Mastering GitHub Actions: From Beginner to Expert from Udemy

Unlock the full potential of GitHub Actions with my in-depth course designed to empower developers, DevOps engineers, and software teams to streamline their workflows and boost productivity. Throughout this course, we will delve into the intricacies of GitHub Actions, exploring its building blocks, advanced features, and best practices for effective automation of software development tasks. In today's fast-paced development landscape, GitHub Actions has emerged as a game-changer, providing developers with a dynamic and robust platform to automate workflows, increase collaboration, and propel projects to new heights.

Why GitHub Actions Matters:

GitHub Actions is pivotal for developers and DevOps practitioners, representing a cornerstone in modern software development. It enables the automation of repetitive tasks and reduces manual intervention across the development lifecycle, making it faster and more reliable. Integrated seamlessly into the GitHub platform, GitHub Actions creates a unified environment where version control, collaboration, and automation converge.

Developers benefit from GitHub Actions' tailored support for Continuous Integration and Deployment (CI/CD) workflows, facilitating the automated integration and deployment of code changes. This accelerates feedback loops, ensures early issue detection, and enables rapid, reliable software delivery. The platform's flexibility allows developers to define custom workflows, meeting specific project requirements and fostering a culture of adaptability and innovation.

GitHub Actions is not just a tool; it is a community-driven innovation. Developers and DevOps practitioners tap into a thriving community, sharing workflows, contributing to actions, and evolving the ecosystem collectively. In essence, GitHub Actions emerges as a versatile, collaborative, and secure automation solution, tailored to meet the demands of the dynamic and fast-paced world of modern software development and deployment.

Why Enroll in This Course:

This course isn't just about learning GitHub Actions; it's about mastering it. By the end, you won't just have a theoretical understanding – you'll have a hands-on, practical mastery that you can apply immediately to your projects. Here's why this course is a must for every developer:

Benefit from 30+ Practical Exercises: It's all about practice. Dive right into creating your first workflow just minutes into the course, and progressive create more complex CI/CD pipelines with every section.
Stay Ahead in the Game: GitHub Actions is at the forefront of modern development practices. Acquiring expertise in this tool ensures that you stay ahead of the curve, positioning yourself as a leader in the ever-evolving world of software development.
Boost Efficiency and Productivity: Automate mundane and time-consuming tasks, allowing you and your team to focus on what truly matters – building exceptional software. GitHub Actions is your secret weapon for turbocharging productivity.
Collaborate with Confidence: Streamline collaboration by automating code reviews, testing, and deployments. GitHub Actions brings teams together, fostering a culture of collaboration that leads to faster and more reliable software delivery.
Adapt to Agile Development: In the era of Agile and DevOps, adaptability is key. GitHub Actions provides the flexibility needed to adapt workflows to changing project requirements, making it an indispensable tool in the modern developer's arsenal.
Open the Door to Innovation: GitHub Actions isn't just about automation; it's about innovation. Unlock new possibilities, experiment fearlessly, and bring your boldest ideas to life with a tool that supports your creativity.

Skills You'll Gain:

By enrolling in this course, you're not just learning about GitHub Actions – you're gaining skills that are crucial in today's development world:

Automate workflows for faster and more reliable software delivery.
Collaborate seamlessly with team members, breaking down silos.
Implement best practices in workflow security, ensuring the safety of your codebase.
Develop custom actions tailored to your project's unique requirements.
Optimize workflows for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Ready to embark on this exhilarating journey? Join this course today and transform yourself into a developer equipped with the skills that define success in the dynamic world of modern software development. Let's automate, innovate, and elevate together.

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to work with the building blocks of workflows in github actions
Strategies to automate many tasks of the software development lifecycle
Best practices around designing solid ci/cd pipelines

Advanced concepts such as custom actions and reusable workflows
How to secure workflows against common vulnerabilities
Different ways to trigger and schedule automated tasks on github actions

How to work with the building blocks of workflows in github actions
Strategies to automate many tasks of the software development lifecycle
Best practices around designing solid ci/cd pipelines
Advanced concepts such as custom actions and reusable workflows
How to secure workflows against common vulnerabilities
Different ways to trigger and schedule automated tasks on github actions

Syllabus

Introduction

Welcome!

Time to get started!

Course Resources

How to Navigate the Course

Code and Repository Updates

Tools and Initial Setup

Setup NodeJS

Alternative to Setting Up the Local Environment - Using GitHub Codespaces

Creating a GitHub Repository for the Course

YAML in 5 Minutes

In this this section you will learn the basic building blocks of GitHub Actions, such as workflows, jobs, and steps. By the end of this section you will be able to create basic workflows from scratch.

Theory - Building Blocks

Practical Exercise 01 - Creating Our First Workflow

Practical Exercise 01 - Solution & Discussion

In this section, you will learn the different ways of triggering workflows in GitHub Actions. By the end of this section, you will be able to fine-tune when your workflows are run.

