or on a schedule. GitHub’s quickstart assumes you are comfortable with basic repository and pull-request tasks.

Choose a starting point

Use a recommended template

GitHub can suggest workflows based on repository contents. Templates cover tasks such as continuous integration, deployment, automation, code scanning, and GitHub Pages. You can also browse the starter-workflows collection. Read the template comments and adjust its trigger and settings before committing it.

A template may refer to a secret that your repository does not yet have. Create only the secret the workflow needs, and understand what access it grants before running the workflow.

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Write a small workflow yourself

Hand-writing a minimal file is useful if your goal is to understand the YAML structure. The following is the example shown in GitHub’s current workflow tutorial; action major versions and supported runtimes can change, so check that tutorial before copying it later.

Create and run your first workflow

  1. Confirm Actions is available. Open your GitHub repository and look for the Actions tab. If it is absent, Actions may be disabled for the repository.
  2. Create the workflow directory. At the repository root, create .github/workflows/.
  3. Add a YAML file. Create .github/workflows/learn-github-actions.yml with this content:
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 -v
  1. Commit and push the file. The push trigger starts a run when a change is pushed; GitHub’s tutorial also describes it as running when a pull request is merged.
  2. Open the run. Select the repository’s Actions tab and choose the workflow run to view its status, jobs, and step logs.

This example checks out the repository, sets up Node.js, installs Bats, and prints its version. It is an illustration from GitHub’s tutorial, not an independently tested configuration.

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How to read the YAML

Part What it means
name A readable name for the workflow.
run-name A name for an individual run; this example includes the actor who triggered it.
on The event or events that trigger the workflow. Here, it is a push.
jobs The tasks in the workflow. This file defines one job, check-bats-version.
runs-on The runner environment for the job. This example requests ubuntu-latest.
steps Ordered tasks executed within the job.
uses Invokes a reusable action, such as checking out code or setting up Node.js.
with Supplies inputs to an action; here it selects Node.js version 24.
run Executes a shell command on the runner.

These pieces follow the basic flow: trigger → job → runner → steps. Steps in one job run in order and can share data through that runner. Separate jobs can run in parallel by default; declare dependencies when one job must wait for another. GitHub’s workflow concepts explain the model and the distinction between workflows, jobs, steps, actions, and runners.

Choose a trigger and runner that fit the task

Triggers

Use push when you want the workflow to respond to pushed changes. Pull-request activity is useful when checks should run around proposed changes; a manual trigger suits work that should happen only when someone requests it, and a schedule suits recurring work. The exact event configuration belongs under on; see GitHub’s workflow syntax reference for supported syntax and event details.

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Hosted or self-hosted runner

GitHub-hosted runners provide Linux, Windows, and macOS environments. With a self-hosted runner, you operate the machine and control more of the execution environment. Choose based on the operating system, hardware, environment control, and maintenance responsibility your workflow requires; GitHub’s runner documentation describes the options.

Handle secrets safely

Do not put passwords, API keys, or other credentials directly in workflow YAML. GitHub secrets are encrypted values scoped to an organization, repository, or environment. A workflow receives a secret only when you explicitly pass it to an action as an input or expose it as an environment variable, following that action’s requirements. Avoid printing credentials in logs. For deployment or other privileged workflows, read GitHub’s secrets guidance and broader secure-use guidance first. Environment secrets can be protected with required reviewers.

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Find and fix common first-run problems

  • No Actions tab: Actions may be disabled for that repository. Check the repository’s availability and settings.
  • No run appears after a push: Confirm that the workflow is committed under .github/workflows/ and that the event configuration matches what you did. GitHub looks for workflow files associated with the event’s commit SHA or ref.
  • The workflow is not valid: Check YAML indentation and spelling, especially beneath jobs and steps. Compare event and input names with the syntax reference.
  • An action or tool setup fails: Inspect the failing step in the run logs. Verify the referenced action version and its inputs against the action’s documentation and GitHub’s current tutorial; these versions can change.
  • A deployment cannot access a credential: Confirm the secret exists at the scope the workflow can access and is explicitly provided to the step. Do not solve this by hard-coding it or echoing it into logs.
  • A job takes longer than expected: Check each step’s logs to locate the delay. GitHub documents a six-hour execution limit for a GitHub-hosted job; consult its live limits reference for current constraints.
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Performance, limits, and cost considerations

For a first workflow, keep the job focused and inspect step logs before adding parallel jobs or a matrix. More jobs can run concurrently unless dependencies are declared, but parallel work can also make a workflow more complex to diagnose. GitHub documents a maximum of 256 jobs in a matrix workflow run and a 35-day workflow-run limit; GitHub notes that limits can change, so check the current limits page when designing a workflow that may approach them. Availability, included usage, and billing depend on your GitHub plan and runner arrangement; consult GitHub’s current Actions billing documentation rather than assuming a universal cost.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I start a workflow manually instead of on every push?

Yes. Configure a manual trigger in the workflow’s on section; GitHub’s workflow syntax reference documents the exact event syntax.

Where should a workflow YAML file go?

At the repository root, in .github/workflows/, with a .yml or .yaml extension.

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