Mastering GitHub Actions and Workflows for CI/CD

Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) are key practices in modern software development. GitHub Actions and Workflows automate these processes, ensuring code integrity and deployment efficiency.

GitHub Actions are individual tasks that automate software workflows. They can be as simple as sending a notification or as complex as deploying an app. Actions are the building blocks of a GitHub Workflow.

A GitHub Workflow is a configurable automated process made up of one or more jobs. Workflows are defined by a YAML file and can be triggered by GitHub events like push, pull requests, or issue creation.

An Action is a singular task, while a Workflow is a sequence of actions defined by specific events. Workflows coordinate how Actions interact, controlling the order and conditions under which they run.

GitHub Actions are highly customizable. Developers can create their own Actions or use community-maintained ones. Workflows can be reused through 'workflow_call', enabling code reuse and collaboration.

The GitHub Marketplace contains thousands of Actions to streamline your workflows. From code linters to cloud deployments, there's likely an Action that fits your needs, all freely available for public repositories.

GitHub encrypts secrets used in Actions and Workflows, like API keys and tokens. This ensures security best practices are maintained while automating deployment and integration tasks.