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Welcome to the GitHub Actions course! I’m Siddharth, your guide on this journey into automation and CI/CD. In this lesson, we’ll explore how to:
  • Automate workflows directly in your GitHub repository
  • Implement continuous integration (CI) and continuous deployment (CD)
  • Build, test, and deploy applications using GitHub Actions
By the end of this course, you’ll understand the building blocks of GitHub Actions and be ready to create complex pipelines—including unit testing, containerization, Kubernetes deployments, and uploading reports to AWS S3.
A person is speaking in front of a screen displaying the KodeKloud logo, with a list of topics including GitHub Actions, Unit Testing, and Kubernetes Clusters on the side.

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Why CI/CD and GitHub Actions?

Continuous integration and continuous delivery streamline software development by:
BenefitDescription
Faster feedback loopsAutomate tests and builds on every commit
Reduced human errorDefine workflows as code, versioned alongside your application
Scalable infrastructureSpin up runners or self-hosted agents on demand
Seamless deploymentsIntegrate with cloud services—Kubernetes, AWS, Azure, and more
GitHub Actions stands out with its native integration, reusable workflows, secrets management, and support for community-contributed actions.

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Core Components of GitHub Actions

  1. Workflows
    YAML files that define automation events and jobs.
  2. Jobs
    A set of steps that run in a single runner environment.
  3. Steps
    Individual tasks—shell commands or actions.
  4. Actions
    Reusable building blocks, either published on the GitHub Marketplace or custom-made.
  5. Runners
    Compute environments (GitHub-hosted or self-hosted) where jobs execute.
  6. Secrets & Environments
    Securely store credentials and configure deployment targets.
The image shows a person wearing a "KodeKloud" t-shirt, with a list of topics related to workflows and actions displayed on the right side. The background features a blurred screen with the KodeKloud logo.

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Learning Path Overview

Every module follows a three-step format:
StepDescription
TheoryIn-depth lecture on GitHub Actions concepts and best practices
DemoLive walkthrough implementing workflows, jobs, tests, builds, containerization, and deployments
LabHands-on exercises in KodeKloud’s browser-based environment—no local setup or cloud billing required

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Advanced Features and Best Practices

  • Reusable Workflows: Extract common logic into a central workflow file.
  • Custom Actions: Write JavaScript or Docker actions to share across repositories.
  • Self-Hosted Runners: Use on-prem hardware for specialized builds.
  • Environments & Approvals: Gate production deployments with manual approvals.
  • Secrets Management: Store API_KEY, SSH_PRIVATE_KEY, and credentials securely.
Never commit plaintext secrets to your repository. Always use GitHub Secrets or an external vault.

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Join the Community

At KodeKloud, learning thrives in community. Join the GoodCloud Forum to:
  • Ask questions and get expert answers
  • Share tutorials and custom actions
  • Collaborate on real-world projects
Embark on this hands-on journey and master GitHub Actions. I’ll see you in the course—let’s automate your world!

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References

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