github-actions-templates
Production-ready GitHub Actions workflow patterns for testing, building, and deploying applications.
Best use case
github-actions-templates is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Production-ready GitHub Actions workflow patterns for testing, building, and deploying applications.
Teams using github-actions-templates should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/github-actions-templates/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How github-actions-templates Compares
| Feature / Agent | github-actions-templates | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Production-ready GitHub Actions workflow patterns for testing, building, and deploying applications.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
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SKILL.md Source
# GitHub Actions Templates
Production-ready GitHub Actions workflow patterns for testing, building, and deploying applications.
## Do not use this skill when
- The task is unrelated to github actions templates
- You need a different domain or tool outside this scope
## Instructions
- Clarify goals, constraints, and required inputs.
- Apply relevant best practices and validate outcomes.
- Provide actionable steps and verification.
- If detailed examples are required, open `resources/implementation-playbook.md`.
## Purpose
Create efficient, secure GitHub Actions workflows for continuous integration and deployment across various tech stacks.
## Use this skill when
- Automate testing and deployment
- Build Docker images and push to registries
- Deploy to Kubernetes clusters
- Run security scans
- Implement matrix builds for multiple environments
## Common Workflow Patterns
### Pattern 1: Test Workflow
```yaml
name: Test
on:
push:
branches: [ main, develop ]
pull_request:
branches: [ main ]
jobs:
test:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
strategy:
matrix:
node-version: [18.x, 20.x]
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
- name: Use Node.js ${{ matrix.node-version }}
uses: actions/setup-node@v4
with:
node-version: ${{ matrix.node-version }}
cache: 'npm'
- name: Install dependencies
run: npm ci
- name: Run linter
run: npm run lint
- name: Run tests
run: npm test
- name: Upload coverage
uses: codecov/codecov-action@v3
with:
files: ./coverage/lcov.info
```
**Reference:** See `assets/test-workflow.yml`
### Pattern 2: Build and Push Docker Image
```yaml
name: Build and Push
on:
push:
branches: [ main ]
tags: [ 'v*' ]
env:
REGISTRY: ghcr.io
IMAGE_NAME: ${{ github.repository }}
jobs:
build:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
permissions:
contents: read
packages: write
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
- name: Log in to Container Registry
uses: docker/login-action@v3
with:
registry: ${{ env.REGISTRY }}
username: ${{ github.actor }}
password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
- name: Extract metadata
id: meta
uses: docker/metadata-action@v5
with:
images: ${{ env.REGISTRY }}/${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}
tags: |
type=ref,event=branch
type=ref,event=pr
type=semver,pattern={{version}}
type=semver,pattern={{major}}.{{minor}}
- name: Build and push
uses: docker/build-push-action@v5
with:
context: .
push: true
tags: ${{ steps.meta.outputs.tags }}
labels: ${{ steps.meta.outputs.labels }}
cache-from: type=gha
cache-to: type=gha,mode=max
```
**Reference:** See `assets/deploy-workflow.yml`
### Pattern 3: Deploy to Kubernetes
```yaml
name: Deploy to Kubernetes
on:
push:
branches: [ main ]
jobs:
deploy:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
- name: Configure AWS credentials
uses: aws-actions/configure-aws-credentials@v4
with:
aws-access-key-id: ${{ secrets.AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID }}
aws-secret-access-key: ${{ secrets.AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY }}
aws-region: us-west-2
- name: Update kubeconfig
run: |
aws eks update-kubeconfig --name production-cluster --region us-west-2
- name: Deploy to Kubernetes
run: |
kubectl apply -f k8s/
kubectl rollout status deployment/my-app -n production
kubectl get services -n production
- name: Verify deployment
run: |
kubectl get pods -n production
kubectl describe deployment my-app -n production
```
### Pattern 4: Matrix Build
```yaml
name: Matrix Build
on: [push, pull_request]
jobs:
build:
runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
strategy:
matrix:
os: [ubuntu-latest, macos-latest, windows-latest]
python-version: ['3.9', '3.10', '3.11', '3.12']
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
- name: Set up Python
uses: actions/setup-python@v5
with:
python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
- name: Install dependencies
run: |
python -m pip install --upgrade pip
pip install -r requirements.txt
- name: Run tests
run: pytest
```
**Reference:** See `assets/matrix-build.yml`
## Workflow Best Practices
1. **Use specific action versions** (@v4, not @latest)
2. **Cache dependencies** to speed up builds
3. **Use secrets** for sensitive data
4. **Implement status checks** on PRs
5. **Use matrix builds** for multi-version testing
6. **Set appropriate permissions**
7. **Use reusable workflows** for common patterns
8. **Implement approval gates** for production
9. **Add notification steps** for failures
10. **Use self-hosted runners** for sensitive workloads
## Reusable Workflows
```yaml
# .github/workflows/reusable-test.yml
name: Reusable Test Workflow
on:
workflow_call:
inputs:
node-version:
required: true
type: string
secrets:
NPM_TOKEN:
required: true
jobs:
test:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
- uses: actions/setup-node@v4
with:
node-version: ${{ inputs.node-version }}
- run: npm ci
- run: npm test
```
**Use reusable workflow:**
```yaml
jobs:
call-test:
uses: ./.github/workflows/reusable-test.yml
with:
node-version: '20.x'
secrets:
NPM_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
```
## Security Scanning
```yaml
name: Security Scan
on:
push:
branches: [ main ]
pull_request:
branches: [ main ]
jobs:
security:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
- name: Run Trivy vulnerability scanner
uses: aquasecurity/trivy-action@master
with:
scan-type: 'fs'
scan-ref: '.'
format: 'sarif'
output: 'trivy-results.sarif'
- name: Upload Trivy results to GitHub Security
uses: github/codeql-action/upload-sarif@v2
with:
sarif_file: 'trivy-results.sarif'
- name: Run Snyk Security Scan
uses: snyk/actions/node@master
env:
SNYK_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.SNYK_TOKEN }}
```
## Deployment with Approvals
```yaml
name: Deploy to Production
on:
push:
tags: [ 'v*' ]
jobs:
deploy:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
environment:
name: production
url: https://app.example.com
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
- name: Deploy application
run: |
echo "Deploying to production..."
# Deployment commands here
- name: Notify Slack
if: success()
uses: slackapi/slack-github-action@v1
with:
webhook-url: ${{ secrets.SLACK_WEBHOOK }}
payload: |
{
"text": "Deployment to production completed successfully!"
}
```
## Reference Files
- `assets/test-workflow.yml` - Testing workflow template
- `assets/deploy-workflow.yml` - Deployment workflow template
- `assets/matrix-build.yml` - Matrix build template
- `references/common-workflows.md` - Common workflow patterns
## Related Skills
- `gitlab-ci-patterns` - For GitLab CI workflows
- `deployment-pipeline-design` - For pipeline architecture
- `secrets-management` - For secrets handlingRelated Skills
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