GitHub Actions Masterclass: From Beginner to Advanced

Packt via Coursera

Go to class Write review

Overview

Coursera Flash Sale

40% Off Coursera Plus for 3 Months!

Grab it

This course features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. Master GitHub Actions from the ground up in this comprehensive masterclass! Whether you’re just starting or aiming to deepen your expertise, this course will take you step-by-step through GitHub Actions concepts. You'll learn to automate workflows, handle triggers, manage inputs/outputs, and develop custom actions, equipping you with all the tools to build advanced CI/CD pipelines. By the end of this course, you'll be adept at optimizing and securing workflows and managing concurrent processes seamlessly. This course follows a structured approach: beginning with setting up your environment and GitHub repository, you’ll dive into the fundamentals of workflows, triggers, and runner environments. You will then explore advanced features like expressions, event filters, caching, artifacts, and matrices. Along the way, hands-on exercises and solutions will reinforce key concepts, and you will tackle real-world scenarios with increasing complexity. In the latter part of the course, you’ll build custom GitHub Actions, create reusable workflows, handle concurrency, and secure your workflows to ensure they’re safe from vulnerabilities. By the course’s end, you'll have a robust understanding of GitHub Actions, ready to integrate these automated workflows into real-world projects and teams. This course is perfect for developers, DevOps engineers, or anyone looking to master GitHub Actions for CI/CD automation. No prior experience with GitHub Actions is required, but familiarity with GitHub and basic programming concepts will be helpful.

Syllabus

Getting Started with GitHub Actions

In this module, we will introduce the course structure and objectives, ensuring you have a clear roadmap for mastering GitHub Actions. You’ll also learn how to navigate course materials and leverage resources effectively to optimize your learning experience.

Setting Up Tools and Environment

In this module, we will guide you through setting up the essential tools and environment needed for GitHub Actions. You’ll install NodeJS, configure GitHub Codespaces, create a repository, and gain a foundational understanding of YAML, which is critical for defining workflows.

Fundamentals of GitHub Actions

In this module, we will break down the fundamental building blocks of GitHub Actions. You’ll explore workflows, jobs, and steps in detail, and apply your knowledge by creating and reviewing a simple workflow.

Understanding Workflow Triggers

In this module, we will explore how workflows are triggered by different events in GitHub Actions. You’ll learn about event types, create workflows that respond to them, and review practical implementations to solidify your understanding.

Using Workflow Runners

In this module, we will examine the role of workflow runners, helping you understand when to use GitHub-hosted or self-hosted runners. Through exercises, you’ll configure workflows on different runners and analyze performance considerations.

Leveraging Third-Party Actions

In this module, we will explore the GitHub Actions Marketplace and how to utilize pre-built actions. You’ll integrate these actions into your workflows and review practical implementations to enhance automation efficiency.

Using Event Filters and Activity Types

In this module, we will dive into event filters and activity types, helping you fine-tune when and how workflows are triggered. You’ll gain hands-on experience in applying these concepts to create more precise automation strategies.

Working with Contexts

In this module, we will break down the concept of contexts in GitHub Actions and explore their significance. You’ll learn how to use context variables to make workflows more dynamic and data-driven.

Expressions and Variables in GitHub Actions

In this module, we will explore expressions and variables, key components that enable flexibility in workflows. You’ll practice implementing expressions, managing environment variables, and utilizing them effectively in workflow automation.

Working with Functions in Workflows

In this module, we will introduce functions in GitHub Actions and their application in workflows. You’ll learn how to use them effectively to create more dynamic and efficient automation processes.

Managing Workflow Execution Flow

In this module, we will focus on managing workflow execution flow, including job dependencies and conditional execution. You’ll explore best practices to ensure smooth workflow progression and efficiency.

Handling Inputs and Outputs

In this module, we will explore how to handle inputs and outputs in GitHub Actions. You’ll learn to pass data effectively between jobs and workflows, enabling better automation control and flexibility.

Sharing Data with Caching and Artifacts

In this module, we will dive into caching and artifact management, key techniques to enhance workflow efficiency. You’ll learn to reduce execution times using caching and store critical data using artifacts.

Using Matrices in Workflows

In this module, we will explore matrices in GitHub Actions and their role in optimizing workflow execution. You’ll learn how to use matrices for parallelization and configuration control.

Working with Environments

In this module, we will focus on environments and their role in secure and controlled workflow execution. You’ll learn how to set up environments and integrate them into your automation processes.

Building Custom Actions from Scratch

In this module, we will guide you through the process of creating custom GitHub Actions. You’ll develop actions from scratch using JavaScript and Docker, adding advanced functionality step by step.

Creating and Using Reusable Workflows

In this module, we will explore reusable workflows, a powerful way to streamline automation. You’ll learn to create, share, and customize reusable workflows for greater efficiency.

Handling Concurrency in Workflows

In this module, we will focus on concurrency management in GitHub Actions. You’ll explore strategies to prevent workflow conflicts and ensure smooth execution.

Ensuring Workflow Security

In this module, we will cover security best practices in GitHub Actions. You’ll learn how to protect workflows from vulnerabilities and apply security-focused solutions in your automation pipelines.