It takes time to master highly specialized and complex IT domains like software development and automation. But with time at a premium, you would often be required to deliver projects quickly. So, what do you do in that case? You look for simple solutions, right.

If you are tired of searching for easy-to-execute and straightforward steps to run the Github Actions Workflow, this post is for you. Because time is at a premium, we won't waste any more of it. Let's dive straight into the discussion.

Before we start, let's quickly look at a hypothetical Github Actions Workflow command screen that we will use as an illustration to help you better understand the steps involved.

           go-version: '1.9.3' # The Go version to download (if necessary) and use.

           OUTPUT=$(go run main.go | tail -1) &&

           echo "::set-output name=OUTPUT::$OUTPUT"

         if: steps.main.outputs.OUTPUT == 0

           cd ./mainRepository/projectA &&

         if: steps.main.outputs.OUTPUT == 1

           cd ./mainRepository/projectB &&

First things first. Just like there must be a car to learn how to drive a car, there must be a workflow to learn how to run a workflow.

In the example above, we have first defined a workflow that runs on a 'push' event. We have divided it into Project A and Project B and assigned it to the latest version of an Ubuntu container. Because our main program only calculates a value equal to 0 or 1, we can also call it a flip-coin program. If the toss of the coin yields 0, we run Project A. If the coin yields 1, we run Project B. Simple, isn't it?

   s1 := rand.NewSource(time.Now().UnixNano())

The only command inside Project A and B is the 'Print' command, indicating which routine is currently being run.

Alright. We now have the car. It is time now to understand the steps involved in driving it.

The first step is to check the main repository in the ./mainRepository folder and then install the ‘Go-version 1.9.3’ to run the main program.

The next step is to run the main repository. To do so, we first assign it the ID 'main' that will help us retrieve the output later. The other half of this step involves defining the output of the program. Once done, our next action is to let Github Actions know the OUTPUT variable will be the output obtained by running the main repository.

The last step is to define an ‘if’ statement to determine which project to run based on the value or output obtained from our flip-coin program. You can do so by linking the string 'steps. {step_name}.outputs.{step_output}'.

In this post we can talk about steps to run the Github Actions Workflow, 

'If' Statements on Github Actions

Continuous integration is definitely one of the most important DevOps practices which serve as a foundation for DevOps culture in any organization. It’s all about automating the integration of code changes to your web projects. It allows developers to merge code changes into a central repository. There are many tools that can be utilized for Continuous Integration. Two such popular and widely used tools are GitHub Actions and Jenkins. We take a look at how the two stack up against each other.

So guys, Let's starts with GitHub Actions

In your software development workflows GitHub Actions  is an API for customizing, automating, and executing in your right repository. In this API all types of production, including new features, bug fixes, configuration changes, and experiments it's make it easier. If any application you develop through by GitHub Actions You can implement continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) for workflows. For your web projects its basically provides an easy way for automated workflows. In all of the GitHub features it's a one of the most interesting feature that makes it possible create custom workflows on GitHub. It's enables you to run a series of commands after a particular event has occurred.


 Jenkins is an open source tool with plugin built for continuous integration purpose.  The principle functionality of Jenkins is to keep a track of version control system and to initiate and monitor a build system if changes occur. It monitors the whole process and provides reports and notifications to alert.  It is a widely used application that has been used specifically for continuous integration over the years. Continuous Integration is a major part of DevOps culture; hence many open source and commercial tools utilize Jenkins for a complete product.

Difference between GitHub Actions and Jenkins

 GitHub Actions is the CI/CD solution provided by GitHub, which is well integrated into the GitHub platform and it’s a preferred choice when using GitHub as your source code management solution. In the opposite side  Jenkins is a free, open source build tool written in Java, ready to run out-of-the-box and used to implement CI/CD workflows, called pipelines. It supports the entire SDLC process from building to testing and deployment.

Jenkins is a server based application that runs in servlet containers such as Apache Tomcat. On the other hand  GitHub Actions tightly integrates with GitHub, the number one hosted version control system, providing a stable system with no installation required. It makes it easy to automate how you build, test and deploy applications. It is free for public repositories on GitHub and has a free usage tier for private repositories as well.

 Let’s look at a summary of Jenkins and GitHub Actions comparison

For utilized continuous integration Jenkins and GitHub Actions both's are most popular open source tools. Jenkins is another popular open source tool that can be utilized for multiple programming languages in which applications can be built. GitHub actions is yet tightly integrated with the GitHub ecosystem and is the obvious choice when using GitHub as your open source code management solution. It is free for both public repositories and self hosted runners, and also has a free usage tier for private repositories as well. There are many areas where GitHub actions supersede Jenkins, and they are also growing faster than Jenkins. But at the end of the day, it comes down to your preference.

