Building Custom GitHub Actions from Pluralsight

GitHub Actions is the official automation solution for GitHub projects. Unlock its full potential by creating your own custom actions. This course will teach you how to build real-world GitHub Actions using TypeScript and Docker.

GitHub Actions is the official automation solution and sets it apart from other products in the same category is the fact that it's deeply integrated with the GitHub platform. This means you can use it not only for CI/CD, but to automate other parts of your workflow as well. While there's a lot you can do with GitHub Actions out of the box, every project has its own set of needs. The best way to make GitHub Actions fit your project, then, is by creating your own custom actions. In this course, Building Custom GitHub Actions, you will gain an understanding of how GitHub Actions work and how they integrate with the rest of the GitHub platform. First, you will learn triaging issues, requesting code reviews, merging Pull Requests and even creating releases. Next, you will discover how to create real-world GitHub Actions from the ground up using either TypeScript or Docker. Finally, You will explore the pros and cons of TypeScript vs. Docker actions and how to choose the one that makes the most sense in a given scenario. By the end of this course, you will be able to take full advantage of the GitHub Actions platform by creating your own custom actions.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Anatomy of a GitHub Action

Creating a JavaScript Action

Creating a Docker Action

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Develops pros and cons, which is a core skill for automating workflows

Teaches real-world GitHub Actions, which helps learners build custom automations

Emphasizes publishing actions, which is highly relevant to sharing custom automations

Taught by Enrico Campidoglio, who is recognized for their work in GitHub Actions

Covers anatomy of GitHub Actions, which is a core concept for building effective automations

Uses Docker to build actions, which complements real-world applications

Reviews summary

Building practical custom github actions

According to students, this course offers a strong foundation for building custom GitHub Actions. Many highlight its practical, hands-on approach with clear, step-by-step guidance and useful coding examples. Learners appreciate the instructor's engaging teaching style and ability to break down complex topics. While it's considered excellent for beginners to intermediate developers, some feedback suggests it may not delve deep enough into advanced scenarios for experienced users. A recurring point of concern for some learners was initial environment setup issues, though recent reviews imply the content remains largely relevant. The course's comparison of TypeScript and Docker actions is a notable strength.

Excellent for building a solid understanding, but not advanced.

"Good foundational course on GitHub Actions. It covers the basics well..."

"I found this course somewhat challenging to follow... It assumes a certain level of familiarity..."

"The course provides a decent introduction, but I found some parts a bit rushed."

"It scratches the surface of custom actions but doesn't go deep enough for advanced use cases."

Mixed feedback on up-to-dateness, recent reviews more positive.

"The content is still relevant, but a deeper dive into complex scenarios would make it perfect."

"Could use an update on some deprecated GitHub API practices, but still highly relevant."

"Some parts felt a bit dated, and I had to look up newer ways to do things."

"Completely outdated. Some code examples no longer work... Needs a serious refresh."

Provides valuable insights into TypeScript vs. Docker actions.

"I particularly appreciated the comparison between TypeScript and Docker actions, which helped me choose the right approach."

"The distinction between TypeScript and Docker actions was well-explained."

Instructor excels at explaining complex topics clearly.

"The instructor's explanations were incredibly clear..."

"The instructor breaks down complex topics into digestible chunks."

"The instructor clearly knows their stuff."

"The instructor's teaching style is engaging, and the content is well-structured."

Emphasizes hands-on coding and real-world examples.

"The hands-on labs really solidified my understanding."

"The practical examples are very useful, and the step-by-step guidance makes it easy to follow along."

"The hands-on approach meant I was constantly coding, which is how I learn best."

"I built my first custom action by the end of it, which was a huge win for my team."

Some learners faced difficulties with initial setup.

"My only minor critique is that some of the initial setup steps could be more robust, as I hit a few snags..."

"Completely outdated. ...the environment setup was a nightmare."

"I ran into some issues with the environment setup, which consumed a lot of time."

"I spent more time debugging the course content than learning."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Building Custom GitHub Actions with these activities:

Compile a GitHub Actions Resource Collection

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Gather and organize valuable resources related to GitHub Actions, including documentation, tutorials, and community forums.

Browse courses on Github Actions

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Identify relevant resources from various sources
Categorize and organize the resources
Create a public repository or website to share your compilation

Explore GitHub Actions Documentation

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Review the official GitHub Actions documentation to familiarize yourself with the platform's capabilities and best practices.