Theory - Workflow Events

Practical Exercise 02 - Using Different Events to Trigger Workflows

Practical Exercise 02 - Solution & Discussion

In this section, we explore the different options for running our workflows, both self- and GitHub-hosted. By the end of this section, you will be able to choose the best runner for your jobs.

Theory - GitHub and Self-Hosted Runners

Practical Exercise 03 - Working with Windows and Ubuntu Runners

Practical Exercise 03 - Solution & Discussion

In this section, we will explore using third-party custom actions in our workflows. By the end of this section, you will be able to use custom actions to create even more powerful workflows!

Theory - Actions

Practical Exercise 04 - Working with Third-Party Custom Actions

Practical Exercise 04 - Solution & Discussion

Event Filters and Activity Types

Theory - Event Filters

Theory - Activity Types

Practical Exercise 05 - Using Filters and Activity Types

Practical Exercise 05 - Solution & Discussion

Using Contexts

Theory - Contexts

Practical Exercise 06 - Working with Different Contexts

Practical Exercise 06 - Solution & Discussion

Expressions & Variables

Theory - Expressions

Practical Exercise 07 - Working with Expressions

Practical Exercise 07 - Solution & Discussion

Theory - Variables

Practical Exercise 08 - Environment Variables

Practical Exercise 08 - Solution & Discussion

Practical Exercise 09 - Organization, Repository, and Environment Variables

Practical Exercise 09 - Solution & Discussion

Functions

Theory - Functions

Practical Exercise 10 - Using Functions in Workflows

Practical Exercise 10 - Solution & Discussion

Controlling the Execution Flow

Theory - Controlling the Execution Flow

Practical Exercise 11 - Defining Dependencies & Executing Jobs Conditionally

Practical Exercise 11 - Solution & Discussion

Inputs and Outputs

Theory - Inputs

Practical Exercise 12 - Working with Inputs

Practical Exercise 12 - Solution & Discussion

Theory - Outputs

Practical Exercise 13 - Working with Outputs

Practical Exercise 13 - Solution & Discussion

Practical Exercise 14 - Avoiding the Mistake of Overwritting the Output File

Practical Exercise 14 - Solution & Discussion

Sharing Data - Caching and Artifacts

Theory - Caching

Practical Exercise 15 - Using Caching to Speed Up Installing Dependencies

Practical Exercise 15 - Solution & Discussion

Practical Exercise 16 - Using Multiple Jobs for Better Caching Functionality

Practical Exercise 16 - Solution & Discussion

Theory - Artifacts

Practical Exercise 17 - Working with Artifacts

Practical Exercise 17 - Solution & Discussion

Working with Matrices

Theory - Matrices

Practical Exercise 18 - Introduction to Using Matrices

Practical Exercise 18 - Solution & Discussion

Practical Exercise 19 - Exploring the Include Option

Practical Exercise 19 - Solution & Discussion

Practical Exercise 20 - Exploring the Exclude Option

Practical Exercise 20 - Solution & Discussion

Environments

Theory - Environments

Practical Exercise 21 - Working with Environments

Practical Exercise 21 - Solution & Discussion

Developing Custom Actions from Scratch

Theory - Developing Custom Actions from Scratch

Practical Exercise 22 - Creating a Composite Custom Action

Practical Exercise 22 - Solution & Discussion

Practical Exercise 23 - Using and Extending Our Composite Custom Action

Practical Exercise 23 - Solution & Discussion

Practical Exercise 24 - Setting Up Our JavaScript Custom Action

Practical Exercise 24 - Solution & Discussion - Part 1

Practical Exercise 24 - Solution & Discussion - Part 2

Practical Exercise 25 - Parsing Inputs and Running Shell Commands

Practical Exercise 25 - Solution & Discussion - Part 1

Practical Exercise 25 - Solution & Discussion - Part 2

Practical Exercise 26 - Adding the Logic to Create PRs

Practical Exercise 26 - Solution & Discussion - Part 1

Practical Exercise 26 - Solution & Discussion - Part 2

Practical Exercise 27 - Setting Up Our Docker Custom Action

Practical Exercise 27 - Solution & Discussion - Part 1

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches a framework and tooling for streamlining the software development process, which is an industry standard practice

Explores the principles of continuous integration and continuous delivery, which are fundamental concepts in modern software engineering

Provides hands-on exercises and practical examples, ensuring learners can apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios

Taught by Lauro Fialho Müller, a recognized expert in GitHub Actions and DevOps practices

Covers advanced concepts such as custom actions and reusable workflows, enabling learners to enhance their automation capabilities

May require some prior knowledge of software development concepts and tools

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 Mastering GitHub Actions: From Beginner to Expert with these activities:

Revise Git concepts

Show steps

Review the fundamentals of Git to strengthen your understanding of version control concepts.

Browse courses on Git

Show steps

Review Git tutorials and documentation
Practice using Git commands in a local repository

Read 'Pro Git'

Show steps

Gain a deeper understanding of Git's internals and best practices by reading a comprehensive guide.