 What is the difference between GitHub and GitHub Actions?

GitHub's one of the feature is GitHub Actions that allows you to create custom workflows on GitHub. On another hand GitHub is the number one of all hosted version control systems. It provides a great web based UI and a free service for public repositories.

 GitHub Actions is the CI/CD solution provided by GitHub. It is seamlessly integrated into the GitHub platform and is a great choice when using GitHub as your source code management solution.

To allow the integrate into GitHub Jenkins has a lot of plugins. allowing you to pull source from any Git repository that the Jenkins build node can access. You must have a server with Jenkins up and running with the GitHub plugin.
 

 who’re using GitHub as the main source control system there most preferred consideration, GitHub Action is a popular continuous integration tool from GitHub that offers developers a new way to automate workflows for their web projects.
 

 GitHub actions are free for public repositories as well as self hosted runners regardless of whatever pricing plan you choose. Private repositories, on the other hand, receive a few minutes of free usage and storage, depending on the product of course. 
 

 GitHub actions are free for the millions of developers on GitHub to use with public repositories, while GitHub makes money via its premium subscriptions plans that it offer to team and organizations.


We will know in this article Two such popular and widely used tools are GitHub Actions and Jenkins how the two stack up against each other.


Difference Between GitHub Actions and Jenkins

In the fast-paced world of software development, continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) are vital for streamlining workflows and accelerating releases. Three popular tools in this space are GitHub, Jenkins, and GitLab. Each has its unique strengths, making it essential to understand their differences to determine the best fit for your needs. This blog provides a comprehensive comparison of these tools.

Overview: GitHub is a web-based platform primarily known for its source code management capabilities using Git. In addition to version control, GitHub offers built-in CI/CD functionalities through GitHub Actions.

GitHub Actions: Provides seamless CI/CD integration.

Marketplace: A repository of pre-built workflows.

Security: Advanced security tools like Dependabot and Secret Scanning.

Collaboration: Code reviews, issue tracking, and project boards.

Cloud-Native: Fully hosted solution, eliminating infrastructure management.

Teams seeking a tightly integrated platform for code hosting and CI/CD.

Organizations looking for cloud-based solutions with minimal setup.

Unified environment for development and CI/CD.

Limited customization compared to standalone CI/CD tools.

Dependency on GitHub-hosted repositories.

Overview: Jenkins is an open-source automation server that excels in building, deploying, and automating software projects. It’s highly customizable and widely adopted across industries.

Plugin Ecosystem: Thousands of plugins to extend functionality.

Flexibility: Supports diverse programming languages and workflows.

Self-Hosted: Gives users complete control over their environment.

Scalability: Easily scalable for enterprise-level needs.

Large organizations requiring custom pipelines and extensive control.

Teams using legacy systems or diverse tech stacks.

Projects that need advanced integration with external tools.

Compatible with almost any tool or workflow.

Can become cumbersome with extensive plugin use.

Overview: GitLab is an all-in-one DevOps platform offering source code management, CI/CD, and more. It’s available in both self-managed and SaaS options.

Integrated CI/CD: Deeply embedded into the platform.

Security and Compliance: Features like vulnerability management and audit logs.

End-to-End DevOps: From planning to monitoring in one tool.

Flexible Deployment: Available as SaaS or self-hosted.

Organizations seeking a single platform for DevOps.

Teams prioritizing robust security and compliance.

Companies preferring a choice between SaaS and self-hosted options.

Powerful CI/CD capabilities out of the box.

Complex for small teams with limited needs.

Choosing between GitHub, Jenkins, and GitLab depends on your specific requirements:

GitHub is perfect for teams that prioritize simplicity and seamless Git integration.

Jenkins is ideal for organizations needing extensive customization and control.

GitLab stands out as a comprehensive DevOps platform.

Assess your project’s scale, budget, and team expertise to make the right decision. Each tool has its strengths, ensuring that there’s a suitable option for every development need.

Explore the key differences, features, and use cases of GitHub, Jenkins, and GitLab to choose the right CI/CD tool for your development needs.

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githubactions

Trending Blogposts on githubactions

'If' Statements on Github Actions

Difference Between GitHub Actions and Jenkins

Comparing GitHub, Jenkins, and GitLab: The Ultimate CI/CD Showdown

Popular Discussions on githubactions