Browse courses on Github Actions

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Visit the GitHub Actions documentation website
Read through the Getting Started guide
Explore the available actions and their usage

Join a GitHub Actions Study Group

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Connect with other students or professionals who are also interested in GitHub Actions to share knowledge and support.

Browse courses on Github Actions

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Search for existing GitHub Actions study groups online
Attend meetings or join discussions
Contribute to group projects or discussions

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Attend a GitHub Actions Workshop

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Engage with experts and peers at a GitHub Actions workshop to expand your knowledge and network.

Browse courses on Github Actions

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Research upcoming GitHub Actions workshops
Register for a workshop that aligns with your interests
Attend the workshop and actively participate

Build and Publish Your First GitHub Action

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Create a simple GitHub Action from scratch using the skills learned in the course. This will help you solidify your understanding of the concepts.

Browse courses on TypeScript

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Create a new GitHub Action repository
Write a TypeScript or Docker action
Publish your action to the GitHub Marketplace

Participate in a GitHub Actions Hackathon

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Test your skills and push your limits by participating in a GitHub Actions hackathon.

Browse courses on Github Actions

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Find a suitable GitHub Actions hackathon
Team up with others or participate individually
Develop and submit your project idea
Build and showcase your GitHub Actions solution

Develop a Custom GitHub Action for Your Project

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Apply your knowledge to design and implement a GitHub Action tailored to your project's specific needs.

Browse courses on Github Actions

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Identify the automation needs of your project
Design a GitHub Action workflow
Develop and test your GitHub Action
Integrate it into your project's workflow

Career center

Learners who complete Building Custom GitHub Actions will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for the planning and execution of projects. A background in GitHub Actions may be useful for this role, as it can help Project Managers automate tasks and improve the efficiency of their project planning and execution process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Automation Engineer

Automation Engineers are responsible for the design and implementation of automated solutions. A background in GitHub Actions may be useful for this role, as it can help Automation Engineers automate tasks and improve the efficiency of their automated solutions.

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Systems Engineer

Systems Engineers are responsible for the design and implementation of computer systems. A background in GitHub Actions may be useful for this role, as it can help Systems Engineers automate tasks and improve the efficiency of their computer systems.

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Network Engineer

Network Engineers are responsible for the design and implementation of computer networks. A background in GitHub Actions may be useful for this role, as it can help Network Engineers automate tasks and improve the efficiency of their computer networks.

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Data Engineer

Data Engineers are responsible for the design and implementation of data pipelines. A background in GitHub Actions may be useful for this role, as it can help Data Engineers automate tasks and improve the efficiency of their data pipelines.

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Security Engineer

Security Engineers are responsible for the design and implementation of security solutions. A background in GitHub Actions may be useful for this role, as it can help Security Engineers automate tasks and improve the efficiency of their security solutions.

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IT Architect

IT Architects are responsible for the design and implementation of IT solutions. A background in GitHub Actions may be useful for this role, as it can help IT Architects automate tasks and improve the efficiency of their IT solutions.

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Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the design and development of products. A background in GitHub Actions may be useful for this role, as it can help Product Managers automate tasks and improve the efficiency of their product development process.

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DevOps Engineer

DevOps Engineers are responsible for the design and implementation of software development and operations processes. A background in GitHub Actions may be useful for this role, as it can help DevOps Engineers automate tasks and improve the efficiency of their software development and operations processes.

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Cloud Engineer

Cloud Engineers are responsible for the design and implementation of cloud-based solutions. A background in GitHub Actions may be useful for this role, as it can help Cloud Engineers automate tasks and improve the efficiency of their cloud-based solutions.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers are responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of software systems. A background in GitHub Actions may be useful for this role, as it can help Software Engineers automate tasks and improve the efficiency of their software development process.

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Front-End Developer

Front-End Developers are responsible for the design and development of the user interface of a website or application. A background in GitHub Actions may be useful for this role, as it can help developers automate tasks and improve the efficiency of their front-end development process.

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Software Developer

Software Developers are responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of software applications. A background in GitHub Actions may be useful for this role, as it can help developers automate tasks and improve the efficiency of their software development process.

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Back-End Developer

Back-End Developers are responsible for the design and development of the server-side of a website or application. A background in GitHub Actions may be useful for this role, as it can help developers automate tasks and improve the efficiency of their back-end development process.

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Full-Stack Developer

Full-Stack Developers are responsible for the design and development of both the front-end and back-end of a website or application. A background in GitHub Actions may be useful for this role, as it can help developers automate tasks and improve the efficiency of their full-stack development process.

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