Show steps

Read through the book, taking notes and highlighting important concepts
Apply the concepts learned to your own Git workflow

Follow along with GitHub Actions tutorials

Show steps

Supplement your learning by following step-by-step tutorials that demonstrate practical applications of GitHub Actions.

Show steps

Identify reputable sources that offer GitHub Actions tutorials
Select tutorials that align with your learning objectives
Follow the instructions and implement the examples

12 other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all 15 activities

Explore the GitHub Actions Documentation

Show steps

The GitHub Actions documentation provides comprehensive information on all aspects of GitHub Actions, helping you to fully understand its capabilities and best practices.

Browse courses on Github Actions

Show steps

Visit the GitHub Actions documentation website
Explore the various sections and topics
Read through tutorials and examples
Refer to the documentation when working on your GitHub Actions projects

Participate in a GitHub Actions hackathon

Show steps

Participating in a GitHub Actions hackathon can challenge your skills, foster collaboration, and provide an opportunity to learn from others while creating innovative solutions.

Browse courses on Github Actions

Show steps

Find a GitHub Actions hackathon to participate in
Form a team or work individually
Brainstorm ideas for your project
Develop and implement your GitHub Actions solution
Submit your project

Solve GitHub Actions exercises

Show steps

Reinforce your understanding of GitHub Actions by completing hands-on exercises and challenges.

Show steps

Find online repositories or platforms that provide GitHub Actions exercises
Attempt to solve the exercises on your own
Review solutions and discuss with peers or mentors

Host a study group or discussion forum for GitHub Actions

Show steps

Leading a study group or discussion forum will allow you to share your knowledge, engage with others, and collectively explore different aspects and applications of GitHub Actions.

Browse courses on Github Actions

Show steps

Summarize key points and share resources
Choose a topic or theme for your study group or discussion forum
Create a schedule and meeting platform
Facilitate discussions and encourage participation

Write a blog post or article about your experiences with GitHub Actions

Show steps

Sharing your experiences and insights about GitHub Actions through a blog post or article can help others learn from your knowledge and promote the adoption of this valuable tool.

Browse courses on Github Actions

Show steps

Choose a topic related to GitHub Actions
Write a draft of your article
Edit and refine your writing
Publish your article on a relevant platform

Build a GitHub Actions workflow from scratch

Show steps

Apply your knowledge to create a custom GitHub Actions workflow that meets specific requirements.

Show steps

Define the purpose and goals of your workflow
Design the workflow structure and job configuration
Implement the necessary tasks and actions
Test and debug your workflow

Create custom actions to automate specific tasks

Show steps

Creating custom actions allows you to extend the functionality of GitHub Actions and automate specific tasks that are tailored to your project's needs.

Show steps

Identify a task that can be automated
Create a new custom action
Implement the action's logic
Test the action
Use the action in your workflows

Write a blog post or article on GitHub Actions

Show steps

Share your knowledge and insights about GitHub Actions by creating a written resource.

Show steps

Choose a specific topic or aspect of GitHub Actions to focus on
Research and gather information from reliable sources
Organize your content in a clear and engaging manner
Publish your blog post or article on an appropriate platform

Automate a real-world CI/CD pipeline using GitHub Actions

Show steps

Building a real-world CI/CD pipeline using GitHub Actions will allow you to apply your knowledge and gain hands-on experience in setting up and managing a complete automation process.

Browse courses on CI/CD Pipeline

Show steps

Define the project requirements and scope
Set up a GitHub repository for the project
Create a GitHub Actions workflow
Configure the workflow to perform the desired tasks
Test and refine the workflow
Deploy the project using the automated pipeline

Attend a GitHub Actions meetup or conference

Show steps

Connect with others in the field and learn about the latest trends and best practices in GitHub Actions.

Show steps

Find upcoming GitHub Actions events in your area
Register and attend the event
Engage with speakers, attendees, and potential collaborators

Contribute to an open-source GitHub Actions project

Show steps

Contributing to an open-source GitHub Actions project provides an opportunity to learn from others, enhance the ecosystem, and showcase your skills while advancing your understanding of GitHub Actions.

Browse courses on Github Actions

Show steps

Find an open-source GitHub Actions project that aligns with your interests
Identify areas where you can contribute
Create a pull request with your proposed changes
Collaborate with the project maintainers to refine and merge your contribution

Contribute to an open-source GitHub Actions project

Show steps

Gain real-world experience by contributing to the development and maintenance of GitHub Actions projects.

Show steps

Identify open-source GitHub Actions projects that align with your interests
Review the project documentation and issue tracker
Propose a contribution or feature enhancement
Develop and submit your pull request
Address feedback and iterate on your contribution

Career center

Learners who complete Mastering GitHub Actions: From Beginner to Expert will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

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Mastering GitHub Actions

From Beginner to Expert

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